What is Richard Eyre's adaptation of "Dance of Death" like?

Richard Eyre's adaptation transforms Strindberg's bleak marital drama into a darkly comic and tender exploration, injecting humor and pathos into the characters' savage tango.

How does the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic influence the play's setting?

The production is set during the 1918 Spanish flu, using the compulsory closeness of the pandemic to amplify the themes of marital claustrophobia and domestic disharmony.

Who are the lead actors in the "Dance of Death" production?

The lead actors are Will Keen as Captain Edgar and Lisa Dillon as Alice, who deliver astonishing and sparky performances.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Strindberg's Marriage: Savage Tango or Tender Tragicomedy?

Strindberg's Marriage: Savage Tango or Tender Tragicomedy?

8 Feb

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Summary

Richard Eyre's adaptation injects comedy and tenderness into Strindberg's dark marital drama.
The play uses the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic to amplify marital claustrophobia.
Lead actors Will Keen and Lisa Dillon deliver astonishing, sparky performances.

Strindberg's Marriage: Savage Tango or Tender Tragicomedy?

August Strindberg's "Dance of Death," a bleak portrayal of marital strife, has been reimagined by director Richard Eyre at the Orange Tree Theatre. Eyre's adaptation masterfully injects comedy and tenderness into the original savagery, turning a couple's mutual loathing into a darkly humorous and moving spectacle. The production is set during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, a choice that amplifies the sense of compulsory closeness and domestic disharmony, resonating with contemporary experiences.