PREVIEW: EXPLORING THE SHOCK AND DELIGHT OF HAROLD PINTER’S “THE LOVER” WITH ADAM IACHELLI
What happens when a sophisticated suburban couple try to enliven their bland marriage with erotic role-playing, but find their new games even more repressive than before? The Kitchen Sink Collectiveinvites you to find out.
First established in January 2025, this newly-founded theatre company recently staged their compelling production of Sam Shepard’s True West at The Staircase last October and have now set their sights on bringing Harold Pinter’s The Lover to the stage at West Plains United Church in Aldershot/Burlington this month.
Written in 1962 by Nobel Prize–winning playwright Harold Pinter, The Lover explores the psychological games of a married couple whose relationship blurs the boundaries between fantasy and reality. Pinter’s work is often described as bizarre and darkly funny but deeply human and Kitchen Sink Collective’s unique script selections suggest they are passionate about performing classic plays that explore the human psyche asking: what compels everyday people to behave as they do?
I had the pleasure of a virtual interview with Adam Iachelli, one of the founding members of Kitchen Sink Collective and together, we discuss the company’s inspirations, production highlights and challenges, the show’s themes and what audiences can expect from The Lover.
What inspired you to select Harold Pinter's The Lover as your current theatrical endeavour?
AI: Harold Pinter is a Nobel Prize winning playwright who is known for his "Pinter Pause" and "Pinteresque" style, which has sparse dialogue, a lot of pauses, and a lot of tension between characters. It's meant to give a safe space for revealing the anxieties, communication dysfunction, and flaws in traditional social conventions and the social roles we play. In this modern era, where we are now ready and able to break down these conventions, we felt it was a poignant offering.
What have been some highlights and challenges staging this production of The Lover?
AI: One of the highlights has been discovering how funny Pinter's work is. He's very critical and sober about the games people play, and his commentary is hilarious. The challenge has been understanding where in the script the characters are putting on a charade for one another, and where they are being genuine, and then as actors, how do we portray that so the audience doesn't get lost.
How has the company explored the show's themes of unconventional relationships, sexual fantasy dynamics and identity?
AI: We spent two full days reviewing the script, creating a rule book for the couple and the games they play, determining what was genuine and what was performance between them, and then questioning whether these decisions were trauma-based, whether they defy the traditional norms of 1960's relationship politics, and whether in the end, the couple is truly in love with one another, or just tolerating each other so they can maintain their middle class standing and avoid divorce.
For those unfamiliar with the works of Harold Pinter, how does The Lover speak to audiences and what do you hope audiences take away from seeing this production?
AI: Pinter is always a delightful surprise and a bit of a shock to people who have never seen his work before. I think they will find the dynamic between the couple strange and funny at first, and as the tension between them escalates, they'll be invested in the outcome. We chose this play because it makes you think about the human condition, and I think audiences will do just that.
Thank you Adam for all your insights on this upcoming production. It sounds like Kitchen Sink Collective has another compelling piece of theatre on its way! This fall, the company is set to perform Look Back In Anger, written by John Osborne, another deeply human story about people, relationships and conflict. As Adam rightly concludes, “It's the cornerstone of Kitchen Sink Drama.”
Don’t miss The Lover coming April 23-26 only!
