LOS ANGELES -- The August Strindberg Society of Los Angeles recently returned from the International Festival Strindberg in Stockholm where the theatre group performed a staged reading of The Father.

TASSLA has been in existence since 1984 and is dedicated to presenting the works and teachings of the great Swedish dramatist, August Strindberg. TASSLA produced Miss Julie for the L.A. Olympics and has mounted a dozen other Strindberg pieces over the years, most as part of its monthly Sunday Brunch With Strindberg meetings at the Attic Theatre Center.

"The trip was an opportunity to perform a staged reading of The Father, which was an interesting example of the phenomenon of 'concert readings,' which in Sweden are totally unknown," said a company spokesperson. "The Father was translated by Anne- Charlotte Harvey, who the Swedish press gave credit for being 'so faithful to the original, it must feel strange for an American audience. The play is presented straight-forwardly with no overtones except the psychological reactions of the protagonists. So there is simply the father, paradoxically hovering, yet nonetheless filled with life."

The reading was produced by Gretchen Weber, directed by David Patch and was performed by Phyllis Applegate, John Freeland, Jr., Veralyn Jones, Felton Perry, Dig Wayne, Michole White and Mel Winkler.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent