LTROI play at Uppsala Stadsteater

[drakkar]

IMO, the essence of LTROI can compete with any major drama in complexity and profoundness, so the potential for a great play definitely is present if adapted correctly. I have no idea how, but anyway Oskar's street adress quite early spurred me to ponder the possibility of adapting the core story to a stage play.

[a_contemplative_life]

Adult actors/actresses could play children, of course. I think a long, long time ago I saw a Peanuts play in which the characters were played by adults...

[DMt.]

In theatre all things are possible, such is the power of a willing suspension of disbelief.

I'd guess K&L are both too busy passing their exams just now to do a theatre run anyway

[gary13136]

I gotta shake my head in confusion at this one. The writer(s) of this play must have done some serious "adapting" for Eli and Oskar to be played by adults. I mean, are they actually supposed to be 12 in the story? And what's with casting a female to play Oskar, regardless of what age he's supposed to be? I'm not saying it couldn't work, but... ::

I can remember when I was a kid (a looooong time ago) seeing the TV adaptation of "Peter Pan". In it you had a little "gender switch". The actress Mary Martin (an adult female) played Peter Pan (a boy). I just happened to remember this when I read your post. The year was 1960, and Mary Martin was 47! So there is definitely precedence. But with Peter Pan, you're talking a children's story. With LTROI (and if you've read the book), you're talking something that could be very adult. Also quite shocking. And you have to remember that in the book, Oskar is a boy and Eli WAS a boy. So this play could be a little-----(pick your own description).

Another little irony here I just though of. In the novel when Eli noms the elderly woman, the TV is on and "Dallas" was the program. If you still remember the show, Larry Hagman was one of the principal characters, and Larry Hagman's mother was Mary Martin.

[Aurora]

Regarding to the above post, here in the UK we're coming up to the pantomime season which traditionally casts certain roles uncoventionally.

While the female lead (principle girl) is played by a woman, the male lead (principle boy) is also played by a woman, although she usually has short hair.

[drakkar]

I am curious about this - whether they are going to tell the love story, or if they are diving into the more profound (and insolvable) issues connected to the story, creating more of a classical drama.

[gary13136]

I am curious about this - whether they are going to tell the love story, or if they are diving into the more profound (and insolvable) issues connected to the story, creating more of a classical drama.

Well, I'm curious also. They might use scenes from the book that weren't in the movie; such as the zombie Håkan. This could be very avant-garde.

[lombano]

I gotta shake my head in confusion at this one. The writer(s) of this play must have done some serious "adapting" for Eli and Oskar to be played by adults. I mean, are they actually supposed to be 12 in the story? And what's with casting a female to play Oskar, regardless of what age he's supposed to be? I'm not saying it couldn't work, but... ::

My thoughts exactly. Why not cast children? The film managed it.

[gattoparde59]

My thoughts exactly. Why not cast children? The film managed it.

Film acting is very different from stage acting.

If I remember, someone mentioned that Sweden does not have professional child actors. You might be able to cast like this in New York, Los Angeles, London, etc. but maybe not in Sweden? They spent a year looking for Kare and Lina.

I'd be very curious to see how this stage version turns out.

[gary13136]

My thoughts exactly. Why not cast children? The film managed it.

Film acting is very different from stage acting.

If I remember, someone mentioned that Sweden does not have professional child actors. You might be able to cast like this in New York, Los Angeles, London, etc. but maybe not in Sweden? They spent a year looking for Kare and Lina.

I'd be very curious to see how this stage version turns out.

Tomas Alfredson was the one who mentioned that Sweden didn't have professional child actors. Not all that surprising considering the country only has about 10 million people and doesn't make a lot of movies. Over here you've got around 300 million and the movie industry just grinds out movies seemingly 24/7. I hope if any of the Nordic members get to see this play that they will post a review. If it's good it might get over here some day. (fingers crossed)