The Big Knife
The Big Knife (1949) is a play by Clifford Odets (1906-1963).
Contents
The original text
A classic tale about keeping your integrity in the face of success. The original production, directed by Lee Strasberg, opened at Broadway's National Theatre on 24 February 1949.
Translations and adaptations
The play was made into a 1955 film directed by Robert Aldrich.
Translated into Afrikaans as Die Groot Mes ("the big knife") and adapted for radio by Suzanne van Wyk in 1966.
Performance history in South Africa
1965: Presented by CAPAB, opening 19 May 1965 at the Hofmeyr Theatre. Directed by Robert Aden, decor and costumes by Pamela Lewis. The cast: Glynn Day, Vaughan Scott, Robert Aden, Paddy Canavan, Mary McKinley, Johann Nell, Alec Bell, Simon Swindell, Reinet Maasdorp, Alan Prior, Ziona Garfield, Robert del Kyrke.
1966: Broadcast in Afrikaans as Die Groot Mes by the Afrikaans radio service of the SABC on 1 April at 19h30.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Knife_(play)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford_Odets
The Big Knife CAPAB theatre programme, 1965.
Copy of the Afrikaans radio text, Drama Department archive, Stellenbosch University. Now held in the ESAT repository held at the Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation, with offices at Pieter Okkers House, 7 Joubert Street, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to South_African_Films
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 South African Radio Plays and Serials
Return to South African Television Plays and Series
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
