Difference between revisions of "Playing with Fire"

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''[[Playing with Fire]]'' (original Swedish title ''[[Leka med elden]]'') is a one act play by August Strindberg (1849-1912)
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There have been a surprising number of literary, dramatic and filmic works called '''''Playing with Fire''''', including a 1986 TV movie by [[Alan Nathanson]] and [[Hilary Prendini]].
  
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==The original text==
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'''''For a listing of and information on these works, see the entry on ''[[Playing with Fire]]'' in [[Wikipedia]][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playing_with_Fire].'''''
  
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''[[The Father]]'' is one of three superb plays written when Strindberg's first marriage was in the process of breaking up. All three works are fuelled by sexual tension and typify Strindberg's enduring theme: the constant and consuming battle for power between the sexes. The dark tragedy of ''[[The Father]]'' (1887) makes it one of haunting psychological dramas of the modern theatre, while the complex ''[[Miss Julie]]'' (1888) has become one of the core masterpieces of 20th century theatre, often performed and adapted. By contrast the rare Strindberg comedy ''[[Playing With Fire]]'' (1892), written when the couple were battling in court over the custody of their children, is less widely known, but it too is a gem of a one-act play of its kind. Set on an island in the Swedish archipelago in high summer, it tells of Knut, a painter, and his wife Kerstin, who are entertaining an old friend, Axel. The crisis comes when Axel and Kerstin declare their long-suppressed love and confront Knut with the news.
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'''For August Strindberg's one act play - known in English as ''[[Playing with Fire]]'', see the entry in [[ESAT]] for ''[[Leka med elden]]'' (the Swedish title)'''.
  
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==Translations and adaptations==
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==''[[Playing with Fire]]'' (TV movie, 1986)==
  
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The English version was only performed in London in 1962.
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Julia's life gets changed after her boyfriend killed. She loses her will to live, until she meets a new friend, "Krip", who professes his love for her. She becomes more and more addicted to "Krip" and he persuades her to do different "missions" for him, without really knowing what it's all about. Until one day - This is the story of Julia, who looks for love, only to get dragged into the world of drugs and sex addiction.
  
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Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Wie Met Vuur Speel]]'' for the radio by [[S.J. Pretorius]], adapted for the stage by [[Herman Pretorius]].
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Written by [[Alan Nathanson]] and [[Hilary Prendini]].  
  
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Directed by [[Alan Nathanson]].
  
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The Private Theatre, New York, created a new version of ''Playing with Fire'', a major adaptation of Strindberg's play, in which the creators (adaptors Royston Coppenger and Shane Bly Killoran, and director John Gould Rubin) focus on what they see as the play's themes of sexual frenzy, illicit coveting, exhibitionism, voyeurism, wife swapping and licentious fantasy. Performed in 2012.
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Cast:
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[[Karen Tungay]], [[Danny Keogh]], [[Sam Marais]], [[Tossie van Tonder]], [[Neil McCarthy]], [[Janie du Plessis]], [[John Whiteley]], [[Richard Rawstorne]], [[Joanna Weinberg]], [[Joanna Palmer]], [[Lynne Maree]], [[Simon Heale]], [[Lucilla Booyzen]], [[Gaynor Young]], [[Chris Prior]], [[Guy de Lancey]], [[Elizabeth Magongoa]], [[Kathy-Jo Ross]], [[Richard Carlson]], [[Allen Auld]], [[Steffan Erikh]], [[Gaenor Becker]], [[Doug Armstrong]], [[Amanda De Waal]], [[Michelle Ferreira]], [[Peter Hughes]], [[Renate Netzel]], [[Duke Ngobozi]], [[Peter Nortje]], [[Paddy O'Byrne]], [[Nicole Probert]], [[Nakedi Ribane]], [[Fiona Richardson]], [[Anne Tyrell]], [[Debbi Welman]].
  
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== Performance history in South Africa ==
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Produced by [[Ennio Cervo]], [[Michael Chomse]], [[Paul Kemp]] and [[Roy Sargeant]].
  
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1967/8? A production of the English text was done by the Drama Department of the [[University of the Orange Free State]], directed by [[Marlene Kotzen]] with [[Schalk Jacobsz]], [[Temple Hauptfleisch]], [[Hudson Earp]] and two female students. 
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Music by [[J.B. Arthur]].
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1983: A production of the English text was done by the [[Baxter Theatre]] in association with [[Minotaurus]],  directed by [[Dieter Reible]], starring [[Chris van Niekerk]], [[Mitzi Booysen]], [[Michael Drin]], [[Megan Kruskal]], [[Marthinus Basson]]. The first performance in the Baxter Studio was on 13 April 1983.
 
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1986: ''[[Wie Met Vuur Speel]]'' was presented by [[Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch]] in the [[H.B. Thom Theatre]] in September 1986, directed by [[Juanita Swanepoel]] with drama stuudents. Decor by [[Emile Aucamp]], costumes by [[Elaine Aucamp]].
 
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2018: Performed by the Claremont Dramatic Society in  the [[Masque Theatre]], Muizenberg from 27 July to 4 August, directed [[Bernie Jacobs]] It forms part of a double bill with ''[[The Open Door]]'' (Alfred Sutro). 
 
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The double bill opens at on Friday 27 July and runs until Saturday 4 August with shows at 20h00 Wednesday to Friday and 18h30 on Saturdays. There will also be a matinee performance at 14h30 on Saturday 4 August.
 
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Strindberg
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playing_with_Fire
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https://www.stageplays.com/products/the_father_lady_julie_playing_with_fire/August%20Strindberg
 
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Recollections of a Bloemfontein production by [[Temple Hauptfleisch]]
 
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Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. ''Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987''.
 
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''Playing with Fire'' theatre programme, 1983.
 
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''World Drama'' by Allardyce Nicoll. Harrap, 1949.
 
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"Claremont Dramatic Society Presents ''Playing with Fire'' by August Strindberg at Masque Theatre", [[Broadwayworld.com]][https://www.broadwayworld.com/south-africa/article/Claremont-Dramatic-Society-Presents-PLAYING-WITH-FIRE-By-August-Strindberg-at-Masque-Theatre-20180709]
 
  
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UTS theatre programme
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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5886212/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_sm_3#amzn1.imdb.concept.name_credit_group.7caf7d16-5db9-4f4f-8864-d4c6e711c686
  
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

Latest revision as of 13:36, 9 March 2026

There have been a surprising number of literary, dramatic and filmic works called Playing with Fire, including a 1986 TV movie by Alan Nathanson and Hilary Prendini.

For a listing of and information on these works, see the entry on Playing with Fire in Wikipedia[1].

For August Strindberg's one act play - known in English as Playing with Fire, see the entry in ESAT for Leka med elden (the Swedish title).

Playing with Fire (TV movie, 1986)

Julia's life gets changed after her boyfriend killed. She loses her will to live, until she meets a new friend, "Krip", who professes his love for her. She becomes more and more addicted to "Krip" and he persuades her to do different "missions" for him, without really knowing what it's all about. Until one day - This is the story of Julia, who looks for love, only to get dragged into the world of drugs and sex addiction.

Written by Alan Nathanson and Hilary Prendini.

Directed by Alan Nathanson.

Cast: Karen Tungay, Danny Keogh, Sam Marais, Tossie van Tonder, Neil McCarthy, Janie du Plessis, John Whiteley, Richard Rawstorne, Joanna Weinberg, Joanna Palmer, Lynne Maree, Simon Heale, Lucilla Booyzen, Gaynor Young, Chris Prior, Guy de Lancey, Elizabeth Magongoa, Kathy-Jo Ross, Richard Carlson, Allen Auld, Steffan Erikh, Gaenor Becker, Doug Armstrong, Amanda De Waal, Michelle Ferreira, Peter Hughes, Renate Netzel, Duke Ngobozi, Peter Nortje, Paddy O'Byrne, Nicole Probert, Nakedi Ribane, Fiona Richardson, Anne Tyrell, Debbi Welman.

Produced by Ennio Cervo, Michael Chomse, Paul Kemp and Roy Sargeant.

Music by J.B. Arthur.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playing_with_Fire

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5886212/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_sm_3#amzn1.imdb.concept.name_credit_group.7caf7d16-5db9-4f4f-8864-d4c6e711c686

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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