Plenty has most certainly not gone without its share of unfavorable criticism despite the fact that it is one of Hare's best-known plays. Prior to Plenty's debut at the Lyttelton Theatre, Hare's plays had not been performed at Britain's National Theatre and following some of the rather scathing reviews from his critical contemporaries it may seem shocking that Hare has risen to such artistic acclaim—despite the mixed critical reaction his plays have received, he has continued to be popular with audiences.

It is perhaps Hare's often shocking and pointed commentary about England that elicited such a response from his nation's critics. After the release of the film adaptation in 1985, Gavin Millar wrote in Sight and Sound, ' 'no one with any serious hopes for contemporary British writing can ignore him, yet what the devil is the chap saying about us" Ted Whitehead, writing for...