The August Strindberg Society of Los Angeles (TASSLA) presents a reading of August Strindberg’s Dance of Death I in a new translation by Anne-Charlotte Hanes Harvey on Tuesday April 12, 2011, at 1.30 p.m. in Smith Hall 120

And

Tuesday April 12, 2011, at 7 p.m. at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard with Michael Harvey, Anne-Charlotte Harvey, Peter Larlham, and Sandy Johnson

A riveting and explosive drama of grotesque humor and hatred, about a bitter artillery captain and his wife, a former actress, isolated in their island fortress quarters during a storm. The surprise return from America of her cousin sets things really going, including a threat of divorce, a near-seduction, and a dance-induced stroke. Absurdly funny but not a light comedy! Vintage Strindberg!

August Strindberg, Sweden’s foremost dramatist, used a pending silver anniversary to show his mastery at portraying intriguing characters. Dance of Death is a biting, deadly—but also absurdly funny—verbal duel between an artillery captain and his wife—modeled on Strindberg’s sister and brother-in-law—facing their quarter-century anniversary in self-imposed isolation in a fortress off the west coast of Sweden. Evenly matched, they spend their evenings in mutual blame and game playing until an unexpected visitor disrupts the status quo and ups the stakes for them both. Through the dramatic revelations that result, Strindberg addresses the nature of life, death, and life after death—burning issues for the aging playwright.

This concert reading of a new translation by Anne-Charlotte Harvey, Professor Emerita of Theatre at San Diego State University, is produced by TASSLA (The August Strindberg Society of Los Angeles). Joining her in performing Dance of Death are Los Angeles-based TASSLA member Sandy Johnson and two San Diego actor colleagues, her husband Michael Harvey and Peter Larlham.