EDWARD EINHORN’S STAGE ADAPTATION OFÂ JACK LONDON’S 1908 SOCIALIST DYSTOPIAN NOVEL
Theater 61 Press, a division of the Off-Broadway theater companyUntitled Theater Co. No. 61, announces the April 15, 2018publication of The Havel Collection, Edward Einhorn’s stage adaptation of Jack London’s 1908 novel, originally performed to critical acclaim in New York in 2016.
The original novel is considered to be the first modern dystopian novel, was an inspiration for Orwell’s 1984, and was praised in a book review by Leon Trotsky. Written as socialist propaganda, it is the story of an election between a socialist revolutionary and an entrenched oligarch. The oligarch prevails, turning America fascist, and inspires the Marxist revolution. Set in Jack London’s future, 1912 – 1934, its themes nonetheless have obvious relevance a century later.
Reviewing the stage production, Elizabeth Vincentelli for The New York Times wrote “[The Iron Heel] serves up food for thought with an appealing heart-on-sleeve warmth.” In Socialist Workers, Geoff Bailey wrote “…the production brings alive the hope and horror of the revolutionaries who fought in the early 20th century in a way that feels relevant and contemporary to a modern audience.” And in The Financial Times, Alexandra Scaggs wrote “Edward Einhorn not only absorbed creatively the impetus given by Jack London’s The Iron Heel but also thought over again in its light political discourse as a whole.”
The book also includes an introduction by the playwright and photos of the original production.
Theater 61 Press is a division of Untitled Theater Company #61 (UTC61), a Theater of Ideas: scientific, political, philosophical, and above all theatrical. Untitled Theater Company No. 61 has been presenting theater in New York for over 20 years, and has received Critics Picks from The New York Times, Time Out New York, and The Village Voice.
Previous books from Theater 61 Press include The Havel Collection, a five volume set of new translations of Václav Havel’s work; The Velvet Oratorio, an oratorio about the Velvet Revolution; a new adaptation of Lysistrata; and Playing Dreidel with Judah Maccabee, an original Hanukkah play. More can be learned on the website, www.theater61press.com
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