Trying It On

Synopsis

In a sparse setting with just a few props, an older playwright confronts his younger self and the ideals of his generation.

David Edgar, now 70, reflects on his journey from radical student activist in 1968 to established playwright in the present day. Through a series of vignettes, interviews, and direct addresses to the audience, Edgar explores the evolution of his political beliefs and those of his contemporaries. He grapples with questions of compromise, idealism, and the legacy of the 1960s counterculture.

The play is a deeply personal exploration of political disillusionment and the challenges of maintaining one’s principles in the face of changing times. Edgar examines how his generation, once at the forefront of radical politics, has become part of the establishment they once railed against. He questions whether their youthful ideals have been betrayed or simply tempered by reality.

As Edgar delves into his past and that of his peers, he touches on major political and social movements of the last half-century, from anti-Vietnam War protests to Thatcherism, from the fall of communism to Brexit. The play raises provocative questions about the nature of progress, the cyclical nature of political movements, and the ongoing relevance of leftist ideals in the 21st century.