A Sleep of Prisoners
An anti-war verse drama in the form of a modern Passion play. Christopher Fry’s lyrical meditation on life, death, war and the consequences of free will.
In A Sleep of Prisoners Mr. Fry investigates dramatically the problems of four prisoners of war. Locked up in a church in enemy territory, the men find that both personal and general conflicts become more explosive in confinement. One soldier loses his temper and half strangles bis friend.
In succeeding dreams each prisoner demonstrates his inner response to the events, extending himself, his companions and the problems they face on to a spiritual plane. The immediate surroundings suggest Biblical protagonists to the dreamers, and the attempted murder is seen successively in the stories of Cain and Abel, David and Absalom, and Abraham and Isaac. The general situation is seen by the fourth dreamer reflected in the story of Shadrac, Meshac, and Abednego.
The play develops themes Mr. Fry has dealt with successfully in The Firstborn. The main interest here is incisive exploration into how men see themselves, each other, and the struggle of the world to find a meaning and a progress. Followers of this playwright's work will be glad to find that the poetic lyricism and craftsmanship which have been noted in The Lady's Not For Burning and Venus Observed are not lacking here.
An anti-war verse drama in the form of a modern Passion play. Christopher Fry’s lyrical meditation on life, death, war and the consequences of free will.
In A Sleep of Prisoners Mr. Fry investigates dramatically the problems of four prisoners of war. Locked up in a church in enemy territory, the men find that both personal and general conflicts become more explosive in confinement. One soldier loses his temper and half strangles bis friend.
In succeeding dreams each prisoner demonstrates his inner response to the events, extending himself, his companions and the problems they face on to a spiritual plane. The immediate surroundings suggest Biblical protagonists to the dreamers, and the attempted murder is seen successively in the stories of Cain and Abel, David and Absalom, and Abraham and Isaac. The general situation is seen by the fourth dreamer reflected in the story of Shadrac, Meshac, and Abednego.
The play develops themes Mr. Fry has dealt with successfully in The Firstborn. The main interest here is incisive exploration into how men see themselves, each other, and the struggle of the world to find a meaning and a progress. Followers of this playwright's work will be glad to find that the poetic lyricism and craftsmanship which have been noted in The Lady's Not For Burning and Venus Observed are not lacking here.
An anti-war verse drama in the form of a modern Passion play. Christopher Fry’s lyrical meditation on life, death, war and the consequences of free will.
In A Sleep of Prisoners Mr. Fry investigates dramatically the problems of four prisoners of war. Locked up in a church in enemy territory, the men find that both personal and general conflicts become more explosive in confinement. One soldier loses his temper and half strangles bis friend.
In succeeding dreams each prisoner demonstrates his inner response to the events, extending himself, his companions and the problems they face on to a spiritual plane. The immediate surroundings suggest Biblical protagonists to the dreamers, and the attempted murder is seen successively in the stories of Cain and Abel, David and Absalom, and Abraham and Isaac. The general situation is seen by the fourth dreamer reflected in the story of Shadrac, Meshac, and Abednego.
The play develops themes Mr. Fry has dealt with successfully in The Firstborn. The main interest here is incisive exploration into how men see themselves, each other, and the struggle of the world to find a meaning and a progress. Followers of this playwright's work will be glad to find that the poetic lyricism and craftsmanship which have been noted in The Lady's Not For Burning and Venus Observed are not lacking here.