Difference between revisions of "Die Panne"

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''[[Die Panne]]'' ("The breakdown") is a German radio drama, TV drama, novel and play by Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_D%C3%BCrrenmatt]
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''[[Die Panne]]'' ("The breakdown") is the name given to four related German works by Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_D%C3%BCrrenmatt].
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They are a radio drama, a TV drama, a novel and a stage play
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Also found with a subtitle as: ''[[Die Panne: eine noch mogliche Geschichte]]'' ("The breakdown: another possible story").
  
 
== The original text ==
 
== The original text ==
  
Written as a radio drama the tale tells the story of a traveller who, when his car breaks down, is invited for dinner by a former judge, after which nightmarish game is played in which  he is judged and sentenced. In the morning he gets up, gatheres his things and drives away.
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Written as a radio drama the tale tells the story of Alfredo Traps, a traveller who, when his car breaks down, is taken in for the night by a former judge, where he is invited to participate in a nightmarish game with the judge and his three friends — a former prosecutor, defense attorney and public hangman.
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The radio play won the 1956 Blind War Veterans’ Prize for best radio play and the literary award of the newspaper Tribune de Lausanne.
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==Other versions of the play==
  
==Translations and adaptations==
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published by Arche in Zurich, 1966
  
The radio drama was almost immediately adapted as a novel, the traveller gets up in the morning, collects his repaired car and drives away completely unperturbed by the last night’s trial. In the prose version, he hangs himself after receiving his death sentence, leaving the old men dismayed that he has taken their game too far and ruined their perfect evening.  (1956) as well as a TV play (1957) and a stage comedy (1979)  
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Dürrenmatt almost immediately adapted the radio drama as a short novel (1956) as well as a TV play (directed by Fritz Umgelter for Bayerischer Rundfunk, 1957) and later also a stage play (1979)  
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===The novel===
  
 
The novel was translated into English as ''[[A Dangerous Game]]'' by Richard Winston and Clara Winston (known as ''[[Traps]]'' in the USA).   
 
The novel was translated into English as ''[[A Dangerous Game]]'' by Richard Winston and Clara Winston (known as ''[[Traps]]'' in the USA).   
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===The TV film===
  
 
''Die Panne : eine noch mogliche Geschichte'' published by Arche in Zurich, 1966.
 
''Die Panne : eine noch mogliche Geschichte'' published by Arche in Zurich, 1966.
  
==Translations and adaptations==
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A large number of films based on the story have been made since. (See the [[Wikipedia]] entry on ''[[A Dangerous Game]]'' for a partial listing)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dangerous_Game_(novel)].
  
An adaptation into [[Afrikaans]] by [[Leonora Nel]] is entitled '''''[[Spel]]'''''.
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===Stage versions===
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The first stage versions seem to have been translations, e.g. ''[[The Deadly Game]]'' (1960, American play by James Yaffe) and ''[[Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe]]'' ("Silence! The Court Is in Session") (1967, Marathi play written by Vijay Tendulkar)
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The German version by Dürrenmatt himself was performed and published in 1979.
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==South African translations and adaptations==
  
 
Translated from the original German into [[Afrikaans]] by [[Bartho Smit]] entitled '''''[[Teenspoed]]: 'n nog moontlike verhaal'''''. Published by [[Human & Rousseau]], 1961 and in ''Bartho Smit-vertalings'' No 2, by [[HAUM]] 1985.
 
Translated from the original German into [[Afrikaans]] by [[Bartho Smit]] entitled '''''[[Teenspoed]]: 'n nog moontlike verhaal'''''. Published by [[Human & Rousseau]], 1961 and in ''Bartho Smit-vertalings'' No 2, by [[HAUM]] 1985.
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Another adaptation of the radio drama as a stage play in [[Afrikaans]] was done by [[Leonora Nel]] in 1964 and entitled '''''[[Spel]]'''''.
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_D%C3%BCrrenmatt
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_D%C3%BCrrenmatt
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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050819/
  
 
''Twaalfde Nag'' programme notes, PACT 1964.
 
''Twaalfde Nag'' programme notes, PACT 1964.

Revision as of 17:29, 21 November 2022

Die Panne ("The breakdown") is the name given to four related German works by Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990)[1].

They are a radio drama, a TV drama, a novel and a stage play

Also found with a subtitle as: Die Panne: eine noch mogliche Geschichte ("The breakdown: another possible story").

The original text

Written as a radio drama the tale tells the story of Alfredo Traps, a traveller who, when his car breaks down, is taken in for the night by a former judge, where he is invited to participate in a nightmarish game with the judge and his three friends — a former prosecutor, defense attorney and public hangman.

The radio play won the 1956 Blind War Veterans’ Prize for best radio play and the literary award of the newspaper Tribune de Lausanne.

Other versions of the play

published by Arche in Zurich, 1966

Dürrenmatt almost immediately adapted the radio drama as a short novel (1956) as well as a TV play (directed by Fritz Umgelter for Bayerischer Rundfunk, 1957) and later also a stage play (1979)

The novel

The novel was translated into English as A Dangerous Game by Richard Winston and Clara Winston (known as Traps in the USA).

The TV film

Die Panne : eine noch mogliche Geschichte published by Arche in Zurich, 1966.

A large number of films based on the story have been made since. (See the Wikipedia entry on A Dangerous Game for a partial listing)[2].

Stage versions

The first stage versions seem to have been translations, e.g. The Deadly Game (1960, American play by James Yaffe) and Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe ("Silence! The Court Is in Session") (1967, Marathi play written by Vijay Tendulkar)

The German version by Dürrenmatt himself was performed and published in 1979.

South African translations and adaptations

Translated from the original German into Afrikaans by Bartho Smit entitled Teenspoed: 'n nog moontlike verhaal. Published by Human & Rousseau, 1961 and in Bartho Smit-vertalings No 2, by HAUM 1985.

Another adaptation of the radio drama as a stage play in Afrikaans was done by Leonora Nel in 1964 and entitled Spel.

Performance history in South Africa

1964: Spel was presented by Pro Arte in Pretoria in 1964 starring, among others, Lourens Odendaal.

1971: Teenspoed was to have been presented in conjunction with Wolf, Wolf hoe laat is dit? (Aucamp) and Karel (Sławomir Mrożek) by Libertas Theatre Club under the direction of Marie van Heerden, opening 29 October 1971. However, in the absence of any theatre programme or newspaper reports (especially in the local Stellenbosch weekly paper Eikestadnuus), it is assumed that the production never materialised.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_D%C3%BCrrenmatt

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050819/

Twaalfde Nag programme notes, PACT 1964.

Announcement of future Libertas Theatre Club productions, Mary, Mary theatre programme, 1971.

Copy of the Afrikaans translation found in the Stellenbosch University drama archives.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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