On Nov. 15, Stefano Boselli (Theatre) presented his paper, “Large Production, Big History: The Actor-Network Dramaturgy of Good Bye Mister Freud through Space and Time,” during the “Big Histories: Experimental Methods for Tracking Change Across Bodies, Generations, and Geographies in Performance” Working Session at the American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) Conference “Ecologies of Time and Change,” held in Seattle, WA. Boselli’s research explored the intricate interplay of human and non-human actors shaping the transatlantic networks behind Good Bye Mister Freud (Paris, 1974), a large-cast “tango-opera” created by French director Jérôme Savary and queer Argentine playwright Copi for the Grand Magic Circus, Savary’s company. Through the lens of this sprawling, melodramatic, and humorous production—which follows a heroine’s journey from Tsarist Russia to NYC and the emergence of psychoanalysis—Boselli traced the genealogies of actors that influenced Savary’s and Copi’s movements around the globe until their meeting in Paris, and consequently contributed to the production’s materialization. His analysis revealed how the complex political and cultural histories of France and Argentina played pivotal roles as “actors” in the production’s realization. Boselli’s presentation offered a compelling look at the dynamic global networks of artistry, politics, and history that underpin theatre-making.
