Post-modern desperation in new adaptation of Strindberg’s “Miss Julie” to premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
This updated telling of Strindberg’s classic play, set in the American South, is produced and performed by Birmingham-Southern College (Birmingham, Ala., USA). Six outstanding students representing one of America’s top liberal arts colleges launch the world premier of “Miss Julie” with nine performances from Aug. 3-11 at the C Soco venue.
Click to view larger version (PDF)For reservations, visit C Venues Web site at http://www.cthefestival.com/.
Strindberg’s characters are among the most ill-matched couples in theatrical history. Each is so mistaken about the other, and in shadow of night, long hidden secrets are unleashed in the claustrophobic confessional of the family home. The conflict between Julie and John escalates to psychological and physical warfare—and total destruction.
This Deep South American adaptation was inspired by a passion to rediscover the issues and danger of this classic play for contemporary audiences. As it heightens the characters’ struggle to new levels of danger, “Miss Julie” renews its challenging examination of such issues as gender and social division, as well as the larger questions of realizing human dignity around the world.
The Birmingham-Southern theatre program provides conservatory quality professionalism within the context of a liberal arts environment, entering numerous productions in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
In the past 20 years, nine BSC productions have performed at the Alabama state festival with six going on to the regional festival, which is an honor granted to only six productions each year from more than 100 entries. BSC productions have included “Urinetown,” “Passion,” “Hamlet: The Musical,” “The Immigrant,” and “Tracers.” Birmingham-Southern College is a four-year, private liberal arts college founded in 1856 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The college is consistently ranked as one of America’s top liberal arts colleges.
The Miss Julie Study Guide is available here.
A video excerpt from the play is available here.
For more information along with commentary from participating BSC faculty and students, visit the BSC Theatre Edinburgh Fringe Festival Experience Blog.
