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26 October 2001
Dance of Death
The "pantomime scene"
From: Dale Edwards daleed77@yahoo.com
Q: My partner and I went to see Dance of Death on Sept. 28. It was
wonderful! Mr. McKellen was thrilling to watch on stage. Specifically
during the second act, he tosses the contents of the room about. There was
no dialogue, but the audience was in a trance. Beautiful!
A: Strindberg academics consider the "pantomime scene"
in Dance of Death
as central to the play. It comes after the Captain has survived a heart
attack and accepted his doctor's warning that death is on the horizon.
Alone at night he is playing patience in vain because he impatiently
throws the cards outside where they fall on the rocks overlooking the
ocean. These are followed by his stash of whisky as he starts to eliminate
objects and attitudes which he has long clung to. The lighting of many
candles and eventual introduction of a live cat are symbols of his
changing spirit. It's a difficult scene no words but an accompanying
soundtrack of thunder, animals and other musicalised effects in keeping
with Strindberg's stage directions. I'm so pleased you weren't baffled
by it all as I was through much of the rehearsal period.
Zero Proof
From: Dan Barron dan.barron@home.com
Q: I can't help wondering what the drink actually was. A stage prop, or
real whiskey?
A: It would be a foolhardy actor particularly if like me he
were virtually tee-total to risk drinking anything other than colored
water whilst acting. The traditional brew for onstage whiskey or brandy is
diluted cold tea. As my tipple seems tasteless, I expect Fred Ricci (in charge
of props) is using vegetable dye. As for the morphine which sedates the
Captain at the end of act one? Tap water.
Fred Ricci backstage at The Broadhurst
Stage v. Screen
From: Marie-Claude
Q: Bonjour. Four days ago, I had the chance to go and see Dance of
Death. It was my first experience of theater on Broadway and I loved it.
I've seen seen several of your films: X-men
and Gods and
Monsters, both I liked a lot. After seeing all of this, I wondered if
you, being an actor from the theater found it frustrating to act for the
movies. Because I feel that acting for the theater is very demanding: tone
of voice, tension, concentration but it leaves time for the actor to play
and invent. I think the cinema is more technical and leaves less place for
the improvisation of the actor. Merci.
A: You land on a crucial difference between working in front of
an audience, where the story is told at one go and the bitty way in which
filming proceeds to gather the evidence that a director will edit into a
narrative. The actors rule on stage. The responsibility and strain are
worth it because the result is a shared one. Acting on screen,
particularly in solo close up, is more about feeling than effect. And
technicalities of voice projection and physical stamina are irrelevant.
Theatre acting is a workout. The camera is a shrink.
Hilariously Dark
From: Ruth Bonnet
Not a question: just a comment. I had one of the most memorable
afternoons at the theatre in my life on Sunday. What a superb performance
(OK, Helen Mirren is no slouch either!). And what a hilariously dark
portrayal. It was like watching my parents but without the Yiddish.
Completely and absolutely fabulous from beginning to end.
A: I wouldn't usually broadcast such a fulsome letter but I
loved your relating Alice and Edgar's home life to your own! In the
audience's laughter at the Broadhurst I fancied there was a recognition
that, despite their theatricality and playfulness, Strindberg's
characters portray a humanity which we all share.
On Tour?
From: weirdphreakshow
Q: Will Dance of Death be touring?
A: At the moment the run at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York will end in January, although an extension of six weeks is possible.
After that the actors have other engagements so there will be no tour, I'm
afraid.
Evolution
From: Jill Marino DrMelfi525@aol.com
Q: I saw the play on October 12. For my first time on Broadway, it was
amazing. I must praise you, Helen Mirren, David Strathairn, and rest of
the cast, as well as the director Sean Mathias for doing such a wonderful
job. I'm very fortunate to be seeing the play again in December.
A: Although most audiences only ever see one performance, I'm
encouraged you will be returning to Dance of Death. Each time we do
it, new things are discovered and so the production becomes more assured.
Perhaps you will note and approve of these developments.
Wardrobe
Q: What do you think of the costumes for "Dance of Death"?
Are you tempted to go to Halloween parties dressed as Edgar?
A: Edgar's costumes are based on his being a Captain in the
Swedish army, 100 years ago. Although in Act Two, he wears a splendid
white dress uniform with a plumed helmet and sabre, there is nothing
spooky about Santo Loquasto's designs. Though it could be noted that one
of Helen Mirren's dresses is pumpkin-colored. . . .
The Dance
Q: Is this really the first time you've danced on stage or in film?
 Q: Well, not really, as I danced about as a young actor in
productions of Aladdin,
Salad Days
and maybe in other shows that I've forgotten. More recently, in Enemy
of the People I attempted a celebratory jig at the close of Act
One.
Photograph by Brigitte Lacombe
for The New Yorker
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