Travesties
Tom Stoppard
Set in Zurich in 1917, the play centers on Henry Carr, a minor British consular official who recalls his interactions with James Joyce, Tristan Tzara, and Vladimir Lenin. The narrative is filtered through Carr's unreliable and aging memory, resulting in a fractured, hilarious pastiche of art, politics, and revolution. Using the structure of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Stoppard explores the purpose of art in a time of global upheaval. The play is a whirlwind of limericks, debates on Dadaism, and ideological clashes, showcasing Stoppard’s ability to weave complex historical figures into a brilliant, comic tapestry.
Henry Carr: An aging, minor British official whose unreliable memories of World War I-era Zurich frame the play's comedic exploration of history and art. Tristan Tzara: The exuberant founder of Dadaism who challenges traditional artistic values through nonsense and performance, serving as a foil to Carr’s conservative views. James Joyce: A meticulous and eccentric writer busy composing Ulysses while navigating the local theatrical scene, representing the peak of Modernist high art.
First Performance: 1974, at Aldwych Theatre, London
Major success; won the Evening Standard Award and later the Tony Award for Best Play on Broadway.
Original Actors: John Wood, John Hurt, Tom Bell