Difference between revisions of "Deathwatch"
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| − | ''Deathwatch'' by | + | ''Deathwatch'' (French: ''Haute Surveillance'') is a play written by Jean Genet (1910-1986) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Genet] in 1947, performed for the first time in Paris at the Théâtre des Mathurins in February 1949 under the direction of Jean Marchat. Three prisoners are locked up in the same cell. Green-Eyes (Yeux-Verts) has killed a woman and is to be guillotined. Maurice and Lefranc are sentenced for more minor crimes. Maurice has a deep attachment to Green-Eyes, as does Lefranc, but secretly. He also hates Maurice, while feigning to hate Green-Eyes, preferring him to Snowball (Boule-de-Neige). Snowball himself is also condemned to death (his presence in the play is only evoked, not actual) and along with Green-Eyes they are considered the Kings of the prison. In fact their sentence traps them in a solitude and an immense unhappiness which lends them a certain dignity. Lefranc who is constantly in conflict with Maurice––especially because of Green-Eyes's woman that both of them desire––ends up strangling him so as to join Green-Eyes in his solitude and dejection. |
| + | == The original text == | ||
| − | |||
| − | + | ==Translations and adaptations== | |
| − | + | == Performance history in South Africa == | |
| + | 1975: [[PACOFS]] starring [[Christopher Consani]] as Lefranc. | ||
| + | 1977: The Studio, [[Baxter Theatre]], 1977 directed by [[Dawie Malan]], starring [[Marthinus Basson]] (Maurice), [[Bill Curry]] (Green Eyes), [[Chris Galloway]] (Lefranc), [[Jeroen Kranenburg]] (The Guard). | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1992: Directed by [[Geoffrey Hyland]] with UCT students at the [[Grahamstown Festival]] 1992. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Sources == | ||
| + | Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathwatch_(play)]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''Speak: Theatre Arts Journal'', 1(1):44. December 1977. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[ESAT Bibliography Bar-Bas|Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne]] 1988. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''If This is a Man'' theatre programme, 1996. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Return to == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | ||
| + | |||
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:11, 19 May 2016
Deathwatch (French: Haute Surveillance) is a play written by Jean Genet (1910-1986) [1] in 1947, performed for the first time in Paris at the Théâtre des Mathurins in February 1949 under the direction of Jean Marchat. Three prisoners are locked up in the same cell. Green-Eyes (Yeux-Verts) has killed a woman and is to be guillotined. Maurice and Lefranc are sentenced for more minor crimes. Maurice has a deep attachment to Green-Eyes, as does Lefranc, but secretly. He also hates Maurice, while feigning to hate Green-Eyes, preferring him to Snowball (Boule-de-Neige). Snowball himself is also condemned to death (his presence in the play is only evoked, not actual) and along with Green-Eyes they are considered the Kings of the prison. In fact their sentence traps them in a solitude and an immense unhappiness which lends them a certain dignity. Lefranc who is constantly in conflict with Maurice––especially because of Green-Eyes's woman that both of them desire––ends up strangling him so as to join Green-Eyes in his solitude and dejection.
Contents
The original text
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1975: PACOFS starring Christopher Consani as Lefranc.
1977: The Studio, Baxter Theatre, 1977 directed by Dawie Malan, starring Marthinus Basson (Maurice), Bill Curry (Green Eyes), Chris Galloway (Lefranc), Jeroen Kranenburg (The Guard).
1992: Directed by Geoffrey Hyland with UCT students at the Grahamstown Festival 1992.
Sources
Wikipedia [2].
Speak: Theatre Arts Journal, 1(1):44. December 1977.
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne 1988.
If This is a Man theatre programme, 1996.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays
Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
Return to South African Festivals and Competitions
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
