Play with a Tiger

Play with a Tiger Summary | Act 1 Summary

Play With a Tiger is Doris Lessing's play about the dynamics of human relationships and the expectations and challenges faced by women who choose less conventional roles than those inherent in marriage. The story takes place in 1958 at the London home of Mary Jackson, who rents a few rooms to Anna Freeman, a tenant of many years. Anna has a son who is away at school, but she retains his room for him in the house.

The play begins at nine o'clock in the evening, and Anna is in her room with a man named Tom Lattimer to whom Anna was engaged until very recently. Tom implores Anna to explain why she no longer wants to marry him. Anna is a freelance writer and works on different projects to make her living, and Tom thinks that a secure future with someone such as himself is just what Anna needs.

Conversely, Anna is repelled because Tom has accepted a position as a business manager for a women's magazine. Tom must have dinner with his new boss and his boss's wife later tonight, and Anna declines the invitation because she deplores all the trappings that go along with regular employment.

Anna changes the subject repeatedly and draws Tom's attention to a man standing on the corner on the street below. The man stands there every night in anticipation of seeing one of the women who lives across the street. The subject of Tom's new job arises, and Tom puts aside the issue of Anna marrying him and tells Anna that she will one day see the value of being regularly employed and regret her decision to eschew it.

Mary Jackson arrives outside Mary's door and comes in to ask Anna if she would like to go for some coffee, but Tom's presence stops her. Mary senses that Anna and Tom are in the middle of a disagreement. Mary has become Anna's friend over the years in addition to her landlord and freely tells Tom that Anna will never marry him.

The doorbell rings, and Mary leaves the room. Soon the visitor enters Anna's room. The newcomer is a man named Harry Paine, a friend of Anna's, who has come for some sympathy over the end of a love affair. Harry is married to a woman named Helen, but their marriage has descended into one of convenience only. Harry has spent his life in a series of affairs, and his latest girlfriend has left him to get married.

Anna declines Harry's invitation to go out for a few drinks, but Mary happily accepts the invitation instead. While Harry waits for Mary to get ready to go out, Harry tells Tom that Anna would have never married Tom because he is too conventional for her. Tom takes Harry off guard by telling him that he is not much different from Harry, who has a very conventional job and lifestyle with the exception of the extramarital affairs.

Another one of Anna's suitors, Dave Miller, is mentioned, and Harry suggests that if Anna were to marry anyone it should be Dave. Dave is the only one of Anna's men friends unconventional enough to appeal to Anna on a long-term basis, but Anna predicts that Dave will ultimately end up like all the other men she knows who get married and cheat on their wives.

The doorbell rings again, and Mary once more leaves the room. Tom uses this to his advantage by telling Anna that she will end up like Mary someday, a lonely old woman with a cat, unless she accepts his marriage proposal. Anna is upset for herself and for Mary and tells Tom that she prefers an authentic relationship with herself to one where she compromises in order to be married.

The person who rang the doorbell is shown into Anna's room, and Harry and Mary leave for the evening. The newcomer introduces herself as Janet Stevens from Philadelphia. She is looking for Dave Miller. Tom uses this as his reason to leave, and the two women are left alone in Anna's room.

The girl announces that she is looking for Dave, that she is five months pregnant and that he has promised to marry her. Dave has commitment issues, and Janet has tricked him by becoming pregnant in order to force the marriage. Although cunning, Janet knows that Dave is truly in love with Anna. She would like Anna to explain everything to Dave. Anna claims to not know where Dave is and refuses to take part in Janet's scheme. The girl finally leaves.

Before long, Dave arrives at Anna's building wanting to reconcile with her. Anna is clearly distraught because she has broken her engagement to Tom and realizes that any long-term commitment from Dave is not possible either. Anna's withdrawal makes her appear cool to Tom, and Anna's demeanor only infuriates Dave, who wants to reconnect with her. Dave finally wears down Anna's resistance, and the two sit close on the floor to discuss the situation. Dave urges Anna to not shut anything out, and she agrees to try.