Synopsis

A dilapidated basement in Jesus College, Cambridge, 1969. A rock band prepares to perform at the college ball.

Maggie Frisby, a self-destructive rock singer, arrives with her band to play a gig at a Cambridge University ball. As the night unfolds, tensions rise between Maggie, her ex-lover and songwriter Arthur, and the band’s long-suffering manager Saraffian. Fueled by alcohol and disillusionment, Maggie’s erratic behavior threatens to derail the performance and the band’s future. Meanwhile, Arthur grapples with his lingering feelings for Maggie and his growing connection to the band’s assistant, Laura.

Hare’s darkly comic play explores themes of artistic integrity, generational disillusionment, and the fading idealism of the 1960s counterculture. Through sharp dialogue and biting humour, Teeth ‘n’ Smiles paints a vivid portrait of a band on the brink of collapse, serving as a metaphor for broader societal shifts. The play’s structure, alternating between frantic musical performances and tense backstage confrontations, mirrors the chaotic energy of rock ‘n’ roll and the tumultuous era it depicts.