A Dreamplay

By August Strindberg
Translated by Paul Walsh
Directed by Rob Melrose
May 20 – June 19, 2016
Gala Opening: May 27

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A Dreamplay features a young woman who, nearing the end of her life, dreams of herself as Indra’s daughter, coming down to earth to better understand the plight of humanity. Her surreal journey ends after she has fully experienced human suffering. Strindberg structured the play using dream logic and said, “Everything can happen; everything is possible and likely.” In 2012 Melrose directed all five of August Strindberg’s chamber plays in Cutting Ball’s seven hour Strindberg Cycle: The Chamber Plays in Rep.

ARTISTS:

Click on a headshot to read the artist's bio:

REVIEWS:

"Melrose does wonders . . . 'Dreamplay' is (his) valedictory directing project."

"Melrose’s inventive staging establishes each new location in a new way — no small feat in the Cutting Ball's tiny black box playing space."

"Sound designer Cliff Caruthers . . . does some of his best work with this production . . . (by) endowing the whole show with the sense that someone is watching over the proceedings."
– http://m.sfgate.com/performance/article/Cutting-Ball-s-Dreamplay-offers-a-7949575.php

SPECIAL EVENTS:

• Saturday Swedish Candy: Indulge in delectable Swedish candies, imported by Güdibag, in honor of the play's Nordic author. Offered at every Saturday show.
• Meet the Translator, on May 26, at 6PM (show is at 7PM): Hear the unique insights of Paul Walsh, translator and one of America's foremost experts on Strindberg during this exclusive pre-show talk.
• Docented Saturdays, on May 28 and June 4, at 7PM (show is at 8PM): Sip red wine courtesy of Calluna Vineyards and enjoy a pre-show lecture with Docent Matty Bloom.
• Happy Hour Fridays: Free wine will be served in the lobby every Friday before curtain.
• Sunday Talk-Back with the Cast: Stick around after the show on Sundays to attend a talk-back with the cast of A Dreamplay, led by Producing Associate Artistic Director Ariel Craft.

READ MORE:

Strindberg’s Breakthrough as an Artist

In 1879, August Strindberg was the new “it” author in Scandinavia. Having dabbled in playwriting and painting and having worked for some time as an assistant librarian at the Royal Library in Stockholm, he was known of by some but had yet to make the first of many splashes in Swedish literary circles. That breakthrough would come with the novel The Red Room (Röda rummet) in 1879. A no holds barred critique of the Stockholm bohemian artist community; many hailed the novel as the first modern novel written in Swedish. READ MORE

The Translator Speaks

Presented to the Association of Swedish Teachers and Researchers in America (ASTRA), Berkeley CA, October 2012

It is a great pleasure to have been invited here this afternoon to share my thoughts about the mysteries and challenges and joys of translating Strindberg’s Chamber Plays for the stage. Challenges are foremost on my mind because talking about what I do is always a challenge for me, and especially when asked to talk about what I do to a group of experts. I’m much better at talking about what other people do. Besides, translating remains pretty much a mystery to me, though I cherish this opportunity to try to unravel a bit of this mystery for myself and share my doubts with you. READ MORE

 

TRAILER VIDEO:

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