Mrs Klein E-Book

Nicholas Wright

• Herausgeber: Nick Hern Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Nicholas Wright's play about the controversial psychoanalyst Melanie Klein is a haunting and poignant study of mother-daughter relationships. In 1934 the son of Melanie Klein, Britain's most admired psychoanalyst, was reported killed in a climbing accident. There were no witnesses. Nicholas Wright's play shows the effect of this shattering and unexpected death on Mrs Klein, on her daughter and on her new assistant Paula, a young refugee from Hitler's Berlin. Melanie Klein had herself come to Britain from Berlin with a controversial mission to extend psychoanalysis to infants. But her analysis of her own children has damaged her relationship with them almost beyond repair, and the news of her son's death provokes a bitter confrontation with her daughter. Nicholas Wright's Mrs Klein was first performed at the National Theatre, London, in 1988. This edition was published alongside the revival at the Almeida Theatre in 2009.

Leseprobe

Nicholas Wright

MRS KLEIN

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Original Production

Characters

Act One

Act Two

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Mrs Klein was first performed in the Cottesloe auditorium of the National Theatre, London, on 10 August 1988 (previews from 5 August), with the following cast:

MRS KLEIN

Gillian Barge

PAULA

Zoë Wanamaker

MELITTA

Francesca Annis

Director

Peter Gill

Designer

John Gunter

Costume Designer

Stephen Brimson-Lewis

Composer

Terry Davies

This production transferred to London’s West End at the end of 1988.

The play was first staged on Broadway in Autumn 1995, directed by William Carden, with Uta Hagen as Mrs Klein. The play has also been staged in Berlin, France, Australia, New Zealand, Johannesburg, Washington DC and Copenhagen.

Mrs Klein was revived at the Almeida Theatre, London, on 29 October 2009 (previews from 22 October), with the following cast:

MRS KLEIN

Clare Higgins

PAULA

Nicola Walker

MELITTA

Zoë Waites

Director

Thea Sharrock

Designer

Tim Hatley

Lighting Designer

Neil Austin

Sound Designer

Ian Dickinson for Autograph

Characters

MRS KLEIN, fifty-two

PAULA, early thirties

MELITTA, early thirties

Place

London

Time

Spring 1934

Note on the Text

A forward slash (/) in the text indicates the point at which the next speaker interrupts.

ACT ONE

MRS KLEIN is sorting through old papers. PAULA is listening.

MRS KLEIN. It’s quite incredible what one keeps.

Tears up a photograph. Finds a piece of paper.

This is a poem he wrote.

Reads it.

Excuse me.

She cries. Holds her hand out. PAULA takes it. MRS KLEIN slowly stops crying.

I think that’s it till next time. So: our coffee should be ready. You’ll have some?

PAULA. Thank you.

MRS KLEIN. Now, what’s this?