Bella Donna

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Bella Donna is a play by James Bernard Fagan (1873 –1933)[1]

The original text

Adapted from the 1909 novel of the same name by Robert Smythe Hichens, which tells the story of a flighty young Englishwoman who marries an Egyptologist. Once on the archaeological site she falls for a suave Egyptian, and plots to do away with her husband.

Fagan's adaptation was first performed on Broadway in 1912, featuring Alla Nazimova, and running for 72 performances.

Translations and adaptations

The novel has also been filmed on four occasions, three times under the title [Bella Donna]] (1915, 1923 and 1934) and once as Temptation (1946).

Performance history in South Africa

1913: Performed in Cape Town by the the Charles Howitt-A. Phillips Dramatic Co., featuring Muriel Alexander.

1917: Performed in Johannesburg, probably at the Standard Theatre, by Leonard Rayne and company, featuring June Langley.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_Donna_(novel)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_Donna_(1915_film)#:~:text=Bella%20Donna%20was%20a%201915,name%20by%20Robert%20Smythe%20Hichens.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page