Difference between revisions of "A Walk in the Woods"

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''A Walk in the Woods'' (1988), a play by American playwright Lee Blessing (1949-*). Blessing spent time in Russia where he found inspiration to write his best-known work, the award-winning ''A Walk in the Woods''. According to interviews with Blessing, the play, which depicts the developing relationship between a Russian and an American arms limitation negotiator is based on fact. Apparently, during the 1982 talks in Geneva, Switzerland, Soviet Yuli Kvitsinsky and American Paul Nitze left the formal discussions to literally take a walk in the woods. Following its premiere in Waterford, Connecticut, ''A Walk in the Woods'' was nominated for both a Tony award and a Pulitzer Prize. Though the production won neither award, it was reprised produced in Moscow in 1989 and later adapted for television.
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''[[A Walk in the Woods]]'' is a play by Lee Blessing (1949-*)[].  
  
Presented by The [[Market Theatre Company]] and [[Volute Productions]] in the [[Baxter Theatre]] in November 1989. Directed by [[Leonard Schach]], design by [[Sarah Roberts]], lighting design by [[Mannie Manim]]. Nominated as Best Play of the Year for the Vita Awards, 1989. The role of Botvinnik was played by [[Michael Atkinson]] (nominated as Best Actor for a Vita Award) and that of Honeyman by [[Michael McGovern]].
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''Not to be confused with the eponymous biographical novel by Bill Bryson''
  
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==The original text==
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Blessing spent time in Russia where he found inspiration to write his best-known work, the award-winning ''A Walk in the Woods''. According to interviews with Blessing, the play, which depicts the developing relationship between a Russian and an American arms limitation negotiator is based on fact. Apparently, during the 1982 talks in Geneva, Switzerland, Soviet Yuli Kvitsinsky and American Paul Nitze left the formal discussions to literally take a walk in the woods.
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Following its premiere in Waterford, Connecticut, ''[[A Walk in the Woods]]'' was nominated for both a Tony award and a Pulitzer Prize. Though the production won neither award, it was reprised and produced in Moscow in 1989 and later adapted for television.
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==Translations and adaptations==
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 +
== Performance history in South Africa ==
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1989: Presented by The [[Market Theatre Company]] and [[Volute Productions]]. It also played in the [[Baxter Theatre]] in November 1989. Directed by [[Leonard Schach]], design by [[Sarah Roberts]], lighting design by [[Mannie Manim]]. Nominated as Best Play of the Year for the [[Vita Awards]], 1989. The role of "Botvinnik" was played by [[Michael Atkinson]] (nominated as Best Actor for a Vita Award) and that of "Honeyman" by [[Michael McGovern]].
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== Sources ==
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[[D.C. Boonzaier]], 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage",  in ''SA Review'', 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] 1980: pp. 374-439.)
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[[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp.203-205
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[[Ruphin Coudyzer]]. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of [[Market Theatre]] productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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== Return to ==
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Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
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Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
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Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
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Return to [[Main Page]]
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==

Latest revision as of 09:37, 16 January 2024

A Walk in the Woods is a play by Lee Blessing (1949-*)[].

Not to be confused with the eponymous biographical novel by Bill Bryson

The original text

Blessing spent time in Russia where he found inspiration to write his best-known work, the award-winning A Walk in the Woods. According to interviews with Blessing, the play, which depicts the developing relationship between a Russian and an American arms limitation negotiator is based on fact. Apparently, during the 1982 talks in Geneva, Switzerland, Soviet Yuli Kvitsinsky and American Paul Nitze left the formal discussions to literally take a walk in the woods.

Following its premiere in Waterford, Connecticut, A Walk in the Woods was nominated for both a Tony award and a Pulitzer Prize. Though the production won neither award, it was reprised and produced in Moscow in 1989 and later adapted for television.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1989: Presented by The Market Theatre Company and Volute Productions. It also played in the Baxter Theatre in November 1989. Directed by Leonard Schach, design by Sarah Roberts, lighting design by Mannie Manim. Nominated as Best Play of the Year for the Vita Awards, 1989. The role of "Botvinnik" was played by Michael Atkinson (nominated as Best Actor for a Vita Award) and that of "Honeyman" by Michael McGovern.

Sources

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.203-205

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

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

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Blessing

Baxter Theatre pamphlet October-November 1989.


Return to W in Plays 1 Original SA Plays

Return to W in Plays 2 Foreign Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to Main Page