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What is The Night of the Iguana about?

Tennessee Williams' The Night of the Iguana is set in a crumbling hotel on the Mexican coast in 1940. Reverend Shannon, a defrocked priest turned tour guide, arrives at the hotel with a busload of furious Baptist tourists. At the hotel he encounters Maxine, the lusty proprietress, and Hannah, a genteel New England spinster travelling with her elderly grandfather. Over one sweltering night, these three damaged people confront their loneliness, their desires, and the possibility of human connection.

Why see The Night of the Iguana?

This is Williams at his most compassionate. The play is less violent than A Streetcar Named Desire and less desperate than Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but it is perhaps his most beautiful work — a meditation on how broken people can offer each other grace. The three central roles attract major theatrical talent, and London productions have featured some of the finest performances of recent years. The Mexican setting brings warmth and sensuality to Williams' characteristic exploration of desire and loneliness.

Practical information for visitors

The Night of the Iguana is periodically revived in London. Check current listings for the latest production and venue. The play contains adult themes including sexuality and alcoholism. Best suited for adult audiences. Running time is approximately two hours and forty-five minutes including an interval.

Similar shows you might enjoy

For more Tennessee Williams, look for productions of Summer and Smoke, A Streetcar Named Desire, or The Glass Menagerie. For other intimate character dramas, Skylight and Betrayal offer similarly powerful two and three-handers.