The Merry Widow

The Merry Widow (German: Die Lustige Witwe) is a 1905 operetta by composer Franz Lehár (1870-1948) and librettists, Viktor Léon  and Leo Stein.

The original text
The story is based on an 1861 French comedy play, L'attaché d'ambassade ("The Embassy Attaché") by Henri Meilhac.

Performance history in South Africa
1959: Staged by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society

1973: Staged by CAPAB in the Nico Malan Opera House.

1978: Staged by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society

1979: PACT. Conducted by Edgar Cree. Producer and costume designer: Neels Hansen. Choreographer: Geoffrey Sutherland. PACT Orchestra. Cast inclue Mimi Coerste; Emile Belcourt; Dawie Couzyn; Elize Botha; Stephen Tudor; David Sherwood; Ian Donald; George Kok; Bruce Anderson; Olive King; Clive Roffey; Margaret Beerstecher; De Wet van Rooyen; Clair Robins. Performed at the Aula, Pretoria; Civic Theatre, Johannesburg.

1983: Produced by PACT directed by Neels Hansen, and starring Roberta Palmer and Gé Korsten at the Pretoria State Theatre.

1989: Staged by CAPAB in the Nico Malan Opera House, directed by Angelo Gobbato, conducted by Leo Quayle and choreographed by Pamela Chrimes. The cast included: Andrea Catzel (Hanna Glawari, the widow), Gé Korsten (Count Danilo), John Eager (Baron Mirko Zeta), Aviva Pelham (his wife), Edmondo Rahme (Camille), De Wet van Rooyen (Vicomte Cascade), David Dennis (Njegus) and others. Decor designed by Peter Cazalet and lighting by John T. Baker.

19**: Staged by NAPAC, directed and choreographed by John Pygram and conducted by Hans Menck. The cast included: Dorothy Avrich (Anna Glavari, the widow), Michael Gritten (Count Danilo), Peter Deighton (Baron Mirko Zeta), Anna Ware (his wife), Cyril Dowse (Camille) and others.

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