Rattle of a Simple Man

Rattle of a Simple Man is a comedy written by Charles Dyer (1928-)[1].

Also known as La Crécelle

The original text

A bet to spend the night with a prostitute shows how loneliness can drive people to opposite extremes. Set in the character Cyrenne's basement flat somewhere in London.

Said to have been first produced in Nottingham, 1962, although there is proof that the play was presented in South Africa by a British company

First published by Samuel French, 1963.

Translations and adaptations

Translated and adapted into French as La Crécelle ("the rattle") by Albert Husson and first performed at the Théâtre de la Gaité-Montparnasse on 28 September, 1963, directed by Michel Fagadau (1930-2011)[2].

Adapted for the screen by the author. The screen version was directed by Muriel Box in 1964.

Performance history in South Africa

1961: A British production, brought to South Africa by Taubie Kushlick, with Edward Woodward, Pauline Stroud and Kerry Jordan. Directed by Valda Blumberg. Set designed by Nina Campbell-Quine. The play was performed at The Playhouse Theatre, Johannesburg.

196*: Staged by Leonard Schach and David Bloomberg, directed by American director Robert Aden [3], with Erica Rogers (Cyrenne), Cobus Rossouw (Percy) and Glynn Day (Ricky).

1976: Presented by the Durban Theatre Workshop Company at the City Centre Theatre, directed by John Rogers, June 1976.

1978: Performed at the Academy Theatre starring visiting actors Harry H. Corbett (1925-1982) [4] and Dilys Watling [5] with Chris Matthews.

1981: Presented by Colin Law in Durban, directed by David Crichton, from 23 March 1981 and at the People's Space from 13 April.