I've seen it twice now, and I really love it, but for some reason the "twist" at the end is lost on me.
Can someone explain what is going on?
*If at this point you haven't seen the show, continue reading, and get upset because something was spoiled for you,...........I can't help you.
*OBVIOUS SPOILERS BELOW*
I'm not sure what twist you're referring to. Anton goes through with Claire's demand, is killed, and Claire honors her side of the deal and lavishes riches on the town.
I interpret it as that she's finally happy that she's received her wish of having Anton with her eternally. She's dressed in black with her "natural" hair, no need to dress up and show off now that she's gotten "justice." She will be forever happy with her lover's coffin in Capri, a fate that Anton accepts in "In The Forrest Again."
^ Agreed
It's like the little insert in the Playbill - what's better love or revenge? Claire gets both. She loves Anton too much to be without him for eternity, but she also still can't forgive him for what he did. She gets her revenge by the town killing him, but also gets to make him "hers" forever at their gravesite in Capri.
Ok, I get that. Maybe I was trying to read too much into Doyle's direction.
But one last question....
Why is Anton seen walking offstage with her at the end? Is he now one of the "Ghosts" that Clara will always travel with?
I actually asked Chita about this. She said "At that point, she doesn't need to hide anymore. She can reveal who she truly is to the town".
Stand-by Joined: 3/10/14
I've also talked to people who interpreted her black dress and new hair as her seeing herself as a widow and presenting as such.
Thanks for that, Jordan!!
Why is Anton seen walking offstage with her at the end? Is he now one of the "Ghosts" that Clara will always travel with?
Absolutely. He will be with her for eternity, just as she wanted.
See the movie with Anthony Quinn. The twist is better and the play makes sense in the film instead of being dreary throughout.
"See the movie with Anthony Quinn. The twist is better and the play makes sense in the film instead of being dreary throughout."
The movie's ending may be clever (it actually is a twist) - I also like it - but it's not Durenmatt's ending in the original play.
Anton doesn't walk with her at the end...
He does now. As of opening night, Anton follows her out in the procession.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/1/14
Based on her comments on Leonard Lopate's show, Chita's interpretation seems to be that Claire dies at the end of the play:
"What you don't see on that stage is that she takes that coffin to Capri, but she also...joins him. She says goodbye herself."
LarryD2, that's very much in line with how I interpreted the final scene with Chita. The change of costume from white to black to me was very pointed in its suggestion that Claire, too, has died and that she will be joining alongside Anton in Capri.
Featured Actor Joined: 11/3/04
"I actually asked Chita about this. She said "At that point, she doesn't need to hide anymore. She can reveal who she truly is to the town"."
Thanks for this info! I was so mesmerized by the show I really didn't give that change much thought. I think I dismissed it as the passage of time or something. Regardless, I loved the musical and Chita of course.
Featured Actor Joined: 11/3/04
"He does now. As of opening night, Anton follows her out in the procession. "
I interpreted as him now being a ghost like the younger selves were throughout the show.
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