Playhouse Theatre: As You Desire Me

As You Desire Me - from Friday 21 October Box Office: 0870 060 6631

Starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Bob Hoskins

As You Desire Me

by Luigi Pirandello

Elma is a singer in a sleazy 1930's Berlin night - club. She was the victim of an appalling assault during the First World War, and as a result, lost her memory. A man appears and tells her that she is, in fact, the wife of an Italian aristocrat. A new life awaits her. But when she goes to Italy to pursue this dream, she finds unexpected problems and disappointments. Pirandello uses this story to explore the mysteries of identity and memory, themes that pre - occupied him thoughout his life.

Luigi Pirandello (1867 - 1936) wrote the play, Come tu mi vuoi in 1930 for the celebrated Italian actress Marta Abba, who was his mistress. Pirandello's wife, Antoinetta, had suffered a severe nervous breakdown and was confined to a mental institution in 1919. This tragedy has echoes in the play, where one of the characters is a mute madman.

Come tu mi vuoi was translated into English as As You Desire Me and was performed on Broadway in 1931 with Judith Anderson in the leading role. A film, very loosely based on the play, was made in 1932, with Greta Garbo, Erich von Stroheim and Melvyn Douglas. A production of the play (in Paris) was used as the background for Jacques Rivette's 2001 film Va Savoir.

Group Discount Available
Groups 10+ Ł32.50 Tues-Thus and Matinees
Concessions 10+ Ł20 Weds Mat Only

Performances:

Fri 21 Oct: 7:30pm
Sat 22 Oct: 3:00pm, 7:30pm
Sun 23 Oct: 4:00pm
Tue 25 Oct: 7:30pm
Wed 26 Oct: 3:00pm, 7:30pm
Thu 27 Oct: 7:00pm
Fri 28 Oct: 7:30pm
Sat 29 Oct: 3:00pm, 7:30pm
Sun 30 Oct: 4:00pm
Tue 1 Nov: 7:30pm
Wed 2 Nov: 3:00pm, 7:30pm
Thu 3 Nov: 7:30pm
Fri 4 Nov: 7:30pm +more...

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