Caligula (play)

Caligula is a play written by Albert Camus, begun in 1938 (the date of the first manuscript 1939) and published for the first time in May 1944 by Éditions Gallimard. The play was later the subject of numerous revisions. It was part of what the author called the "Cycle of the Absurd", with the novel The Outsider (1942) and the essay The Myth of Sisyphus (1942). A number of critics have reported the piece to be existentialist; however, Camus always denied belonging to this philosophy. Its plot revolves around the historical figure of Caligula, a Roman Emperor famed for his cruelty and seemingly insane behavior.

About the Play

The play shows Caligula, Roman Emperor, torn by the death of Drusilla, his sister and lover. In Camus's version of events, Caligula eventually deliberately manipulates his own assassination. (Historically, this event took place January 24, AD 41.)

Here is the theme of the play presented by the author himself (in the U.S. edition of Theater in 1957):

"Caligula, a relatively kind prince so far, realizes on the death of Drusilla, his sister and his mistress, that "men die and they are not happy." Therefore, obsessed by the quest for the Absolute and poisoned by contempt and horror, he tries to exercise, through murder and systematic perversion of all values, a freedom which he discovers in the end is no good. He rejects friendship and love, simple human solidarity, good and evil. He takes the word of those around him, he forces them to logic, he levels all around him by force of his refusal and by the rage of destruction which drives his passion for life.

But if his truth is to rebel against fate, his error is to deny men. One cannot destroy without destroying oneself. This is why Caligula depopulates the world around him and, true to his logic, makes arrangements to arm those who will eventually kill him. Caligula is the story of a superior suicide. It is the story of the most human and the most tragic of errors. Unfaithful to man, loyal to himself, Caligula consents to die for having understood that no one can save himself all alone and that one cannot be free in opposition to other men."

Versions of Caligula

The final version is the four-act version of 1944, first published jointly with The Misunderstanding then published alone in the same year. There is a three-act version of 1941, re-published in 1984, in the compilation Cahiers Albert Camus. The changes between the versions show the effect of World War II on Camus.

Productions

Often staged in France and abroad, Caligula is one of Camus's most successful stage works.

The premiere of Caligula in 1945 introduced Gérard Philipe. On 26 March 1955, Camus himself read the play at the theater Noctambules. The 1941 version was also staged, for example by the author at the Festival d'Angers in June 1984.

Some major worldwide productions of Caligula:

London - A new translation by David Greig, directed by Michael Grandage, was performed to great acclaim at the Donmar Warehouse in London, starring Michael Sheen, and won several Olivier Awards.

Dublin, Ireland - The same translation was later performed at the Project Cube Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, directed by Conor Hanratty, where it was also nominated for several awards. This latter production was revived in October 2008 as part of Dublin's International Theatre Festival.

Edinburgh - The KCS Theatre company are due to perform their rendition of Caligula at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2011, Directed by Adam Cross, who has done notable productions such as Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd"

India - Caligula was translated into Hindi by Dr. Sharad Chandra and directed by Arvind Gaur (1993, 21 shows) for Asmita theatre with Jaimini kr. Srivastava and Deepak Ochani. Arun Kukreja also performed it with well-known actor V.M. Badola.

France - In early 2006, Charles Berling directed and interpreted Caligula at the Workshop Theater in Paris.

Hungary - The play has recently been performed by the Radnóti Színház in Budapest.

Greece - By the National Theatre of Greece in Athens

Japan - Directed by Yukio Ninagawa, starring Shun Oguri, at the Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon in Tokyo.

Philippines - In 1981, Caligula was translated into Filipino, directed and roled by Rolando S. Tinio, Philippine National Artist as one of the productions of Teatro Pilipino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila.

Brazil - Directed by Rui Xavier with Daniel Sommerfeld in the main role in 2009 for The Year of France in Brazil.

Additionally, the play has begun to attract the attention of collegiate and community theaters, being produced at universities such as:

Yale University

The College of William & Mary (Mystic Theatre)

New York University

Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid, U.P.M. (2010, CAIN Theater Group)