About the Play

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The Dresser is a drama written by Ronald Harwood in 1080, which has been adapted into movies on two occasions, notably in 1983 and again in 2015. Here's a general plotline:

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Set during World War II in England, The Dresser follows the intense relationship between an aging, mentally and physically crumbling Shakespearean actor (referred to primarily as "Sir") and his dedicated personal assistant, Norman, known as "The Dresser."
 

Sir is a once-famous stage actor who struggles to hold himself together long enough to perform. Norman has worked for him for years, managing his career, soothing his ego, and keeping him functional, often at significant personal cost. As air raid sirens wail and bombs fall in the background, the story focuses on one night when Sir is meant to perform King Lear. However, Sir is increasingly incoherent and possibly having a breakdown.

Norman desperately tries to coax, manipulate, and support Sir through makeup, costume, and memory issues, while suppressing his growing frustrations and heartbreak. Their dynamic is complex, marked by interdependence, resentment, loyalty, and profound affection.
 

Ultimately, the film explores themes of aging, loyalty, the theatre world, identity, and the painful passage of time. It ends with a bittersweet reflection on devotion — and what happens when the person you’ve built your life around is no longer able to carry on.