Star-studded cast play Ayn Rand’s timeless bestseller
Ayn Rand’s 1943 bestseller The Fountainhead recounts the dramatic story of the breathtaking feud between the young and brilliant architect Howard Roark, who pursues his ideals without compromise, and his rival Peter Keating, a man who opts for commercial success and social status. In the midst of this war of ideas between individualism and collectivism, this clash between tradition and change, between inspiration and compromise, a love story unfolds which challenges all convention. Roark and the ravishing beauty Dominique Francon embark on a love relationship without bounds which demonstrates how difficult it is to give oneself to another without losing oneself. In the words of director Ivo van Hove The Fountainhead is ‘an addictive novel that demanded to be put onto the stage.’
dates
Wed June 11 2014 4:00 PM
Thu June 12 2014 9:30 PM
Fri June 13 2014 9:30 PM
Sat June 14 2014 9:30 PM
Sun June 15 2014 6:00 PM
Wed June 18 2014 9:30 PM
Thu June 19 2014 9:30 PM
Fri June 20 2014 9:30 PM
Sat June 21 2014 9:30 PM
information
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Dutch
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Duration of performance unknown (inclusief 1 pauze)
This is the fascinating portrait of the brilliant young architect Howard Roark, who follows his calling and sets himself up against those who spinelessly parrot the views of others; of Peter Keating, a fellow architect who sells his soul for commercial success and public esteem; of Guy Francon, a traditionalist who uncritically copies architecture from the past; and of the intellectual Ellsworth Toohey, who manipulates public opinion while slyly grooming the masses for a socialist takeover.
‘The theme of my novel', said Ayn Rand, 'is the struggle between individualism and collectivism, not in the political arena but in the human soul. My aim in writing The Fountainhead was always to present a novel whose protagonist embodies the ideal man.’ That man is Howard Roark, a creative artist who, like a sun, is surrounded by less talented and easily influenced characters who envy him his genius and vocation. But equally, The Fountainhead is the story of the struggle between two lovers: between Roark and the beautiful, idealistic and uncompromising Dominique Francon – two likeminded spirits determined never to sacrifice their own liberty or autonomy.
Ivo van Hove: ‘When I first read the novel the characters gripped me, each and every one of them humans of fles hand blood, and at the same time they are larger than life. They are symbols for ideas of grandeur: There’s the brilliant architect Howard Roark who follows his own ideals and dreams of a new world, a city of tomorrow. And then there’s Peter Keating, his colleague who constantly compromises and adapts his designs to fit the market’s demands. The battle between Roark and his adversaries is bloodcurdlingly well written. To me, The Fountainhead is a war of ideas. The great question the book poses: What is creation? What does it mean to create? And what is integrity in the process of creating? The novel is set in the milieu of architects in Twenties New York, where the battle between modernism and classicism raged, but even today its questioning of creation is one that plays in our minds: The balance between the commercial and the innovative, the market and pure expression. Rand uses the architect’s world as a metaphore to discuss art, engagement, individualism and autonomy. But The Fountainhead is also a love story that tinkers at the edges of decency. A relentless love develops between Howard Roark and Domonique Francon, that shows the hardships of giving yourself wholly to another while maintaining your own integrity. At a certain point Roark states: ‘I could die for you, but I couldn’t and wouldn’t live for you.’ It is an engaging, addictive novel that was begging to be staged.'
