The casting of Havlova, 55, for whom Havel, 71, wrote the leading female role of Irena in the drama, was one of the author's conditions for its staging. Czech actress Zuzana Stivinova, 34, will play Irena instead of Havlova on Archa's stage. The daily Lidove noviny (LN) reported today Verdict on Prague Castle, cathedral distraint takes effect ...
News ... that Havlova would not appear in the world premiere of the Leaving. As Havel wished, the main male role of "leaving" chancellor Rieger is played by Czech-born actor and his friend Jan Triska, 71, who is living in the United States, but has often appeared on the Czech stage and in Czech films since the collapse of the communist regime in 1989.
Havel's latest play has been in the media focus for months and is premiere is one of the most expected cultural events of this season. Originally, the play was to be staged by the National Theatre (ND) in Prague, but the negotiations bogged down on the ND's refusal to give the main female role to Havel's wife. Havel and director David Radok then negotiated with another Prague theatre, Divadlo na Vinohradech (DNV), Havlova's "home scene." However, DNV finally decided it was unable to stage the project due to the lack of money. Last December, Havel announced that his play would be staged in Archa. The Leaving is a story of a man leaving a high-ranking political post, but still it has nothing to do with Havel's own departure as Czech president in 2003, Havel said during the presentation of the play in a book form last autumn. The first foreign premiere of The Leaving will take place in London's Orange Tree Theatre on September 19.
(Ceske Noviny)
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