TEHRAN – Swedish playwright August Strindberg’s play “Miss Julie” is currently being performed at Aftab Hall in Ahvaz, located in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.
The play was directed by Mohammad Hayati, who adapted it into Persian.
Vahid Fakihi, Samira Fakihi and Fatemeh Akamirzadeh are the main cast of the play, which will be on stage until November 1st.
“Miss Julie” begins with Jean working in the mansion’s kitchen and talking to Christine about Miss Julie’s strange behavior. After Miss Julie humiliates herself by attending a barn dance, she stays at the dance instead of her family’s Midsummer celebration. She broke off her engagement after her fiancé refused her request to jump over a riding crop. She compared it to training a dog.
Gene commented on Julie’s personality as being “too stubborn in some ways and not proud enough in others”, a trait she inherited from her mother. Despite her flaws, Jean finds her beautiful and considers her a stepping stone to running an inn.
Teacher Julie invites Gene to dance the waltz. He hesitates due to his commitment to Christine and fear of gossip. She justifies her request by claiming social status and persuades him to dance with her. During the dance, Julie shares a dream in which she climbs a pillar but is unable to get down. Jean responds with a childhood fantasy of sneaking into her garden, the Garden of Eden, guarded by angels. He also talked about how he once slept among oats and elderflowers and tried to die “beautifully”.
Jean then admits that her earlier claim that she had attempted suicide was a love-driven lie. Proud and independent, Julie plans to use her father’s share of the money to run away and start a hotel. She insists on bringing her pet bird, claiming it is the only creature that loves her. Gene kills the bird out of disgust.
Christine refuses to participate in the plan and returns with spiritual advice. Soon Julie’s father arrives and they abandon the plan. Julie realizes she has nothing and asks Gene for help. He gives her a razor and she walks away, possibly committing suicide.
Written in 1888, “Miss Julie” is a naturalistic play set on a midsummer night in a Swedish mansion. It explores the theme of Darwinism and follows the characters Jean and Miss Julie as they fight to survive in the struggle for evolution.
The play examines social class, desire, and family trauma, emphasizing the conflict between the old aristocracy and the growing adaptability. The characters are driven by multiple motivations and reflect a naturalistic portrayal of human complexity.
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