The Dearly Beloved

The residents of a small town populate the pages of Philip Osment's 'The Dearly Beloved', an exploration of rural life and spiritual longing and the first of his three plays set in Devon. In always dreaming of a better life, the townspeople fail to see the things that are in front of them. The return of prodigal son Alaric, now a successful TV producer, results in tragic consequences, shaking the characters out of their dreams and forcing them to face harsh realities. Commissioned by the Cambridge Theatre Company, 'The Dearly Beloved' won the Writers' Guild award for best regional play in 1993.