Cold Stone Jug
Cold Stone Jug is a semi-autobiographical novel by Herman Charles Bosman about his period of incarceration for murder.
There are three known adaptations.
Translations and adaptations
- A stage play by Stephen Gray, adapted by Barney Simon. It was written for premiere production in 1980 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Bosman's birth. The text was published by Human and Rousseau in 1982.
- A 1980 radio adaptation by Cecil Jubber, broadcast on SABC on 4 June 1980.
- A one-man version was adapted and performed by Patrick Mynhardt.
Performance history in South Africa
1980/81: The first production was a Baxter Company '80 production performed in the Baxter Theatre from 9 to 27 September 1980. Text adapted and directed by Barney Simon with Joe Stewardson (The Writer), Michael O'Brien (Young Prisoner), Ronald France (Judge and oher roles), Marcel van Heerden (Stoffels/Jakes), Charles Comyn (Warder van Graan, Bul), Paul Slabolepszy (Clown and other roles), Richard Cox (Parkins), Peter Krummeck (Marman and other roles, Danny Keogh (Night Head Warder), Robin Smith (Warder Slangvel), Trix Pienaar (Mother) Bess Finney, Ronald France. This production also played at the Market Theatre the following year, with Keith Grenville replacing Stewardson in the role of The Writer.
2002: Patrick Mynhardt presented his one-man Cold Stone Jug at the Groot Marico Kunstefees in 2002.
2004: The Gray/Simon adaptation was directed by Mncedisi Shabangu at the Market Theatre July-August 2004 with an all-black cast, starring Errol Ndotho, Sello Motloung, Sello Sebotsane, Mpho Molepo, Bongani Manoko, Peter Mashigo and others, after its run at the National Arts Festival.
Sources
Typed Playscript NELM (Collection: SIMON, Barney]: 1995. 11. 5. 5. 6).
Baxter Company '80 theatre programme, 1980.
Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
The Star, 20 July 2004.
Correspondence with Stephen Gray, 16 January 2014
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne 1988.
Schwartz, 1988
Gray, S. 2005. Life Sentence. A biography of Herman Charles Bosman. Human & Rousseau.
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