History of Western Theatre: 17th Century to Now/Scandinavian Post-WWII
Among Swedish playwrights, a prominent place is accorded to Lars Norén (1944-?), among whose plays is the drama "Natten är dagens mor" (Night is mother to the day, 1982). Stig Dagerman (1923-1954) should also be remembered for his play "Den game av sanning" (The truth game, 1949).
"Night is mother to the day" [edit]
"Night is mother to the day". Time: . Place: Sweden.
"The truth game" [edit]
"The truth game". Time: 1940s. Place: Sweden.
Knut's wife, Alma, has just died in a butcher's shop. Their son, Bengt, receives the news very badly. He is irritated at his girl-friend, Berit, for constantly agreeing with everybody. He tells Knut his absences prevented his mother from sleeping, which the latter denies. However, Knut does not deny he had an adulterous relation, the cause, Bengt insinuates, of his mother's sudden death. Knut's sisters, Alice and Frida, quarrel about who should obtain items of Alma's wardrobe. Bengt resents seeing his aunts wear his mother's clothes. He tells Berit he follows his father to the cinema house, where his mistress, Gun, works as a cashier. Although unsure whether his mother knew about her, he yet accuses Knut of indifference, once buying a dress that did not fit, so that he heard her saying: "It looks as if it were bought for someone else." Irritated at these accusations, Knut divulges he has evidence his wife also had an adulterous relation. After mentioning that Gun will come to their house the next day, Bengt responds: "I will remind myself she killed my mother." At a later date, in Gun's cabin, Bengt confronts his father again. "We must not judge others, Bengt," Knut affirms, to which he answers: "Yes, we must, we must judge crimes." Bengt wishes to speak to Gun alone, which Knut at first does not agree with, but then relents. Bengt tells Gun he would have liked to place her against the wall, except there are no more walls. Unafraid, Gun asks him whether he liked his mother. He admits that was not the case, being especially disgusted at the sight of her fat body. After she locks the cabin door, Bengt places his head on her knees. She strokes his hair. Bergit, unable to enter, is forced to turn away. Months later, she tells Bengt she knows about his relation with Gun but loves him still. On the anniversary of hs mother's death, Bengt learns that his father and Gun have published their wedding banns. Knut gives his sisters Alma's possessions as gifts. Although Bengt is unwilling to accept his father's gift, a watch, Gun ties it on his wrist.
