The Jeweller's Shop

Karol Wojtyła's best-known play, published in 1960 under his pseudonym Andrzej Jawień, with the subtitle 'a meditation on the sacrament of matrimony passing on occasion into a drama'. It has three acts, each built of monologues and dialogue rather than stage action. In the first, 'Signals', Teresa and Andrew recall how they came to love each other and choose their wedding rings at a jeweller's shop, where the jeweller explains the meaning of the ring. In the second, 'The Bridegroom', Anna, whose marriage to Stefan has failed, comes to the shop to sell her ring; a chance companion who calls himself Adam talks with her about her marriage. In the third, 'The Children', Monica and Christopher, the children of the two couples, meet and reflect on what their parents' marriages have taught them about love. The jeweller becomes a figure for God the loving Father. It has often been staged, and was filmed by Michael Anderson with Burt Lancaster as the jeweller.