The Metamorphosis
by Franz Kafka

Name: The Metamorphosis
Brand: Franz Kafka
SKU: 9780822207511
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

The Metamorphosis Book Cover — The Metamorphosis Cover

Highlights

Medium Cast

Female

Male

90 mins1910s/WWIReduced Casting (Doubling Possible)Unit Set/Multiple SettingsPeriod CostumesAmerican Adaptation Comedy

Synopsis

Poetic drama 5m, 3f.

Some doubling, 1 Klezmer musician.

Dreams are sometimes considered metaphors that help us understand the events in our lives.

In this dramatic adaptation of Kafka's novella, Gregor Samsa awakens into a dream in which he finds himself transformed into a cockroach.

The Stage Manager "summons" the dream-play while a mime and a musician communicate his thoughts and emotions, invoking a nightmarish atmosphere.

Set in early 20th century Prague and written in verse, Thomalen captures the surreal humor and pathos of the story.

This work opens a space in the school community for a great work of world literature with special relevance to the pain and struggles of adolescence and young adulthood.

Requires an actor with strong mimic talent.

Winner of the American Theatre and Education, Unpublished Play Reading Project.

Press Reviews

"This adaptation makes one ponder socially significant issues, class struggles, inequities, treatment of someone different, i.e. disabled or dysfunctional, and the writing is forthright."
— Hi Drama

"Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis begins as the story's central figure, Gregor Samsa, becomes a giant insect. Stories seldom start in a more over-the-top, theatrical way... a rich subject... how would Gregor be represented? Thomalen's solution is both obvious and effective, having the actor portraying him never utter a single spoken line, with whatever insect-like speech he can muster portrayed by Klezmer-like violin sounds being produced by the Hasidic musician who always accompanies him."
— Talkin' Broadway

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Grete Samsa late teens; Gregor's sister.	female	—	late teens; Gregor's sister.
Mr. Samsa 50s; Gregor's father.	male	50s	50s; Gregor's father.
Mrs. Samsa 50s; Gregor's mother.	female	50s	50s; Gregor's mother.
Office Manager	—	—	—
First Maid	—	—	—
Cleaning Woman	—	—	—
First Boarder	—	—	—
Second Boarder	—	—	—
Third Boarder	—	—	—
Stage Managre	—	—	—
The Fiddler Klezmer musician.	—	—	Klezmer musician.
Gregor Samsa 20s; a dung beetle, or believes self to be.	—	20s	20s; a dung beetle, or believes self to be.