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L'Arche Editeur, Published 1960. Paperback, 62, [2] pp.; 18 cm; text in French; Theatre National Populaire, Collection du Repertoire no. 40; colophon dated 31 January 1960, Imprimerie Laboureur, Paris; cream printed wrappers lettered in black and red with TNP seal, series list on rear cover. Laid in: mimeographed TNP cast sheet (2 pp., green paper, red-brown TNP stamp).
In Good condition. Wrappers with light toning and soiling, a small brown spot at upper corner of front wrapper, and mild edge wear. Binding tight. Text block toned throughout. TNP coupon slip for the production photographs, unredeemed, tipped in at its left edge to inside front wrapper and loose at right; the 16 pages of photographs, issued separately in exchange for the coupon, are not present. Pencil price on rear free endpaper. Otherwise unmarked. French text of Strindberg's 1899 history play by Carl-Gustaf Bjurstrom and Boris Vian, issued by L'Arche for Jean Vilar's Theatre National Populaire production, which opened at the Palais de Chaillot on 3 February 1960 with Daniel Gelin as Erik, decor and costumes by Mario Prassinos, and music by Maurice Jarre; the production ran for 33 performances. The Bjurstrom-Vian translation first appeared from L'Arche in 1958; Vian died in June 1959, before the premiere. Printed cast includes Georges Wilson, Christiane Minazzoli and Jean Topart. The laid-in cast sheet adds a lackey (Herve Sand) absent from the printed list and gives the running time, 2 hours 25 minutes with a single 20-minute interval.