Play written by Florian Zeller
Le Père Written by Florian Zeller Characters André (The father) Anne (daughter) Pierre Laura Man Woman Date premiered 20 September 2012 (2012-09-20 ) Place premiered Théâtre Hébertot , ParisOriginal language French Setting A flat in Paris, 2010s
Le Père (The Father ) is a play by the French playwright Florian Zeller that won in 2014 the Molière Award for Best Play. It premiered in September 2012 at the Théâtre Hébertot , Paris, with Robert Hirsch (André) and Isabelle Gélinas (Anne).
The play was considered as "the most acclaimed new play of the last decade"[1] and won several awards and nominations in Paris, London and New York.[2] The play was translated into English by Christopher Hampton .[3]
It was adapted to make the French film Floride (2015). Zeller directed the 2020 film The Father , starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman , which won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay , while Hopkins won the Academy Award for Best Actor .
Productions
The play gained widespread critical acclaim when it premiered as The Father at the Ustinov Studio of the Theatre Royal, Bath , England, in 2014. The role of the father was played by Kenneth Cranham .[4] The play ran in the West End at Wyndham's Theatre in October 2015 to November 2015,[5] and returned to the West End at the Duke of York's Theatre from 24 February 2016 to 26 March 2016, with Kenneth Cranham.[6]
Its American premiere took place on Broadway in a Manhattan Theatre Club production at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in 2016 with Frank Langella in the title role.[7] It was directed by Doug Hughes [3] with scenic design by Scott Pask, costumes by Catherine Zuber and lighting by Donald Holder . The cast featured Kathryn Erbe (Anne), Brian Avers (Pierre), Charles Borland (Man), Hannah Cabell (Laura), and Kathleen McNenny (Woman).[8]
The Los Angeles premiere was produced in 2020 by the Pasadena Playhouse , starring Alfred Molina , under the direction of Jessica Kubzansky . [9]
The Australian premiere was produced by the Sydney Theatre Company , with performances starting in August 2017 at the Wharf Theatre , and starring John Bell in the title role.[10]
The Singapore premiere was produced by Pangdemonium Theatre Company[11] and played at the Victoria Theatre from 2 to 18 March 2018, starring Lim Kay Siu in the title role. It starred Tan Kheng Hua , Janice Koh , Adrian Pang , Frances Lee and Keagan Kang .
The play has been staged in more than 45 countries.[12]
Response
According to Playbill , "the London newspaper The Guardian gave the London production a rare five-star review, calling it 'a savagely honest study of dementia,' and named it best play of the year".[13]
According to The Times , The Father is "one of the best plays of the decade".[14]
Awards and nominations
Kristine Yde Eriksen [da ] , Anette Støvelbæk , Ole Thestrup , Folketeatret, Copenhagen (2016)
Awards
Nominations
References
^ "The Father , au théâtre de londres le Wyndham's Theatre !" [The Father , at the London Theater Wyndham's Theater!]. www.florian-zeller.hautetfort.com (in French). 1 July 2015.
^ "The Father " . www.stage-door.com . 14 February 2019. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019 .
^ a b The Father , Manhattan Theatre Club , accessed 30 April 2016
^ "The Father five-star review – a savagely honest study of dementia" by Lyn Gardner , The Guardian , 23 October 2014
^ Lloyd Webber, Imogen . "The Father , Starring Kenneth Cranham, Will Transfer to London's West End" , broadway.com, 1 July 2015
^ The Father , westendtheatre.com, accessed 30 April 2016
^ Vine, Hannah. "See Frank Langella in the American Premiere of The Father " , Playbill , 30 March 2016
^ "First Look at Frank Langella in Broadway's The Father " , theatermania.com, 28 March 2016
^ "Review: Alfred Molina, like Lear with dementia, thunders in 'The Father' at Pasadena Playhouse " . Los Angeles Times . 12 February 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2021 .
^ "The Father " . Sydney Theatre Company . Retrieved 29 September 2017 .
^ "The Father " . pangdemonium.com . Retrieved 25 October 2017 .
^ "The Father " , 2020 film details, Sundance Institute , 2020
^ Viagas, Robert; Clement, Olivia. "Full Cast Announced for Broadway's Father , Starring Frank Langella" , Playbill , 28 January 2016
^ "The best of the decade" , The Times , 29 December 2019 (subscription required)
External links
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