“Passion is in the air, as thick of mustard,” as one of Horovitz’s characters says in Beverley, the story of a 70-year-old former British pilot who decides, after 52 years, it’s time to reclaim the love of his life. Archie Bennett (who is sometimes also called Arthur), was engaged to marry fellow Brit Beverley during World War II “as the bombs were dropping,” she says. But when an American war hero swooped in and swept her off her feet, she became Archie’s runaway bride and his long lost love. He never married and kept Beverley more than close to his heart.
Now, it’s Archie’s time, to go to the States and visit Beverley and her husband, Zelly and bring his former betrothed back home. Meanwhile Beverley and Zelly have been married for five decades and have a grown daughter, Cecily. They’ve made their life in the small town of Gloucester, Mass. and settled into retirement age. Archie’s nostalgic visit to announce to Beverley that “he’s had you for 52 years. Enough is enough” has a ripple effect throughout the family and has each character looking at their own past for revelations as to how they’ve arrived at this point in their lives.
While the main plot centre around septuagenarian love, Horovitz has crafted a play that is more about personal soul searching than interpersonal connectivity. What are the consequences of our choices? And how will they stick with us? When Cecily enters the picture, having fled from her third husband, she faces the same burning questions. And, her biggest fear is to become a daughter who ends up mirroring her mother’s life.
With Rosemary Harris, Ian Carmichael, Elizabeth McGovern and Israel Horovitz.
Directed by Ned Chaillet
First broadcast in December 1997.
Size 82MB. Length 90 Minutes. Bitrate 128kbps
Replies
Dear William,
Thank you so much for the offering.
Bob
Dear William,
Thanks for another really great offering.
Bob
and thanks from me!
Thank you, William!