Was just wondering how the play went- Hope we get an update soon!!!
Hi Carlton,
I've been ever so busy the last few days. Anyway, here is what I have to say:
Brokeback Moutain stage production. The Netherlands. 23rd feb. 2007. Willem Schouten (Jack) & Sieger Sloot (Ennis).
The entire play was acted by two men. They told the story to the audience, and from time to time assumed rolls as appropriate such as Aguirre, Jack & Ennis. So it was was largely a rendition of the story - being told both as a narrative and acted. The performance was done for about 95% in Dutch with some English. There were some songs, but these were sung without accompaniment, such as Water Walking Jesus. So the musical horror scenario was avoided.
Every key line was included. Of course there was nothing novel from the film screenplay. The sex was more described than acted, but no one was left in any doubt as to what was going on. The fact that Ennis and Jack had a long term intimate relationship was if anything more clear than in the film.
The set was very simple with large crates onto which extreme closeup pictures were projected of mountains, sheep and wives. The crates were on tracks and got pushed about to indicate scene changes. The only other human appearance was a female voice playing Laureen on the telephone.
As far as the translation was concerned - It worked about as well as a Dutch translation of a Shakespeare play would for example.
The actors managed to do the entire thing from rote memory, as actors should. They made the story their own. The play lasted about 1 1/2 hours.
There was a projection film of a hand - someone nervously flapping something which went on quite a lot, at the end it was clear this was a postcard of BBM. It did bring tears to the eyes.
We sat on the front row of course. I was the first to stand at the end, causing a standing ovation. Well I would wouldn't I!
I am now left with three versions of BBM in my head: the story, the hollywood film, and the stage play. All co-exist quite happily in parallel universes.
The film of BBM stands alone as a masterpiece - but the future is with stage productions. This is but the first of many stage productions - there is no doubt about that.