A Review of ‘Play Strindberg’
Each scene is like a round of a boxing match. With each ding of the bell and flash of the lights a new scene begins. Play Strindberg, written by Friedrich Dürrenmatt was newly translated and adapted by Alistair Beaton for the Ustinov Studio, for Bath Royal Theatre. Play Strindberg is a black comedy and based on August Strindberg’s ‘The Dance of Death’, using Strindberg’s characters. We are welcomed to the theatre by a circular stage, in which a circle of bright white lights run around. With every different scene the lights flash, this disorientates the audience and reminds them they are watching a play. Edgar and Alice hate each other. Edgar and Alice are married. The first ‘round’ is that of their evening routine. Long pauses accompanied by silent movement build a palpable tension, which makes the quick and comedic comments even funnier to the audience sitting in anticipation. A third character is added, Kurt. He is the man Alice could have married. The man with money. Despite Edgar being a decorated and retired artillery captain, he is cold, rude and too proud. Alice could have been an actress, but she instead married Edgar. They now live in a miserable marriage. Edgar is having heart problems, but refuses to acknowledge them. Kurt, shakes the two up. Alice lusts after a different life, anything but putting up with her belligerently selfish husband. Edgar threatens to cut Alice out of his will on a constant. Personally, all the characters in this play are selfish individuals. I don’t see a redeemable factor in any of them. All manipulate, shout and try to hurt the other. I admit, I did feel sorry for Edgar at the end of the play, but after reflection I realise how flawed he was, as well as Alice and Kurt. It’s ultimately an unhappy and unsatisfactory ending. Which I actually found very refreshing. A play does not need a happy ending to count. The actors were remarkable, and despite my main issue being potential continuity problems, it was a very well put together play.