Diversion (play)

Diversion (play)
Name	Diversion
Writer	John Mortimer
Characters	Ken Miles, Lilian Miles, Harry, Joyce
Setting	A London flat
Premiere date	1979
Premiere venue	Greenwich Theatre
Subject	Marriage, infidelity, class
Genre	Comedy

Diversion (play). Diversion is a 1979 comedy play by the English barrister and writer John Mortimer. First staged at the Greenwich Theatre, the play is a sharp, farcical exploration of marriage, infidelity, and class tensions in London. It features a small cast of characters whose lives become hilariously entangled over the course of one chaotic evening, showcasing Mortimer's trademark wit and insight into human foibles.

Background and development

John Mortimer, already renowned for his work on the BBC series Rumpole of the Bailey, wrote Diversion during a prolific period in his career. The play emerged from his long-standing fascination with the English legal system and the social mores of the British middle class. Mortimer's experiences as a barrister in the Divorce Court and the Old Bailey provided rich material for the play's themes of deception and domestic strife. The setting of a London flat, a common locus for his work, allowed for an intimate, pressurized exploration of character. The play's development was closely associated with the Greenwich Theatre, a venue known for fostering new writing.

Plot summary

The action unfolds in the Kensington flat of Ken Miles, a successful but bored television writer, and his wife, Lilian Miles. Their stagnant evening is interrupted by the arrival of Harry, a brash, lower-class cockney taxi driver Ken met in a pub, and his flirtatious wife, Joyce. What begins as an awkward social experiment—Ken's "diversion" from his routine life—descends into farce as secrets unravel. Accusations of infidelity fly, alliances shift between the two couples, and a series of misunderstandings involving a misplaced handbag and mistaken identities escalate the chaos. The climax sees all four characters confronting their dissatisfactions before arriving at a tenuous, comedic resolution.

Characters

* Ken Miles: A witty, upper-middle-class television writer seeking excitement beyond his comfortable but dull marriage. * Lilian Miles: Ken's intelligent, somewhat resigned wife, who possesses a sharper understanding of their situation than initially apparent. * Harry: A loud, confident, and philosophizing London taxi driver who challenges Ken's preconceptions about class and happiness. * Joyce: Harry's vibrant, sexually overt wife, whose arrival catalyzes much of the play's comic tension and amorous confusion.

Production history

Diversion premiered in 1979 at the Greenwich Theatre in London. The original production was directed by Alan Strachan and featured a cast that included Anton Rodgers as Ken and Pauline Collins as Lilian. Following its initial run, the play enjoyed several successful revivals in regional theatres across the United Kingdom, testament to its enduring appeal. It has also been produced for radio, broadcast by the BBC, and adapted for television, further expanding its audience. The play remains a staple for amateur dramatic societies and repertory companies.

Critical reception

Initial reviews of Diversion praised Mortimer's sparkling dialogue and deft construction of farce. Critics in The Times and the Guardian highlighted the performances, particularly the chemistry between the two couples. Some commentators noted that while the play was expertly crafted and very funny, it did not reach the profound societal critique of Mortimer's later works like A Voyage Round My Father. Over time, the play has been reassessed as a finely tuned example of the comedy of manners genre, with academic analysis often focusing on its portrayal of 1970s Britain and the shifting dynamics of the marriage contract.

Themes and analysis

The central theme of Diversion is the exploration of marriage and the allure of infidelity as an escape from bourgeois ennui. Mortimer uses the clash between the middle-class Ken Miles and the working-class Harry to dissect the British class system, suggesting that dissatisfaction transcends social strata. The play is structured as a farce, using rapid dialogue, sexual innuendo, and physical comedy to expose the characters' self-deceptions. Analysts often compare its setup to the comedies of Noël Coward and Alan Ayckbourn, noting Mortimer's unique contribution through his legalistic precision in dialogue and his sympathetic, if ironic, view of all his characters' frailties.

Category:1979 plays Category:Plays by John Mortimer Category:British comedy plays