I Am a Camera

I Am a Camera is a play by English playwright and theatre director John van Druten (1901-1957)[1]

The original text

Based on the novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood, the play was first performed at the Empire Theatre in New York City, opening on 28 November 28, 1951. Directed by the palywright with Julie Harris as "Sally Bowles". In the 1954 London stage production the role of "Sally Bowles" was played by Dorothy Tutin.

The text published by Random House, Inc. in 1951.

Translations and adaptations

The play was filmed in 1955, directed by South African-born Henry Cornelius, with Julie Harris and Laurence Harvey.

In 1966 the play was turned into a hugely successful stage musical called Cabaret, subsequently also filmed to acclaim in 1972. (For more information on the musical and SA productions, see the entry on Cabaret.)

Performance history in South Africa

1955: Ruth Oppenheim staged this play at the Windmill Theatre in Johannesburg. It opened on 12 October 1955 and featured Tessa Laubscher as Sally Bowles. Others in the cast were Stanley Coghan, Ziona Bonell, Jacinta Roseira, Jeanne Pratt, Hans Kann (Hans Kaniuk) and George Dilley. The decor was designed by Saxon Lucas. Subsequently the play went on tour to Pretoria and Vereeniging before returning to the Windmill Theatre.

19??: Produced by the Brian Brooke Company, date and venue unknown.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_a_Camera

Tucker, 1997. 79.

Photocopies of programmes for productions by the Brian Brooke Company, held by NELM: [Collection: ASCH, Valda]: 2005. 65. 7. 11.

A photocopy of the published text found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department's theatre archives and now held in the ESAT repository at the Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation, with offices at Pieter Okkers House, 7 Joubert Street, Stellenbosch, South Africa.