Overview
Synopsis
Tom Stoppard’s Travesties is a play that follows the often-faulty memories of Henry Carr, an elderly man who spent time in Zurich, Switzerland, during the First World War. At that time, the city was also inhabited by several revolutionary thinkers, including modernist author James Joyce; founder of Dada, Tristan Tzara; and pre-Russian revolution Vladimir Lenin. Travesties follows Carr’s interaction with these men, often shaped by his mixed feelings about a production of The Importance of Being Earnest-- where he, Carr, played the leading role of Algernon and James Joyce acted as business manager. First produced in 1974, Travesties has been awarded the Tony for Best Play, as well as the Drama Critic’s Circle Award and the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy. It has been most recently revived in 2016 at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London, to rave reviews.
Show Information
- Book
- Tom Stoppard
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1974
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Period, Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- zurich, switzerland during the first world war
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Elderly, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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