Book edition

For discussion of live productions of Let The Right One In
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CyberGhostface
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Book edition

Post by CyberGhostface » Sun Dec 01, 2013 3:10 am

No banaaaanas?

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Nightrider
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Re: Book edition

Post by Nightrider » Sun Dec 01, 2013 3:20 am

Awesome, awesome find. Just ordered it. 8-)
It could be the closest thing to seeing the play live...at least for those residing in North America!

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http://www.aspca.org/

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Wolfchild
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Re: Book edition

Post by Wolfchild » Wed Dec 04, 2013 5:41 pm

I really like that cover pic. I'll have to get myself one of these.
...the story derives a lot of its appeal from its sense of despair and a darkness in which the love of Eli and Oskar seems to shine with a strange and disturbing light.
-Lacenaire

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Re: Book edition

Post by Nightrider » Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:22 pm

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The book is here...
http://www.aspca.org/

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Re: Book edition

Post by Nightrider » Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:45 pm

gkmoberg1 wrote:and....
....and...I'm about to read it. Wait here...I'll be right back and tell you all about it..........................................
http://www.aspca.org/

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EEA
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Re: Book edition

Post by EEA » Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:07 pm

Cool item to have. :)

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a_contemplative_life
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Re: Book edition

Post by a_contemplative_life » Fri Dec 13, 2013 1:37 am

Nightrider wrote:
gkmoberg1 wrote:and....
....and...I'm about to read it. Wait here...I'll be right back and tell you all about it..........................................
:lol: Take your time--it's not like we're impatient or anything.
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Re: Book edition

Post by Nightrider » Sun Dec 15, 2013 2:29 am

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NTS/Royal Court presentation
of Let The Right One In
Based on the novel and film by
John Ajvide Lindqvist
Adapted for the stage by
Jack Thorne


I can only assume that what I'm reading is the final cut of the stageplay that
appeared at Dundee Rep Theatre in Scotland and currently running at Royal Court
Theatre in London.
Books and movies differ from stage versions. This particular production as already
mentiond was based on the original book(2007) and the movie(2008), yet it also has
bits and pieces from 2010 remake "Let Me In".


It is almost given that not every character from the novel or a movie will survive
the cut and will actually make it to the stage.
Here's the cast and their designations in the play.

Oskar
He is a bit more naive than he is in the movies or the book.
Oskar steals candy as in the novel. Plays with a knife as in the movies.
Reading the stageplay I did not particularly cozied up to this kid.
He did not seem like the kind of character who would defend Eli and put
his own life in danger. His growth is not as evident here as it is in the Alfredson's
film...Perhaps it looked better live.

Eli
Perhaps the closest version of Lina Leandersson's portrayal.
Play's Eli is very similar to the Swedish movie's character.
She has a quite a few strong, dramatic scenes with Hakan and
this was something I would have loved to have seen in person.

Hakan
An interesting mixture of novel and Alfredson's film.
He wants love and much more from Eli and the play does not shy away
from these details. Another character that must have looked impressive
on the stage.




Jonny-bully 1
Micke-bully 2

Instead of three villains we have 2, but I can only assume that
it was an economic decision.

Torkel-first victim
He is killed by Hakan as the play starts.
It's a scene that is almost identical to the Swedish film without
Ricky and two girls.

Kurt-sweet shop owner.
In the movie we barely hear man's voice as he sells Oskar some candy.
In the play, Kurt has quite a bit of dialogue. He is always watching
Oskar as he steals candy and also participates in slightly changed
version of "No Banaanas" exchange from the novel.

Mum
She is a good supporting mother, but the
stageplay suggests that she's an alcoholic. Everything else
is pretty much straight from the Swedish film.

Halmberg-Police Commissioner
Halmberg is all over the place in the play since he's taking on
additional tasks.He speaks to school assembly about a murderer.
on the loose. He questions Oskar's Mum about her drinking.
He questiones disfigured Hakan about his identity.
And finally he become's Eli's final victim(as in "Let Me In")
since Lacke and Virginia are not in the play.

Jocke-Eli's first victim
Because Lacke is not in the stageplay, Jocke's death serves a dual purpose.
To show of what Eli is capable of and to launch a dramatic scene with
Hakan who witnesses the killing and confronts Eli. It looked very
strong on the page and it was probably just as memorable on the stage.

Mr. Avila.
Same as in the book and Swedish film Mr.Avila is one of the represntations of
the adult world. He has quite a bit of stage time.

Nils-hospital receptionist
Identical to the film.

Dad
Identical to the film. He takes up about as much time as he does in Alfredson's
film.

Janne-Dad's drinking buddy
Same as in the Swedish film. Used to illustrate Oskar Dad's drinking problem.

Jimmy-Jonny's brother
An important part of the story. His scene at the pool plays out similarly to the film.
Jimmy is even more agressive and menacing than he is in the movie.


Stefan-train conductor
Has just a few lines at the end of the play. Nice inclusion for the fans to connect
to "Let The Old Dreams Die".


Some more things I got from reading the script.
There's quite a bit of awkward dialogue from several characters
attempting too sizable of an exposition.
It is a pretty brutal(and accordingly so) production with a great deal of
violent goings on. It is also much more of an adult tale with a generous amount of
expletives and sexual themes. The famous dance number in the woods is missing from
this stage play. After seeing stills and reading about it I would have wanted to read
of that number's description. At one point Eli is climbing up to Hakan's hospital
room. It made me wonder how and if it was achieved on the stage. Same as with Oskar's
pool scene and Eli's attack. Stage play gets pretty vivid with the account of these
acts and it would have been fantastic to witness them in the theatrical setting.

Little subtle points...
Oskar uses a kitchen knife instead of a hunting one.
After drinking Hakan's blood at the hospital Eli mentiones that she tastes morphine.
She breaks Hakan's neck instead of him falling out of the window.
Jimmy beats up and knocks out Mr. Avila instead of distracting him with a trash fire.
Eli sleeps in the trunk. There's no bathtub. Eli and Hakan appear to have a much
closer relationship than they do in Alfredson's film. There's at least two tender
moments between them in the adaptation. In the "Bleeding scene" Eli tells Oskar that
her name used to be Elias Jannson. For the most of the play Eli is a girl and
it only in the "Bleeding scene" we come close to questioning her gender...However
this sequence drops the ball and leaves more questions than answers.

Overall...Good stage production which I would have rather seen then read about.
http://www.aspca.org/

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drakkar
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Re: Book edition

Post by drakkar » Wed Apr 23, 2014 6:58 am

Nightrider wrote:Oskar uses a kitchen knife instead of a hunting one.
Same as in the Swedish/Norwegian stagepaly. My impression was that they did it because of practical reasons - a kitchen knife is much larger and easier to see from a distance.
Nightrider wrote: Eli and Hakan appear to have a muchcloser relationship than they do in Alfredson's film.
Same as in the Sw/No play, the paedophile element is presented very clearly.
Nightrider wrote: In the "Bleeding scene" Eli tells Oskar that her name used to be Elias Jannson.
No surname in the Sw/No play. Hovever, Elis gender is made very obvious. Btw, both Oskar and Eli were played by women.
Nightrider wrote:Stefan-train conductor has just a few lines at the end of the play. Nice inclusion for the fans to connect to "Let The Old Dreams Die".
Omitted in the Sw/No stageplay, it skips the train trip and goes directly to LTODD.
For the heart life is simple. It beats as long as it can.
- Karl Ove Knausgård

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