so i started some early reading for my theatre class this semester & basically it’s a late 19th century play about august strindberg and his wife Siri, who are getting divorced, but are also still producing a play together, and while they’re rehearsing Things Go Dramatically Wrong (and Thats Where It Gets Gay! let me break this down for you) ( @mcmirrr this is what we’ll be doing in a couple months)
ANYWAY so i’m reading like “sigh this is boring” when SUDDENLY Siri’s Lady Friend is introduced (i find it important to note that she’s called “Siri’s väninna” which is the swedish equivalent of Freundin/amie. ya know, a Female Friend. i’m hoping that this means that väninna is 19th century swedish slang for “gal pal”). APPARENTLY, Lady Friend Marie David is right away EXTREMELY hated by mr strindberg like. he makes a Point of it to make it known how Much he Loathes her. and as im reading im getting these lowkey subtext Gay Vibes™ like?? first of all shes explicitely called “Siri’s Gal Pal” and? why else would strindberg hate her so, even though him, siri and Marie apparently all “lived together” for a whole year?? what did poor Lady Friend Marie David do??? AND THEN
OH AND THEN. FLASH FORWARD A COUPLE PAGES AND STRINDBERG TOTALLY LOSES IT HE’S TELLING THE POOR SOUL VIGGO SCHIWE (who is just here for the POETRY and ART of it all! he just wants to produce a play let him live) AND I’M LIKE YES GIVE ME THAT DRAMA!!! AS IT TURNS OUT strindberg and Beloved Wife Siri were living together with two EXPLICITELY stated COPENHAGEN LESBIANS (apparently that’s a Brand of lesbians, according to per olov enquist) who were “””FRIENDS””” with Beloved Wife Siri.... esPECIALLY Lady Friend Marie David........ who literally BROKE Siri’s heart when she was forced to leave....... because they were VERY GAY for each other....
(like there is NO DOUBT. siri and marie david were having an affair. siri and marie explictely MADE OUT in front of strindberg. they were in LOVE and strindberg KNEW, alright. IT IS CANON and all the dirty little details of That Wild Lesbian Year in Grez are all laid out on the table for poor Viggo Schiwe to hear (i feel so sorry for Viggo))
of course this Affair pisses Manly Man Strindberg off BEYOND REASON (but not until Marie David has left and they’ve all gone home?? august homeboy that’s not logical), and while they’re rehearsing (Siri and Lady Friend Marie are both actresses in his play, vying for the same man’s love. Oh The Irony) he makes it his Holy Duty to keep commenting on Marie’s Betrayal and how she is an Alcoholic Copenhagen Lesbian™ (i dont know what it is it really seems to be an Established brand of lesbian in this play and time) up to the point where Poor Viggo Schiwe, who Just Wants To Make Beautiful Art, has to ask strindberg to explain what the fuck kind of shade he’s throwing
anyway that’s where the 1st act stops and i haven’t been able to continue BUT I’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THIS VERY LESBIAN 19TH CENTURY DRAMA