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Overview

Synopsis

Abi Morgan’s Lovesong is inspired by the T.S. Eliot's poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. The play revolves around a couple, William and Margaret/Billy and Maggie, who are depicted at two key stages in their lives. After forty years of marriage, Maggie is ill and riddled with pain. As they enter the final week of her life, the house becomes full with memories of their marriage and their desperation to conceive a child. Past and present literally intertwine as the older and younger couples move around each other across the stage. All relationships have their ups and downs and theirs has been far from perfect. However, their marriage survives his addictive tendencies, temptations of infidelity on both sides, and an inability to have children that affects them both profoundly but manifests in different ways. While Margaret/Maggie struggles with loneliness, William/Billy hits the bottle when times are hard. However, as Margaret/Maggie prepares to take her own life and end her suffering, Billy is at her side.

Show Information

Book
Abi Morgan
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Mature Audiences (M)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
2011
Genres
Drama
Settings
Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
America, Present Day
Cast Size
small
Ideal For
Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Includes Adult, Elderly Characters

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Margaret

Lead

Female

Non-singer

William

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Maggie

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Billy

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher