Rats

Synopsis

THE STORY: In Martin Gottfried's words: The story is about two rats.

One has control over a rich hunting ground in New York City and the other has come down from Greenwich, Connecticut, looking for an in.

The power rat is reluctant to let anybody into his domain but his visitor is convincing and talks his way in, until an infant child makes his appearance.

Then the country rat wants his bite, the city rat is revealed as kindhearted and they fight over the screaming baby.

It is a hideously powerful conclusion to a fascinating and comic play.

The play's fascination, though, is more with its treatment of rats as souls.

Mr. Horovitz is not simply dealing with sewer rats in the city.

He is also dealing with people-rats in their conniving for position (a subject which he has artfully treated before).

The play moves from very funny parallels with social status to very grisly parallels with greed.

It is superb and Horovitz has quickly established himself as a playwright of smooth technique, serious intent and great imagination.