Based on the novel The Fountainhead, which became a bestseller in the United States upon its publication is 1943 and has encountered a growing success in Europe over the past few years, Ivo van Hove's play asks the question of the status of the artist in a capitalist society. The artist seems to be faced with two possible paths: he can either listen to the public to satisfy their most immediate desires, or listen only to himself and develop his own creativity, at the risk of being misunderstood. Ayn Rand opposes two characters, one of whom seems to have been largely inspired by “revolutionary” architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and clearly comes down on the side of art against commercial prospects. If in her novel Ayn Rand picks the side of rugged individualism against a collectivist State that supports all kinds of entitled parasites, Ivo van Hove is more interested in questions than in judgments. He lets the audience hear both sides' arguments, at a time when the question of artistic production within a system dominated by economic liberalism is particularly relevant, when a new world is being built right in front of us, when new relationships of power are being established. Once again, Ivo van Hove's theatre appears to be made of subversive questionings and disturbing dilemmas.
Born Alissa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum in Saint Petersburg in 1905, Ayn Rand left Russia with her family after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. After a stay in Crimea, they emigrated to the United States in 1926, where Alisa changed her name to Ayn Rand and worked in Hollywood as a screenwriter, a playwright, and a novelist. Her first major success was The Fountainhead in 1943, followed in 1957 by Atlas Shrugged, the story of a group of entrepreneurs struggling against a pre-totalitarian socialist society, which has since become the bible of American libertarians.
Jean-François Perrier, April 2014
More informations on Pearltrees
Distribution
DIrection Ivo van Hove
Translation Jan van Rheenen, Erica van Rijsewijk
Adaptation Koen Tachelet
Dramaturgy Peter van Kraaij
Scénography and lighting Jan Versweyveld
Music Eric Sleichim
Costumes An d'Huys
Video Tal Yarden
With
Ramsey Nasr Howard Roark
Halina Reijn Dominique Francon
Aus Greidanus Jr. Peter Keating
Hans Kesting Gail Wynand
Frieda Pittoors Mrs. Keating
Bart Slegers Ellsworth Toohey
Hugo Koolschijn Guy Francon et Henry Cameron
Tamar Van Den Dop Catherine Halsey
Robert De Hoog Steve Mallory and Alvah Scarett
And the musicians de Bl!ndman (drums) : Christiaan Saris, Yves Goemaere, Hannes Nieuwlaet
Production
Production Toneelgroep Amsterdam
With the support of Fonds Podiumkunsten, Ambassade du Royaume des Pays-Bas, Emmerique Granpré Moliere