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FOR: Release not until March 16, 1988 Contact BAM Publicity: 718-636-4129
INGMARBERGMAN MAKES NEW YORK STAGE DIRECTORIAL DEBUT WITH SHAKESPEARE'SHAMLET PRESENTED BY THE BROOKLYNACADEMY OF MUSIC
CONTROVERSIALPRODUCTION FEATURES ROYAL DRAMATIC THEATRE OF SWEDENFOR EIGHT PERFORMANCES,JUNE 8 - 16, 1988
Internationally acclaimed Swedish film and stage director Ingmar Bergman makes his New York stage directorial debut with a provocative new production of Shakespeare's Hamlet presented June 8-16 by the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in association with the Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden. Bergman's first-ever production of Hamlet will be performed in Swedish in the BAMOpera House.
Ingmar Bergman is the renowned Swedish director of the Academy Award winning film Fanny and Alexander. While he is best known for his work in films, he has had a parallel and equally successful career in the theatre. He is the former Artistic Director and producer of the Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden in Stockholm and most recently directed August Strindberg's Miss Julie, which was presented at the 1987 Los Angeles Arts Festival ·and is the only other stage work by Bergman to have been seen in America. Other theatrical productions directed by Ingmar Bergman include Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House and The Wild Duck, Strindberg's Dream Play and Shakespeare's King Lear. Other films include Autumn Sonata, Face to Face, Cries and Whispers and Scenes from a Marriage .
Bergman's Hamlet is a radically post-modernist treatment of Shakespeare's classic play, with overtly erotic and sensual references. He opens the play with a scene of sexual violation between Kfng Claudius and Queen Gertrude that takes place before the entire court. Ophelia perpetually roams the stage barefoot wearing a slip, serving as a mute witness absorbing the torment and violence surrounding her. In her final mad scene Ophelia hands out nails instead of flowers . One of the most controversial elements in the production is the placement of Hamlet's "To Be or Not to Be" speech. Bergman has Hamlet deliver it to the Player King rather than as a soliloquy.
The Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden, nick-named DRAMATEN,is under the direction of Lars Lofgren. This spring it celebrates its 200th anniversary as one of the oldest national theatres in Europe. Famous for its actors, the company has included among others Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman, and presented the world premiere of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night. The Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden was the first foreign company to be invited to the National Theatre's International Theatre Festival in London in the summer of 1987 with their production of Hamlet. DRAMATENarrives in
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New York from the theatre festival of Bergen, Norway and travels on to Tokyo to open the new Tokyo Globe Theatre. In the fall they will travel to Russia to perform at the Moscow Arts Theatre. Ingmar Bergman works at the theatre as a staff director.
Hamlet is presented on a largely empty stage with a few black chairs and a white circle in the center of the floor defining the playing area. It is set in an inderminate period with the costW11es used to establish character rather than time.
Peter Stormare, one of the leading actors of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, plays Hamlet. He is currently appearing as Jean in Bergman's production of Miss Julie and co-starred in Fanny and Alexander. Critics have called him a "violently unpredictable Hamlet." Ophelia is played by Pernilla Ostergren, the foremost young actress in Swedish film and theatre. Her performance as Ophelia has been called "one of the most moving to be seen ... her insanity is harrowing ... she literally disintegrates mentally before our eyes." Ms. ~stergren won the English Drama Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrail of Ophelia.
The production generated a variety of responses in its initial European presentation. The London Herald said: "It is the most agitated, physical, fierce, sexualized interpretation this critic has ever witnessed; it is brilliant .... West Side Story mating with Clockwork Orange." Time magazine hailed it as: "a Hamlet for the 80's." And the Village Voice stated: " ... it is a remarkable achievement, the most eloquent reading of Shakespeare since Peter Brook's Lear."
Harvey Lichtenstein, President and Executive Producer of BAM, in announcing the production said, "We are very honored to present the New York stage directorial debut of an artist of the caliber of Ingmar Bergman. It is a special pleasure for us to be involved with his production of Hamlet. For BAM to be able to have the work of Ingmar Bergman and Peter Brook on its stages in the same season is very special."
These performances are presented as part of the "New Sweden '88" celebration in New York and with the special assistance of SWEDBANKGROUP,the third largest banking group in Scandinavia, owned by the Swedish Savings Bank.
The performance schedule is: June 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16 8:00 pm June 9 at 7:00 pm. June 12 matinee at 2:00 pm
The ticket prices for Hamlet are as follows: Orchestra and Front Mezzanine $30.00 Rear Mezzanine and Front Balcony $25.00 Middle Balcony $20.00 Rear Balcony $15.00
For ticket information or reservations call 718-636-4100. Tickets are also available at the BAMBox Office and the Edison Theatre Box Office (240 W. 47th St.) in Manhattan, or call TELETRON212-947-5850.
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BIOGRAPHY-- PETER STORMARE
In the 13 years since he saw his first theatrical production, Peter Stormare has developed a multi-faceted career as an actor/director/writer with the Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden, Sweden's National Theatre, currently celebrating its 200th anniversary.
Peter Stormare was born in Orebro, Sweden and was raised in the little village of Arbro (population under 1,000) situated in the north of Sweden. At the age of sixteen, he moved to the nearby town of Bollnaes where he graduated from high school. He stayed in Bollnaes until 1975, when at the age of 22 he moved to Sto:;kholm.
Arbro is situated in the middle of nowhere, providing its youth few possibilities other than joining the local steel industry or becoming farmesr. Mr. Stormare believed there were other possibilities in life and began his journey to Stockholm and the Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden.
In the summer of 1975 something happened which totally changed his life. He saw his first theatre production, an outdoor performance of Strindberg's Miss Julie in Stockholm. At the time he never believed that in just 10 years he would be starring in Ingmar Bergman's acclaimed production of the same play.
At "Dramaten, 11 a nick-name for the Royal Dramatic Theatre, Mr. Stormare saw his first indoor production in the fall of 1975. He was so moved by the performance that he began work behind the scenes at the theater assisting with props, odd jobs, anything to be around the theater. Mr. Stormare had chosen his profession. His work backstage lasted two years. After a failed attempt to enter the Drama School of Sweden, the principal took him under his wing. After two years of private lessons, he won entry into the program. Graduating three years later, he returned to Dramaten. His first role was in Nigel Williams' Class Enemv in which he created a young punkrocker. The production was hailed as a great success and ran for 170 performances.
Mr. Stormare's next role was in Sam Shepard's Action. The success he achieved in the role of Jeep led him to three more productions of Shepard plays. This fall, Mr. Stormare will direct and star in a Royal Dramatic Theatre production of Fool for Love. Mr. Stormare has directed both Harold Pinter's The Dwarfs and, most recently, August Strindberg's The Crownbride for the Royal Dramatic.
Mr. Stormare also has a production company, called simply enough "The Company," where he has produced six plays:
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In 1983, Peter Stormare met Ingmar Bergman. Their first colaboration was in Mr. Bergman's production of King Lear, in which Mr. Stormare played the Duke of Cornwall. This first meeting led to a friendship both in life and in work.
In the fall of 1984, when they were rehearsing King Lear prior to a European tour, Mr. Bergman came up to Mr. Stormare, took him aside and whispered in his ear, "I want to do Miss Julie together with you." Then Mr. Bergman just walked away, shouting, "Time's Up! Let's begin!"
Miss Julie was a critical success. Mr. Bergman's production has toured the world. This summer it will be performed in Tokyo, and in the fall it will be performed in Moscow and Warsaw. It opened in December 1985 and is still running in repertory with other works at the Royal Dramatic Theatre.
Mr. Stormare's collaboration with Mr. Bergman continued with the title role in Hamlet, and most recently in Mr. Bergman's production of O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night which opened in Stockholm on April 16, 1988 to rave reviews. Mr. Stormare plays Edmund, O'Neill's alter ego.
This spring , summer and fall, Mr. Stormare will appear in repertory in Mr. Bergman's last three stage works: Miss J ulie, Haml et and Long Days Journev Into Night in Sweden and on an international tour with the Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden.
MAJOR ROLES -- PETER STORMARE
PLAY PLAYWRIGHT ROLE Don Juan Moliere Don Juan Cyrano de Bergerac Rostand Cyrano Action Shepard Jeep Starving Glass Shepard Whesley Icarus Mother Shepard Frank King Lear Shakespeare Cornwall Miss Julie Strindberg Jean Hamlet Shakespeare Hamlet Long Days ... O'Neill Edmund
PRODUCTIONDIRECTED BY PETER STORJ1ARE
La Futurista** Icarus Mother Electric Boy** The Dwarfs Cowboys 2 El Paso** The Grownbride (** written by Mr. Stormare) ###