Le Père

Le Père (The Father) is a play by the French playwright Florian Zeller which won in 2014 the Molière Award for Best Play. It premiered in September 2012 at the Théâtre Hébertot, Paris, with Robert Hirsch (André) and Isabelle Gélinas (Anne).

Le Père
Written byFlorian Zeller
CharactersAndré (The father)
Anne (daughter)
Pierre
Laura
Man
Woman
Date premieredSeptember 20, 2012 (2012-09-20)
Place premieredThéâtre Hébertot, Paris
Original languageFrench
SettingA flat in Paris, 2010s

The play was considered as "the most acclaimed new play of the last decade"[1] and won several awards and nominations in Paris, London and New York.[2] The play was translated into English by Christopher Hampton.[3]

It was made into the French film Floride (2015). Zeller directed the 2020 film The Father, starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman.

Productions

The play gained widespread critical acclaim when it premiered as The Father at the Ustinov Studio of the Theatre Royal, Bath, England, in 2014. The role of the father was played by Kenneth Cranham.[4] The play ran in the West End at Wyndham's Theatre in October 2015 to November 2015,[5] and returned to the West End at the Duke of York's Theatre from 24 February 2016 to 26 March 2016, with Kenneth Cranham.[6]

Its American premiere took place on Broadway in a Manhattan Theatre Club production at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in 2016 with Frank Langella in the title role.[7] It was directed by Doug Hughes[3] with scenic design by Scott Pask, costumes by Catherine Zuber and lighting by Donald Holder. The cast featured Kathryn Erbe (Anne), Brian Avers (Pierre), Charles Borland (Man), Hannah Cabell (Laura), and Kathleen McNenny (Woman).[8]

The Australian premiere was produced by the Sydney Theatre Company, with performances starting in August 2017 at The Wharf Theatre, and starring John Bell in the title role.[9]

The Singapore premiere is produced by Pangdemonium Theatre Company,[10] and played at the Victoria Theatre from 2 to 18 March 2018, starring Lim Kay Siu in the title role. It starred Tan Kheng Hua, Janice Koh, Adrian Pang, Frances Lee and Keagan Kang.

The play has been staged in more than 45 countries.[11]

Response

According to Playbill, the London newspaper The Guardian gave the London production a "a rare five-star review, calling it 'a savagely honest study of dementia', and named it best play of the year.[12]

According to The Times, The Father is "one of the best plays of the decade".[13]

Awards and nominations
Kristine Yde Eriksen, Anette Støvelbæk, Ole Thestrup, Folketeatret, Copenhagen (2016)

Awards

Nominations

Original West End production
Year Award Category Nominee Result
2015 Critics’ Circle Theatre Award[14] Best Actor Kenneth Cranham Won
2016 Laurence Olivier Award[15] Best Actor Won

References
  1. "The Father, au théâtre de londres le Wyndham's Theatre !" [The Father, at the London Theater Wyndham's Theater!]. www.florian-zeller.hautetfort.com (in French). 1 July 2015.
  2. "The Father". www.stage-door.com. 14 February 2019. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  3. The Father, Manhattan Theatre Club, accessed 30 April 2016
  4. "The Father five-star review – a savagely honest study of dementia" by Lyn Gardner, The Guardian, 23 October 2014
  5. Lloyd Webber, Imogen. "The Father, Starring Kenneth Cranham, Will Transfer to London's West End", broadway.com, 1 July 2015
  6. The Father, westendtheatre.com, accessed 30 April 2016
  7. Vine, Hannah. "See Frank Langella in the American Premiere of The Father", Playbill, 30 March 2016
  8. "First Look at Frank Langella in Broadway's The Father", theatermania.com, 28 March 2016
  9. "The Father". Sydney Theatre Company. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  10. "The Father". pangdemonium.com. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  11. "The Father", 2020 film details, Sundance Institute, 2020
  12. Viagas, Robert; Clement, Olivia. "Full Cast Announced for Broadway's Father, Starring Frank Langella", Playbill, 28 January 2016
  13. "The best of the decade", The Times, 29 December 2019 (subscription required)
  14. "2015 Results | Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". 2016-11-28. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  15. "Olivier Winners 2016". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
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