Quasi per caso una donna: Elisabetta

Quasi per caso una donna: Elisabetta ("Almost by chance a woman: Elizabeth") is an Italian play by Dario Fo (1926–2016)[1]

The original text

Written in 1984, the play takes place in the boudoir of Elizabeth I of England. In the midst of political upheaval aging Elizabeth is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her lover, the Earl of Essex, who is involved in an attempted coup d'etat against the queen. In order to prepare for this tryst, she has summoned her transvestite cosmetic adviser, "Dame Grosslady" (who speaks primarily in grammelot[2]).

First performed on 7 December 1984 in Riccione, Italy. In the original Italian productions the playwright himself played "Dame Grosslady", while Fo's wife, Franca Rame, played "Queen Elizabeth I".

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English as Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman by Gillian Hanna, copyright 1987.

The English text published by Methuen Drama in Plays by Dario Fo (1997).

Not to be confused with the plays called Elizabeth, or The Invisible Armada (Burnand), or Elizabeth I (Foster).

Performance history in South Africa

1996: Presented by CAPAB Drama in the Nico Arena, opening 11 March 1996. Directed by Christopher Weare, design by Michael Mitchell, lighting by Julian August. The cast: Robyn Scott (Elizabeth), Anthea Thompson (Martha), Neels Coetzee (Grosslady), Nicholas Dallas (Egerton), Terence Bridgett (Young man), David Isaacs and Russell Boast (soldiers).

1997: Staged for CAPAB at the Grahamstown Festival in 1997, directed by Christopher Weare, with Robyn Scott (Elizabeth), Anthea Thompson (Martha), Neels Coetzee (Grosslady), Nicholas Dallas (Egerton), Terence Bridgett (Young man), David Isaacs and Russell Boast (soldiers).

2009: Presented at the Little Theatre, Cape Town, directed by Christopher Weare starring Robyn Scott and Scott Sparrow.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth:_Almost_by_Chance_a_Woman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dario_Fo

Elizabeth theatre programme, 1996.

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