The King of Diamonds

There are two versions of this South African play, in addition to a number of international film and TV works.

=The King of Diamonds by Harold J. Laite (1953)=

The original play
Written as a three-act play by Harold J. Laite, dealing with Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902)  and Barney Barnato (1851-1897). It was published by Pioneer Press in Cape Town in the 1956.

South African performances
1953: First presented at the Labia Theatre, Cape Town, 1953.

The text
This is a musical version of Harold J. Laite's play, The King of Diamonds, with Barney Barnato (1851-1897) as central figure and hero. The book is by Bob O'Keefe, the music by Edgar Adeler. Unpublished.

South African Productions
1961: Produced by National Theatre Organisation (NTO), directed by Robert Langford. Cast included Roscoe C. Behrmann; Virginia Lee; Joe Stewardson; Viviene Adley; Jimmy Asser; Patrick Mynhardt; Hugo Warren; Bella Mariani; Elizabeth Evans; Tiny Walker; Jo-Ann Pezarro; Gabriel Bayman; Sheila Forbes; Diana Shahn; Patsi Kahn; Ronald Bloch; Alan Cean; George Jackson; Hugh Claven; Ivo Pellegrini; Casper Dyason. Musical director: Bill Walker. Choreography: Richard Daneel.