The War at Home

The War at Home is a play by James Duff (1955-) [1].

The original text

The play blends comedy and tragedy as it examines the dilemma of a middle-class Texan family unable to comprehend or cope with the deep-seated disaffection of their Vietnam veteran son. The scene is set on Thanksgiving Day, 1973, and the mood is one of excited preparation and warm-hearted humour. But Jeremy, who has only recently returned from service in Vietnam, incites a series of violent confrontations borne of his sarcastic and deeply bitter exchanges with his family. The mood quickly changes to one of rage and hurt, building to an explosive climax.

The original title was Home Front, which is the title used for the Dramatists Play Service publication of the play in 1985. ISBN 978 0 8222 0528 9

First presented in London under the title The War at Home and then produced on Broadway

Translations and adaptations

Adapted as a film also called The War at Home (1996), directed by Emilio Estevez.

Performance history in South Africa

1985: Produced at the Market Theatre as The War at Home, directed by Lucille Gillwald starring Kate Edwards, Shelagh Holliday, Anthony Fridjhon, Jonathan Rands, Maureen Collier.

Sources

http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=1184

Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

Photographs taken during the production at the Market Theatre held by NELM: [Collection: MARKET THEATRE]: 2004. 30. 5. 177.

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