Music-Hall as Allegory for Britain
The music-hall industry is dying out and being eclipsed by new forms of entertainment such as radio, television, and moving-picture shows. Very few people want live entertainment anymore, despite the fact that people like Billy Rice made an extremely good living in it just a generation ago and his son, Archie Rice, works very hard putting on two shows a day. No matter how hard Archie works, he cannot even make a respectable living much less enjoy the fame and popularity of his father. He feels cheated by this fact, as though he never got an opportunity to enjoy his chosen career while it was still financially viable.
The decline of the music-hall is an allegory for the post-WWII decline in British influence and reputation throughout the world. Whereas Great Britain was once a mighty colonial power and global empire, its influence has been gradually eroding with the ongoing loss of its overseas colonies and the punishing effects of the WWII bombardment. All the major industrial nations in Europe were severely damaged, and the only modern industrial economy left standing was the one in the United States, a young and upstart nation begun by thirteen rebellious former British colonies. Like rock-and-roll (an American innovation regarded by Billy as being in somewhat poor taste), which is eclipsing live music-hall performance in the market for public attention, the American economy is overtaking Britain's. The extent to which British political and economic interests are no longer respected globally is brought home during the Suez Canal crisis, in which the prisoner Mick Rice is executed.
Alcohol as Symbol of Unity
One of the things the Rice family likes to do together, is drink. Jean arrives at the family home having already consumed four large servings of gin. Throughout the play, various Rice family members try to entice one another to drink. For different reasons, individual people such as Billy and Jean decline, while others partake to the point of drunkenness. Phoebe criticizes Jean for not wanting to drink during a celebratory party wherein everyone is toasting Mick's safe return. She accuses Jean of not really liking Mick or caring for him (which is of course untrue).
Spotlight as Motif
The Entertainer contains a nod to Hamlet and other classic works that contain a "play within a play". Archie is depicted in scenes 2, 4, 7, 11, and 13 as performing on a stage, presumably in his music-hall. He is at the center of an old-fashioned spotlight, however exactly who may or may not be listening or watching is ambiguous. Earlier in the play, there is a suggestion that there are people in the audience calling out answers to his questions, but as the play progresses Archie's performances become less interactive and more monologues. The spotlight, however, on an otherwise bare stage allows a skilled actor to create the changing context in which he is speaking and performing.
Cake as Symbol of Hope
Having heard a newscaster say that the captured Mick is scheduled to be returned home in a couple of days, the family begins to celebrate prematurely. Phoebe buys a cake in honor of Mick's safe return but does not tell everybody that the cake is being saved for the party. For a while, the family is hopeful and rejoicing for a change. Then Billy walks back into the room having eaten a slice of the cake, not knowing it was destined for Mick's welcome party. This foreshadows the tragedy about to befall Mick.
Mick as Symbol of British Respect
When Mick is captured during the Suez Canal crisis, despite fighting valiantly, negotiations immediately begin for his safe return. Although Jean and Archie have misgivings, most people believe that Mick's return is a foregone conclusion because his captors "wouldn't dare" harm them for fear of what Britain might do by way of retaliation. This would be reasonable if Britain were still the world's most dominant power economically or militarily. But it is not. When Mick is murdered instead of being returned home, the truth becomes obvious: Britain isn't feared anymore, or even particularly respected.
