Difference between revisions of "Deathwatch"
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| − | ''Deathwatch'' | + | ''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. |
| − | Productions in South Africa include The Studio, [[Baxter Theatre]], 1977 directed by [[Dawie Malan]], starring [[Marthinus Basson]], [[Bill Curry]], [[Chris Galloway]], [[Jeroen Kranenburg]] | + | == The original text == |
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| + | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
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| + | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| + | 1975 [[PACOFS]] starring [[Christopher Consani]]. | ||
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| + | Productions in South Africa include The Studio, [[Baxter Theatre]], 1977 directed by [[Dawie Malan]], starring [[Marthinus Basson]], [[Bill Curry]], [[Chris Galloway]], [[Jeroen Kranenburg]]. | ||
Space Theatre?* Fringe (197*, dir [[Dawie Malan]]), ** | Space Theatre?* Fringe (197*, dir [[Dawie Malan]]), ** | ||
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| − | + | == Sources == | |
| + | Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathwatch_(play)]. | ||
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| + | (Source: Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. ''Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987''). | ||
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| + | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
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| + | == Return to == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]] | ||
| − | Return to [[ | + | Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]] |
| − | Return to [[ | + | Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]] |
| + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | ||
| + | |||
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Revision as of 08:38, 10 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.
Productions in South Africa include The Studio, Baxter Theatre, 1977 directed by Dawie Malan, starring Marthinus Basson, Bill Curry, Chris Galloway, Jeroen Kranenburg.
Space Theatre?* Fringe (197*, dir Dawie Malan), **
Directed by Geoffrey Hyland with UCT students at the Grahamstown Festival 1992.
Sources
Wikipedia [2].
(Source: Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987).
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
