Hello and Goodbye: A Play in Two Acts

by Athol Fugard

athol fugard

Genres: Plays

Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Athol Fugard was a South African playwright, novelist, actor, and director widely regarded as South Africa's greatest playwright. Acclaimed in 1985 as "the greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world" by Time, he published more than thirty plays. He was best known for his political and penetrating plays opposing the system of apartheid, some of which have been adapted to film. His novel Tsotsi was adapted as a film of the same name, which won an Academy Award in 2005. It was directed by Gavin Hood.
Fugard also served as an adjunct professor of playwriting, acting and directing in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of California, San Diego.
Fugard received many awards, honours, and honorary degrees, including the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver from the government of South Africa in 2005 "for his excellent contribution and achievements in the theatre". He was also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Fugard was honoured in Cape Town with the opening in 2010 of the Fugard Theatre in District Six. He received a Tony Award for lifetime achievement in 2011.

Reviews

[Narjes Dorzade]

فوگارد در این کتاب از وضعیت سفید‌پوستان آفریقا نوشته که کم و بیش وضعیتی به مانند سیاهان آنجا دارند.جایی که هر دو رنگ تبار خاکستری به خود می‌گیرند. بدیو در کتاب سیاه درخشش یک‌ نا_رنگ این وضعیت را این‌گونه شرح می‌دهد که می‌تواند برای هر دو صدق کند:

«حتی امروزه هم آفریقایی‌های بی‌شماری جان‌شان را به خطر می‌اندازند تا خود را به اروپا برسانند تا آنجا چه کنند؟ مردان کارگر ساختمانی یا ظرف‌شور رستوران شوند
و زنان نظافت‌چی یا پرستار.
بله درست است! یا (( پست‌اید))_ چون سیاه‌اید_ یا نیستید»

[Cameron Krogh Stone]

The protagonist in this story is certainly in an intriguing mental state. The premise is also interesting and classic - estranged siblings being reunited over inheritance - and it opens up a can of wormy memories that explains their relationship. Clearly there is trauma being treated through the unboxing of these old memories, but does it get resolved, or is it all futile? Overall what I draw from the piece is how to waste a life living alone in fear, hatred and regret, running away from rather than facing one's challenges, together.

[Sandra Visser]

Bitter and heavy but gripping. Pathetic ending and pathetic characters. Didn't like it, too depressing.

[Karoon]

من می‌خواستم دوست داشته باشم. نفرت سخت بود.

[Simon Levy]

not one of his best

[Kübra DEMİRBAŞ]

It's about devastating effects of townships in South Africa. I liked the way that writer says nothing but we understand everything from characters about townships life.

[Ali]

نمایش نامه ی اثول فوگارد را باید خواند، نه به این دلیل که شاهکار اند، که نیستند، بلکه به این دلیل که فوگارد یک نمایش نامه نویس از آفریقای جنوبی ست و مسایلی که مطرح می کند با آنچه در مورد وضعیت سیاهان در آمریکا و توسط نویسندگان آمریکایی خوانده ایم، بسیار متفاوت اند. بی تردید یکی از علل مهم این تفاوت آن است که فوگارد اهل یک کشور آفریقایی ست که توسط یک اقلیت سفیدپوست اداره می شده، پس ابتدا به ساکن با وضعیت یک اقلیت سیاه پوست در کشوری مانند آمریکا متفاوت است

سلام، خداحافظ توسط و سی زوئه بانسی مرده است را محمود کیانوش به فارسی برگردانده، و هر دو نمایش نامه را رکن الدین خسروی برای صحنه کارگردانی کرده.

[James Cooper]

There are many reasons why we use the words hello and goodbye and this play shows us that they don't mean the same to everyone. A play about the waste, greed, and family dynamics we see that hello for some is really a goodbye to others.

[Clare Grové]

F for Fugard
2022 alphabet-of-african-authors

Sacrifice of dreams.
Wish for escape and freedom from poverty.
Lack of identity.

Little lives of most.