House of Bones (Playscripts S.) - Softcover

Dubillard, Roland

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714507679 ISBN 13: 9780714507675

Publisher: Calder Publications Ltd, 1972

Synopsis

'The House of Bones' is a genuinely original and quite
extraordinary play, as it is influenced by no recognisable school of drama,
and is totally dissimilar in content and style even to the author's
previous play, 'The Swallows' (Playscript 16). Its eighty-one episodic
scenes have as a basic theme man's relation to death, and, arising from
this, deal with the ambiguities of man's need for religion and the paradox
implied by his alternating needs to dominate and to submit to others. Its
subtle atmosphere and deliberately loose form, based on a hard core of
sharp and perceptive insights into the truth of human relationships, offer
admirable opportunities to the prospective producer, who can select, cut
and shuffle the scenes, which are self-contained units, according to his
taste. It received a brilliant production at the Théâtre de Lutèce in Paris
in 1962 by Arlette Reinerg, who is recognised as the leading authority on
Dubillard's work.

Despite the publication of 'The Swallows', and its production at the
Traverse Theatre Club, Edinburgh, in 1966, Dubillard remains, sadly and
unjustly, largely unknown over here, though his plays have been acclaimed
by Ionesco, Anouilh and Beckett among others and in this country Martin
Esslin has been on of his most consistent champions. He is recognised as
having a unique place in modern European literature.

About this title

About the Author

Roland Dubillard was born in France and lives in Paris. He was
first known as an actor and cabaret artist until 'The Swallows' and his
second play, 'The House of Bones', were produced in Paris and highly
praised by leading Parisian dramatists. He has also written a volume of
poetry. He belongs to no school, either as founder or follower, but, like
Rimbaud with whom he has much in common both in character and his work, he
occupies a unique position in modern European literature.

Barbara Wright has a deservedly high reputation as the translator of the
novels of Queneau and the plays of Arrabal among other important works of
modern French writing.

Edition details

• Publisher: Calder Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 1972
• ISBN 10: 0714507679
• ISBN 13: 9780714507675
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 159