Private Eyes (play)

Private Eyes is a two-act play written by American playwright Steven Dietz. It is a comedic drama exploring themes of trust, infidelity, and the nature of reality versus perception. The play employs a meta-theatrical structure, blurring the lines between what is real and what is a play within a play, often leaving the audience questioning the truth of the characters' experiences.

The plot generally revolves around Matthew, an actor, and Lisa, his actress girlfriend. Matthew suspects Lisa is having an affair with Adrian, the director of the play they are rehearsing. As the play progresses, the audience's perspective shifts, and the reliability of Matthew's narration is increasingly called into question. The shifting viewpoints and unreliable narrators create a complex and often confusing landscape where the characters' motivations and actions are constantly re-evaluated.

Private Eyes is known for its clever use of language, wit, and psychological twists, encouraging audience participation in piecing together the truth of the narrative. The play's success lies in its ability to keep the audience guessing until the very end, challenging their assumptions about the characters and their relationships. Dietz's play often explores the potential dangers of jealousy, paranoia, and the destructive power of unchecked suspicion.