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''.
  
==The original text==
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Few, beyond the original play by Strindberg, have to date actually been done in South Africa.
  
''[[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 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].'''''
  
==Translations and adaptations==
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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)'''.
 
 
The English version was only performed in London in 1962.
 
 
 
Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Wie Met Vuur Speel]]'' for the radio by [[S.J. Pretorius]], adapted for the stage by [[Herman Pretorius]].
 
 
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
 
 
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. 
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
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]].
 
 
 
 
 
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)
 
 
 
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 ==
  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Strindberg
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playing_with_Fire
 
 
https://www.stageplays.com/products/the_father_lady_julie_playing_with_fire/August%20Strindberg
 
 
 
Recollections of a Bloemfontein production by [[Temple Hauptfleisch]]
 
 
 
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. ''Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987''.
 
 
 
''Playing with Fire'' theatre programme, 1983.
 
 
 
''World Drama'' by Allardyce Nicoll. Harrap, 1949.
 
 
 
"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]
 
 
 
UTS theatre programme
 
  
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

Revision as of 08:39, 25 June 2019

There have been a surprising number of literary, dramatic and filmic works called Playing with Fire.

Few, beyond the original play by Strindberg, have to date actually been done in South Africa.

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).

Sources

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

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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