La Perruche et le Poulet

La Perruche et le Poulet ("The Parrot and the Chicken") is a comic detective play by French dramatist Robert Thomas [1] (1927-1989).

The original text

A substantial French adaptation of Busybody, a comedy by Jack Popplewell (1909-1996)[2], it is set in the office of Mr. Rocher, a notary in Paris. Miss Alice Postic, the office's switchboard operator and inveterate chatterbox, is a real pain. One evening, while the employees have left, she discovers the body of Mr. Rocher with a dagger in his back. She just has time to call the police before fainting.

It premiered at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris on 12 August 1966.

Translations and adaptations

Babbelkous en Bruidegom, an Afrikaans stage version

Translated into Afrikaans as Babbelkous en Bruidegom ("chatterbox and brideroom") by Tine Balder and adapted for an Afrikaans audience by Anna Neethling-Pohl. In this version, a lawyer's receptionist, who is keen on detective stories and crime films, believes her boss has been killed, so she reports it to the police. However, once questioned she knows all the answers about his disappearance.

Babbelkous: an Afrikaans film version

The Afrikaans film adaptation, based on the Balder and Neethling-Pohl translation/adaptation, was directed by Koos Roets and produced by Tommie Meyer and Geoff Harris for Pendulum Films, using the shortened title Babbelkous. Directed by Roets, it featured Katinka Heyns, Tobie Cronje, Jan Bruyns, Petru Wessels, George Ballot, Marga van Rooy, Marko van der Colff, Annelisa Weiland, Francois de Bruyn, Janice Honeyman, Bob Riley, Will Bernard and Gerhard Mynhardt. The technical crew included Koos Roets (cinematography), Gerrie van Wyk (editing), Whitney Walls (sound), Hannes Roets (assistant cameraman), Alexander Bannon (animator) and Bob Riley (continuity and production assistant).

Released in June, 1974.

Stage performances in South Africa

For a listing of performances of the original English play by Popplewell, see the entry on Busybody

1973: The Afrikaans version, Babbelkous en Bruidegom was staged by PACT in the Breytenbach Theatre, directed by Truida Louw, featuring Janice Honeyman (Ann Parker), Jan Engelen (Speurder-Sersant Greyling), Annette Engelbrecht (Grietjie Roos), Marie Koeleman (Susan Bergh), Peter Terry (David Preller), David van der Merwe (Fredrik Cilliers), Marko van der Colff (Jan Rademan), Tobie Cronjé (Konstabel Mentz), Magda Beukes (Clara Rademan) and Peter Terry (Harry Logan). Decor designed by Richard Cook. {Katinka Heyns as Babbelkous?)

1977: PEAAT presented Babbelkous en Bruidegom by Robert Thomas at the Port Elizabeth Opera House from September 7 - 10, 1977, in Uitenhage on September 16, 1977 and in Humansdorp on September 24, 1977. The three-Act play, produced by Marlene Pieterse. Starring Jeanette Hardy, Elizabeth Klonus, At Roux, Petro van Niekerk, Adriaan van Ree, Susan Strydom, Jannie Britz, Syd Lottering, Marais Uys, and Naydene Smith. Stage Manager: Denise Grobler, Lighting: David Yates, Decor: Jannie Britz, and Stan Roberts, Requisition: Sonje Maree and Gay Schonborn, Sound: Dien Verstappen, Theatre Manager: Hester Stegman, Photography: Trevor O'Riordan.

1978: Babbelkous en Bruidegom Produced by Pauline van Zyl for the Jansenville Dramavereniging. Starring Renier Grobler, Ria Grobler, Jannie van Zyl, Pauline van Zyl, Ice Lötter, Rykie Lötter, Wessel Cornelius, Janet Cornelius and Ina van der Westhuizen.

Sources

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Perruche_et_le_Poulet

PACT Newsletter, February 1973.

PACT theatre programme, 1973.

Babbelkous en Bruidegom theatre programme, 1977.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2046073/

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