''Le Père'' (''The Father'') is a play by the French playwright

Florian Zeller Florian Zeller (; born 28 June 1979) is a French novelist, playwright, theatre director, screenwriter, and film director. He won the Prix Interallié for his 2004 novel ''The Fascination of Evil'' and several awards for his plays. He wrote and ...

that won in 2014 the Molière Award for Best Play. It premiered in September 2012 at the

Théâtre Hébertot Théâtre Hébertot () is a theatre at 78, boulevard des Batignolles, in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, France. History The theatre, completed in 1838 and opening as the Théâtre des Batignolles, was later renamed Théâtre des Arts in 190 ...

, Paris, with Robert Hirsch (André) and

Isabelle Gélinas Isabelle Gélinas (born October 13, 1963) is a French-Canadian actress. Early life and training Isabelle Gélinas was born in Montreal, Quebec. She began her training course at the Cours Florent before joining the CNSAD where she took classe ...

(Anne). The play was considered as "the most acclaimed new play of the last decade" and won several awards and nominations in Paris, London and New York. The play was translated into English by Christopher Hampton. It was adapted to make the French film '' Floride'' (2015). Zeller directed the 2020 film '' The Father'', starring

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...

and Olivia Colman, which won the

Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay The Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best screenplay Film adaptation, adapted from previously established material. The most frequently adapted media are novels, but other adapted narrative formats include st ...

, while Hopkins won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Productions

The play gained widespread critical acclaim when it premiered as ''The Father'' at the

Ustinov Studio The Ustinov Studio is a studio theatre in Bath, England. It is the Theatre Royal's second space, built in 1997 at the rear of the building on Monmouth Street. It is named after the actor Peter Ustinov who led the fundraising programme for the ...

of the

Theatre Royal, Bath The Theatre Royal in Bath, England, was built in 1805. A Grade II* listed building, it has been described by the Theatres Trust as "One of the most important surviving examples of Georgian theatre architecture". It has a capacity for an audien ...

, England, in 2014. The role of the father was played by

Kenneth Cranham Kenneth Cranham (born 12 December 1944) is a Scottish film, television, radio and stage actor. Early life Cranham was born in Dunfermline, Fife, the son of Lochgelly-born Margaret McKay Cranham (née Ferguson) and Ronald Cranham, a London-bor ...

. The play ran in the West End at

Wyndham's Theatre Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by actor/manager Charles Wyndham (the other is the Criterion Theatre). Located on Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, it was designed c.1898 by W. G. R. Sprague, the archit ...

in October 2015 to November 2015, and returned to the West End at the

Duke of York's Theatre The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster, London. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre until her death in 1935. Designed by th ...

from 24 February 2016 to 26 March 2016, with Kenneth Cranham. Its American premiere took place on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

in a

Manhattan Theatre Club Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) is a theatre company located in New York City, affiliated with the League of Resident Theatres. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has g ...

production at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in 2016 with

Frank Langella Frank A. Langella Jr. (; born January 1, 1938) is an American stage and film actor. He has won four Tony Awards: two for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his performance as Richard Nixon in Peter Morgan's '' Frost/Nixon'' and as André in Flor ...

in the title role. It was directed by Doug Hughes''The Father''

, accessed 30 April 2016 with scenic design by Scott Pask, costumes by

Catherine Zuber Catherine Zuber is a costume designer for the Broadway theater and opera, among other venues. She is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, and has been referred to as "one of theater's most sought-after costume designers on both coasts."Hefflet, ...

and lighting by

Donald Holder Donald Holder is an American lighting designer in theatre, opera and dance based in New York. He was born in 1962. He has been nominated for fourteen Tony Awards, winning the 1998 Tony Award for Best Lighting Design as well as the Drama Desk Awar ...

. The cast featured Kathryn Erbe (Anne), Brian Avers (Pierre), Charles Borland (Man), Hannah Cabell (Laura), and Kathleen McNenny (Woman). The Los Angeles premiere was produced in 2020 by the

Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California, United States. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engage ...

, starring

Alfred Molina Alfred Molina (born Alfredo Molina; 24 May 1953) is a British-American actor known for his work on the stage and screen. He first rose to prominence in the West End, earning a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Pla ...

, under the direction of Jessica Kubzansky. The Australian premiere was produced by the Sydney Theatre Company, with performances starting in August 2017 at the

Wharf Theatre The Wharf Theatre is a theatre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This theatre is part of the Sydney Theatre Company and located on Pier 4/5 of the former Sydney port facility in Walsh Bay at Dawes Point. History In 1829, the first je ...

, and starring John Bell in the title role. The Singapore premiere was produced by Pangdemonium Theatre Company and played at the Victoria Theatre from 2 to 18 March 2018, starring Lim Kay Siu in the title role. It starred

Tan Kheng Hua Tan Kheng Hua (; born 17 January 1963) is a Singaporean actress. She is best known for her supporting role in the 2018 film '' Crazy Rich Asians'' and for the martial arts television series ''Kung Fu'' in 2021. Career Tan acquired an interes ...

Janice Koh Janice Koh (born December 10, 1973) is a Singaporean actress and a former Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore. Education Koh had her secondary school education at Singapore Chinese Girls' School. She later graduated from the Theatre S ...

, Adrian Pang, Frances Lee and Keagan Kang. The play has been staged in more than 45 countries.

Response

According to '' Playbill'', "the London newspaper ''The Guardian'' gave the London production a rare five-star review, calling it 'a savagely honest study of dementia,' and named it best play of the year". According to ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...

'', ''The Father'' is "one of the best plays of the decade"."The best of the decade"
''

'', 29 December 2019

Awards and nominations

Awards *2014 Molière Award for Best Play *2014 Molière Award for Best Actor in a Private Theatre – Robert Hirsch *2014 Molière Award for Best Actress in a Private Theatre –

*2015 Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor –

*2016

Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards ...

– Kenneth Cranham *2016 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play –

*2016

Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play is an honor presented at the Tony Awards, a ceremony established in 1947 as the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, to actors for quality leading roles in a Broadway p ...

– Frank Langella *2017

Irish Times Theatre Award The Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards recognise outstanding achievements in Irish theatre. History The awards were founded in 1997 by ''The Irish Times''. Awards were established in numerous categories, ranging from design, to acting, to overall ...

for Best Actor – Owen Roe *2017 Shell Award for Best Actor – Fúlvio Stefanini *2017 Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Actor – Marius Weyers *2020

Yomiuri Prize The is a literary award in Japan. The prize was founded in 1949 by the Yomiuri Shinbun Company to help form a "strong cultural nation". The winner is awarded two million Japanese yen and an inkstone. Award categories For the first two years, ...

for Best Actor Nominations * 2015

Theatre Awards UK The UK Theatre Awards, established in 1991 and known before 2011 as the TMA Awards, are presented annually by UK Theatre (formerly the Theatrical Management Association) in recognition of creative excellence and outstanding work in regional thea ...

for Best New Play * 2015

Evening Standard Theatre Award The ''Evening Standard'' Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are the oldest theatrical awards ceremony in the United Kingdom. They are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre, and are organised by the ''Evening Standa ...

for Best Play * 2015 Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor – Kenneth Cranham * 2016

Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play The Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976 ...

* 2016 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play *2016

Drama League Award The Drama League Awards, created in 1922, honor distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in addition to recognizing exemplary career achievements in theatre, musical theatre, and directing. Each May, the awards ...

for Outstanding Production of a Play *2016

Tony Award for Best Play The Tony Award for Best Play (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award given to the best new (non-musical) play on Broadway, as determined by Tony Award voters. There was no award in the Tonys' first yea ...

*2017 Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Production *2020

for Best Play *2020

for Best Actress

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pere 2012 plays Plays by Florian Zeller French plays adapted into films West End plays Broadway plays