Drawing the Line (play)

The regions affected by the extended Partition of India: green regions were all part of Pakistan by 1948, and orange part of India. The darker-shaded regions represent the Punjab and Bengal provinces partitioned by the Radcliffe Line. The grey areas represent some of the key princely states that were eventually integrated into India or Pakistan, but others which initially became independent are not shown.

Drawing the Line is a 2013 play by Howard Brenton, centred on Cyril Radcliffe and his part in the partition of India in 1947. It premiered from 3 December 2013 to 11 January 2014, in a production directed by Howard Davies at London's Hampstead Theatre.[1]

Storyline

Set in 1947, the play tells the story of Cyril Radcliffe and the boundary commission for the Punjab portion of the eponymous Radcliffe Line. “Ignorant of India, mathematics or map-reading, the principled Radcliffe finds himself the victim of despair, as well as Delhi belly, and enmeshed in a whole series of escalating conflicts.”[2]

Production history

The debut run of the play was completely sold out. Thousands of people from more than 80 countries also tuned in to watch the final performance streamed on the web in association with The Guardian.[3]

Critical reception

Reviews[4] were generally positive though there were critiques of some embellishments to the story. Compliments included "brilliantly staged",[5] "absorbing",[6] and "giv[ing] a vivid picture of the pressures of the time".[2] Criticisms included that the play "fails to soar"[7] and "brushes the boundaries of caricature".[8] In a review for The Independent, Paul Taylor praised the "lucid, elegant production" and said "Not all of it works (the handling of Gandhi feels stilted) but it's a fascinating play which views colonial culpability from an unexpected and singularly revealing angle."[9]

The set design, by Tim Hatley, drew particular praise. Louise Burns, reviewing its online screening in April 2020, gave the 2014 production four stars. She said: "Hatley’s clever set design uses tall, patterned wood partitions to indicate a world of India and aside from strategically placed desks, chairs and props the space is sparse, allowing the story to unfold through precise acting and sharply constructed dialogue."[10] In a four-starred review for the Financial Times, Sarah Hemming said: "Brenton is a masterly storyteller and the play expertly draws you into the maelstrom. Howard Davies’s skilful production, focused on the interiors (suggested by designer Tim Hatley through elegant filigree screens) in which the decisions will be made, makes you constantly aware of the turbulence outside".[11]

Reviewing the 2020 online screening for The Arts Desk, Marianka Swain said that "The fleet-footed, elegant production is marshalled by the late Howard Davies, who maintains a fluidity to this series of short scenes by stressing the claustrophobia of the trapped Radcliffe, hemmed in by giant filigree screens (evocative design by Tim Hatley). Davies also strikes exactly the right tone for this dark farce: simultaneously ridiculous and horrifying."[12]

Portrayal of historical figures

In a live webchat, Howard Brenton answered questions about his acclaimed play and his career. Defending his portrayal of Cyril Radcliffe as a man who struggled with his conscience, Brenton said “There were clues that Radcliffe had a dark night of the soul in the bungalow: he refused to accept his fee, he did collect all the papers and draft maps, took them home to England and burnt them. And he refused to say a word, even to his family, about what happened. My playwright’s brain went into overdrive when I discovered these details.”[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "What's On: Drawing the Line". Hampstead Theatre. 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b Billington, Michael (10 December 2013). "Drawing the Line – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  3. ^ Shenton, Mark (7 January 2014). "Howard Brenton's Drawing the Line To Be Live-Streamed from London's Hampstead Theatre at Final Performance". Playbill. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Drawing the Line, Hampstead – theatre review". Evening Standard. London. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  5. ^ Sierz, Aleks (10 December 2013). "Drawing the Line, Hampstead Theatre". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  6. ^ Sadler, Victoria (10 February 2014). "Theatre Review: Drawing the Line, Hampstead Theatre". HuffPost. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  7. ^ Orr, Jake (10 December 2013). "Review: Drawing the Line, Hampstead Theatre". A Younger Theatre. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  8. ^ Cavendish, Dominic (10 December 2013). "Drawing the Line, Hampstead Theatre, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  9. ^ Taylor, Paul (11 December 2013). "Drawing the Line, theatre review: 'A fresh perspective on India's partition'". The Independent. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  10. ^ Burns, Louise (13 April 2020). "Drawing The Line— Hampstead Theatre At Home". The Reviews Hub. London. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  11. ^ Hemming, Sarah (10 December 2013). "Drawing the Line, Hampstead Theatre, London – review". Financial Times. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  12. ^ Swain, Marianka (14 April 2020). "Drawing the Line, Hampstead Theatre online review – modern history becomes dark farce". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  13. ^ Wiegand, Chris (14 January 2014). "Live web chat with Howard Brenton". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2020.

Read other articles:

Frater awam

Bagian dari seri tentangHierarki Gereja KatolikSanto Petrus Gelar Gerejawi (Jenjang Kehormatan) Paus Kardinal Kardinal Kerabat Kardinal pelindung Kardinal mahkota Kardinal vikaris Moderator kuria Kapelan Sri Paus Utusan Sri Paus Kepala Rumah Tangga Kepausan Nunsio Apostolik Delegatus Apostolik Sindik Apostolik Visitor apostolik Vikaris Apostolik Eksarkus Apostolik Prefek Apostolik Asisten Takhta Kepausan Eparkus Metropolitan Batrik Uskup Uskup agung Uskup emeritus Uskup diosesan Uskup agung u...

 

Etos kerja

Barangsiapa tidak bekerja, maka dia tidak akan mendapatkan makanan – poster Soviet di Uzbekistan keluaran tahun 1920 Etos kerja (Inggris: Work ethiccode: en is deprecated , Belanda: arbeidsethos) adalah sebuah nilai yang didasarkan pada kerja keras dan ketekunan. Kaum kapitalis percaya dengan kebutuhan terhadap kerja keras dan kemampuannya untuk meningkatkan karakter moral. Dalam konteks perjuangan kelas, Marxis memandang kelemahan nilai budaya ini sebagai bentuk untuk menipu kaum buruh dal...

 

Apurvi Chandela

Apurvi ChandelaApurvi Chandela dalam Pesta Olahraga Asia Selatan ke-12 pada tahun 2016Informasi pribadiKewarganegaraanIndiaLahir4 Januari 1993 (umur 31)Jaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaTinggi154 m (505 ft 3 in)Berat52 kg (115 pon) OlahragaNegara IndiaOlahragaTembakLombaSenapan udara 10 meter Rekam medali Tembak putri Mewakili  India Final Piala Dunia 2019 Putian Senapan udara 10 meter tim campuran 2015 Munich Senapan udara 10 meter Piala Dunia 2019 Munich Senapa...

Mazmur 112

Mazmur 112Naskah Gulungan Mazmur 11Q5 di antara Naskah Laut Mati memuat salinan sejumlah besar mazmur Alkitab yang diperkirakan dibuat pada abad ke-2 SM.KitabKitab MazmurKategoriKetuvimBagian Alkitab KristenPerjanjian LamaUrutan dalamKitab Kristen19← Mazmur 111 Mazmur 113 → Mazmur 112 (disingkat Maz 112, Mzm 112 atau Mz 112; penomoran Septuaginta: Mazmur 111) adalah sebuah mazmur dalam bagian ke-5 Kitab Mazmur di Alkitab Ibrani dan Perjanjian Lama dalam Alkitab Kristen. Tidak dica...

 

Cochise County Sheriff's Office

Law enforcement agency in Arizona This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines for companies and organizations. Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention. If nota...

 

Veh-Ardashir

Veh-ArdashirLokasi di IrakNama alternatifBeh-Ardashir, Weh-ArdashirLokasiKegubernuran Bagdad, IrakWilayahMesopotamiaKoordinat33°5′54″N 44°33′15″E / 33.09833°N 44.55417°E / 33.09833; 44.55417Koordinat: 33°5′54″N 44°33′15″E / 33.09833°N 44.55417°E / 33.09833; 44.55417JenisPemukimanSejarahPendiriArdashir IDidirikan230 MBudayaSasaniyah Peta provinsi Asoristan Sasaniyah barat daya dan sekitarnya Veh-Ardashir (atau juga di...

Geethapriya

GeethapriyaBornLakshman Rao Mohite(1932-06-15)15 June 1932Died17 January 2016(2016-01-17) (aged 83)Bangalore, Karnataka, IndiaNationalityIndianOccupation(s)Lyricist, writer, film director Lakshman Rao Mohite (15 June 1932 – 17 January 2016), better known by his pen-name Geethapriya (Kannada: ಗೀತಪ್ರಿಯ), was an Indian film director and lyricist of the Kannada film industry. He has directed 40 films and penned over 250 songs in Kannada films.[1] In 1992–93, he w...

 

Hurricane (Kanye West song)

2021 single by Kanye West HurricaneSingle by Kanye West and the Weeknd featuring Lil Babyfrom the album Donda ReleasedSeptember 14, 2021 (2021-09-14)RecordedSeptember 1, 2018–August 2021Studio Archwood Music (Los Angeles) Genre R&B pop hip hop gospel Length4:04Label GOOD Def Jam Songwriter(s) Kanye West Abel Tesfaye Dominque Armani Jones Albert Daniels Cailin Russo Charles Njapa Christopher Ruelas Cydel Young Daniel Seeff Dexter Mills Henry Walter Jahmal Gwin Josh Mease K...

 

星洲网

星洲网网站类型新闻网站语言简体中文總部 马来西亚雪兰莪州八打灵再也Semangat路19号（星洲日报总部）持有者世华多媒体有限公司編輯卜亚烈网址www.sinchew.com.my商业性质是注册选择性（个人新闻空间）推出时间2000年4月21日，​24年前​（2000-04-21）內容許可保有版权 星洲网，是一家马来西亚线上免费综合新闻网站，也是马来西亚销售量最高的中文报《星洲日报》...

أندريا غيز

أندريا غيز   معلومات شخصية اسم الولادة (بالإنجليزية: Andrea Mia Ghez)‏  الميلاد 16 يونيو 1965 (59 سنة)  نيويورك  مواطنة الولايات المتحدة  عضوة في الأكاديمية الوطنية للعلوم[1]،  والأكاديمية الأمريكية للفنون والعلوم[2]  الحياة العملية المدرسة الأم معهد كاليفورن...

 

William A. Carroll

William A. CarrollWilliam Carroll sebagai Wesley Strangedalam film Embers (1916)Lahir9 Januari 1875Manhattan, New York City, Amerika SerikatMeninggal26 Januari 1928 (usia 53)Glendale, California, Amerika SerikatPekerjaanPemeranTahun aktif1911 - 1927 William A. Carroll (9 Januari 1875 – 26 Januari 1928), adalah seorang pemeran film bisu Amerika Serikat. Carroll tampil dalam 140 film antara 1911 dan 1927 Pranala luar William A. Carroll di IMDb (dalam bahasa Inggris) Pengaw...

 

Andrew Dismore

British Labour politician (born 1954) Andrew DismoreDismore in 2015Member of the London Assembly for Barnet and CamdenIn office4 May 2012 – 6 May 2021Preceded byBrian ColemanSucceeded byAnne ClarkeMember of Parliament for HendonIn office1 May 1997 – 12 April 2010Preceded byConstituency CreatedSucceeded byMatthew Offord Personal detailsBorn (1954-09-02) 2 September 1954 (age 69)Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, EnglandPolitical partyLabourAlma materLondon School...

Ankole

Former country For the cattle breeds, see Ankole-Watusi and Ankole (cattle). Kingdom of AnkoleObugabe Bw'Ankole (Nyankole)1478–1967 Flag Coat of arms Anthem: 'Ensi Nkore, Ensi Nkore'Location of Ankole (red) in Uganda (pink).StatusKingdomCapitalMbarara[1]0°36′47.999″S 30°39′29.999″E / 0.61333306°S 30.65833306°E / -0.61333306; 30.65833306Common languagesRunyankole, EnglishEthnic groups BanyankoleGovernmentConstitutional monarchyO...

 

Castiglion Fiorentino

Castiglion Fiorentinocomune Castiglion Fiorentino – Veduta LocalizzazioneStato Italia Regione Toscana Provincia Arezzo AmministrazioneSindacoMario Agnelli (lista civica di centro-destra Libera Castiglioni) dal 26-5-2014 (2º mandato dal 27-5-2019) TerritorioCoordinate43°20′38″N 11°55′08″E43°20′38″N, 11°55′08″E (Castiglion Fiorentino) Altitudine342 m s.l.m. Superficie111,58 km² Abitanti13 052[1] (31-8-2022) D...

 

105 год до н. э.

Годы 109 до н. э. · 108 до н. э. · 107 до н. э. · 106 до н. э. — 105 до н. э. — 104 до н. э. · 103 до н. э. · 102 до н. э. · 101 до н. э. Десятилетия 120-е до н. э. · 110-е до н. э. — 100-е до н. э. — 90-е до н. э. · 80-е ...

Oscar Cruz

Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church (1934–2020) In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Valero and the surname or paternal family name is Cruz. The Most ReverendOscar Valero CruzJ.C.D., D.D.Archbishop of Lingayen–DagupanChurchCatholic ChurchLatin ChurchArchdioceseLingayen–DagupanAppointedJuly 15, 1991RetiredNovember 4, 2009PredecessorFederico Guba LimonSuccessorSocrates B. VillegasOther post(s) Archbishop Emeritus of Lingayen–Dagupan (2009̴...

 

Cryptomys

Genus of rodents CryptomysTemporal range: Early Pliocene to Recent Cryptomys hottentotus Scientific classification Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Bathyergidae Genus: CryptomysJ. E. Gray, 1864 Type species Georychus holosericeus Species Cryptomys hottentotus Cryptomys mahali Cryptomys natalensis Cryptomys nimrodi Cryptomys pretoriae Cryptomys is the genus of mole-rats, endemic to Africa.[1] Most of the species formerly place...

 

Kuil Wanshou

Kuil WanshouKompleks Kuil Wanshou dilihat dari atasAgamaAfiliasiBuddhaLokasiNegaraTiongkokLokasi BeijingKoordinat39°56′45″N 116°18′19″E / 39.94583°N 116.30528°E / 39.94583; 116.30528ArsitekturRampung1577 Kuil Wanshou (Hanzi sederhana: 万寿寺; Hanzi tradisional: 萬壽寺; Pinyin: Wànshòu Sì) terletak di Suzhoujie (jalan Suzhou), Distrik Haidian, Beijing, Tiongkok. Selain menjadi kuil Buddha, Kuil Wanshou juga menjadi Museum Seni Beijing (�...

Securities Investor Protection Corporation

American financial non-profit Securities Investor Protection CorporationAbbreviationSIPCTax ID no. 52-0910763[1]Legal status501(c)(6) membership corporation[1]PurposeTo work to return customers' cash, stock, other securities, and other property when a brokerage firm is closed due to bankruptcy or other financial difficulties and customer assets are missing.Headquarters1667 K Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20006, United StatesPresidentWilliam S. Jasien[2]Genera...

 

Lauren Scherf

Australian basketball player Lauren ScherfScherf in February 2019No. 77 – Flammes Carolo BasketPositionPower forward / CentreLeagueLigue FémininePersonal informationBorn (1996-03-07) 7 March 1996 (age 28)East Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaListed height196 cm (6 ft 5 in)Career informationPlaying career2012–presentCareer history2012Melbourne Tigers2013–2017Dandenong Rangers (SEABL)2013–2017Dandenong Rangers (WNBL)2017–2019Canberra Capitals2018Diamond Valle...