Word: giraudoux
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...should like to make a few comments regarding the H.T.G. production of "The Trojan War Will Not Take Place" and the review of same written by Paul Mandel last Friday. Mr. Mandel's main criticism concerns "Giraudoux's annoying tendency to preach rather than entertain." He is quite right in a certain context, however I believe that a criticism of the play should be made in the context of another view of theatrical productions. Namely, one should have in mind the existing difference between American and French productions...
Having gone thus far, let us add a few words with regard to the particular production: "The Trojan War Will Not Take Place." Mr. Mandel states: "Giraudoux dialogue suffers in the translation and there was nothing the H.T.G. could do about that." Actually it could have; it could have chosen a better translation. Also the translation used was itself considerably altered according to somebody's whims. Since such liberty was taken, it could ahve been used for the better instead of for the worse. Mr. Mandel saw the play in Wellesley. I saw it in the Fogg Museum and wish...
...Jean Giraudoux' comedy-satire clothes the theme of war and its causes in the flowing dress of Greek and Trojan; in doing so it saddles that theme with the static staging and long speeches of all but the most sensitively handled of Greek dramas. Last night's HTG's production was fully adequate, but only rarely sensitive. The result was disappointing...
Girandoux' dialogue tends to preach, and the HTG's cast was not able to overcome that, June Garfield, Cannaught O'Connell, and David Bowen came the closest perhaps, the rest of the east ranged from good to weak, and showed an opening night predisposition towards blowing its lines. Giraudoux' dialogue also suffers in the translation (example: "Ajax is the meanest plug ugly among the Greeks") and there was nothing the HTG could do about that. Perhaps the Fogg Court will cut down both the immobility and the talkiness of tonight's HTG production, but it will do little to remedy...
...anti-war satire was written in 1935 and is still being produced in France by Louis Jouvet. H.T.G. is revising an adaptation of the play which was first presented in California by Jean Giraudoux, Jr. Giraudoux is expected in Cambridge within the next few weeks to assist in the production...