Egon Wolff
Encyclopedia
Egon Wolff is a Chilean playwright and author. He was born in Santiago, Chile
and was educated in Chile and the United States.
immigrants, his parents were conventional people who espoused traditional family values and encouraged traditional work ethics. During his childhood Wolff suffered periods of ill health and turned to reading; he read the classics of world literature to escape the boredom of being sick and bedridden. At the age of 16 Wolff produced his first novel, El Ocaso (Sunset).
Wolff studied and graduated in chemical engineering
from the Universidad Catolica de Chile
(Catholic University of Santiago) and subsequently studied performing arts at Yale University
in the United States
.
(Experimental Theatre of the University of Chile) in 1941, followed by the founding of the Teatro del Ensayo de la Universidad Catolica
(TEUC) (Theatre Actor Studio of the Catholic University) in 1943 created a qualitative change in Chilean theatre. Like many of his contemporaries in the 1950s his career begins to take form within this University theatre; he begins to develop a career with a more technical and artistic rigor which – unlike previous commercial theatre – led as much to the production of theatre as it did to the creation of new theatre groups.
He is famous for the use of the “fourth wall”. This concept works on the principle that the audience is like a wall for the team of actors; in some cases actors can break this wall and communicate with the audience.
Wolff’s work gravitates towards social neo-realism
in which he portrays the seemingly complex behavior and conflicts between individual as ultimately yielding to forces in their environment. Consequently his work harbors social
, political and existential
themes such as conflict between social classes and between different generation groups
; the moral decay and the decadence of certain social groups. His work also touches on the negative effects social conventions can have on the existence of individuals.
In some works Wolff presents two social groups that have ideas and life situations that are opposed and in struggle with each other, and by the end of work only one of these tends to prevail. He writes about the human condition the destructive nature of social forces which at times blends with magical realism that allows situations to alternate between reality and fantasy
.
In one of his most famous works, “Pareja de trapos” (Pair of rags), the two protagonists represent the pride and prejudice of the aristocracy
and the opportunism of the middle class
es which in order to climb proves itself capable of anything, including immoral or criminal acts. In "Los Invasores” (The invaders) a luxurious residence is invaded and occupied by a group of homeless beggars in this work the audience is unable to fully determine if the event is a real or merely a “nightmare”.
Through this thematic medium Wolff produces a profound critique of society.
After the death of his wife in an automobile accident in 1995 Wolff stopped working for about five years.
from 1979. He earned the Premio Municipal de Teatro (Municipal Theatre Prize) a number of times. In 1983 he entered as a principal member of the Chilean Academy of Language.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and was educated in Chile and the United States.
Early life
Egon Wolff was born into a middle class family of GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
immigrants, his parents were conventional people who espoused traditional family values and encouraged traditional work ethics. During his childhood Wolff suffered periods of ill health and turned to reading; he read the classics of world literature to escape the boredom of being sick and bedridden. At the age of 16 Wolff produced his first novel, El Ocaso (Sunset).
Wolff studied and graduated in chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
from the Universidad Catolica de Chile
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is one of the six Catholic Universities existing in the Chilean university system and one of the two Pontifical Universities in the country, along with the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. It is also one of Chile's oldest universities and...
(Catholic University of Santiago) and subsequently studied performing arts at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Chilean theatre
The formation of the Teatro Experimental de la Universidad de ChileUniversidad de Chile (university)
The University of Chile is the largest and oldest institution of higher education in Chile and one of the oldest in the Americas. Founded in 1842 as the replacement and continuation of the former colonial Royal University of San Felipe , the university is often called Casa de Bello in honor of...
(Experimental Theatre of the University of Chile) in 1941, followed by the founding of the Teatro del Ensayo de la Universidad Catolica
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is one of the six Catholic Universities existing in the Chilean university system and one of the two Pontifical Universities in the country, along with the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. It is also one of Chile's oldest universities and...
(TEUC) (Theatre Actor Studio of the Catholic University) in 1943 created a qualitative change in Chilean theatre. Like many of his contemporaries in the 1950s his career begins to take form within this University theatre; he begins to develop a career with a more technical and artistic rigor which – unlike previous commercial theatre – led as much to the production of theatre as it did to the creation of new theatre groups.
Method and thematics
Wolff has a unique and expressive literary style full of patterns, and unexpected twists and turns. Often the first scene in a play is like the last, creating a continuous and complete cycle. Though his themes are universal, his style and work are full of references to aspects of Chilean culture.He is famous for the use of the “fourth wall”. This concept works on the principle that the audience is like a wall for the team of actors; in some cases actors can break this wall and communicate with the audience.
Wolff’s work gravitates towards social neo-realism
Neorealism (art)
In art, neorealism was established by the ex-Camden Town Group painters Charles Ginner and Harold Gilman at the beginning of World War I. They set out to explore the spirit of their age through the shapes and colours of daily life...
in which he portrays the seemingly complex behavior and conflicts between individual as ultimately yielding to forces in their environment. Consequently his work harbors social
Social
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
, political and existential
Existentialism
Existentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...
themes such as conflict between social classes and between different generation groups
Generation
Generation , also known as procreation in biological sciences, is the act of producing offspring....
; the moral decay and the decadence of certain social groups. His work also touches on the negative effects social conventions can have on the existence of individuals.
In some works Wolff presents two social groups that have ideas and life situations that are opposed and in struggle with each other, and by the end of work only one of these tends to prevail. He writes about the human condition the destructive nature of social forces which at times blends with magical realism that allows situations to alternate between reality and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
.
In one of his most famous works, “Pareja de trapos” (Pair of rags), the two protagonists represent the pride and prejudice of the aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
and the opportunism of the middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
es which in order to climb proves itself capable of anything, including immoral or criminal acts. In "Los Invasores” (The invaders) a luxurious residence is invaded and occupied by a group of homeless beggars in this work the audience is unable to fully determine if the event is a real or merely a “nightmare”.
Through this thematic medium Wolff produces a profound critique of society.
Legacy
The work of Egon Wolff has been produced in 29 countries and translated into 19 different languages.After the death of his wife in an automobile accident in 1995 Wolff stopped working for about five years.
Academic career and distinctions
He was a professor of the Theatre School of the Catholic University of ChilePontifical Catholic University of Chile
The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is one of the six Catholic Universities existing in the Chilean university system and one of the two Pontifical Universities in the country, along with the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. It is also one of Chile's oldest universities and...
from 1979. He earned the Premio Municipal de Teatro (Municipal Theatre Prize) a number of times. In 1983 he entered as a principal member of the Chilean Academy of Language.
Selected works
- Mansión de lechuzas (1957)
- Discípulos del miedo (Disciples of Fear) (1958)
- Parejas de trapo (1959)
- Niñamadre (1961)
- El signo de Caín (The mark of Cain) (1958, estreno 1969)
- Los invasores (The invaders) (1963)
- Flores de papel (Paper flowers) (1970)
- Kindergarten (1977)
- Espejismos (1978)
- Álamos en la azotea (1981)
- El sobre Azul (The blue shadow) (1983)
- La balsa de la Medusa (1984)
- Háblame de Laura (Speak to me of Laura) (1985)
- Invitación a comer (Dinner invitation) (1993)
- Cicatrices (Scars) (1994)
- Claroscuro (Chiaroscuro) (1995)
- Encrucijada (2000)
- Tras una puerta cerrada (Behind a closed door ) (2000)