Ring Round the Moon

Ring Round the Moon [1] is a 1950 translation and adaptation by the English dramatist Christopher Fry [2] of L’invitation au château ("Invitation to the castle") [3], a 1947 satirical play by the French playwright Jean Anouilh (1910-1987) [4].

Published by Methuen, 1965.

Performance history in South Africa

1953: Presented by the Brian Brooke Company starring British actor John Trevor and Zoe Randall directed by Brian Brooke at the Alhambra Theatre, Durban, subsequently at the Hofmeyr Theatre in Cape Town.

1964: Presented by PACT at the Alexander Theatre, the National Theatre in Pretoria, the Little Theatre, Springs and the City Hall in Germiston in 1964. The play was directed by Ricky Arden, starring Arthur Hall, Vaughan Scott, Fiona Fraser, Valerie Philip, John Hayter, Jane Fenn, Bess Finney, Siegfried Mynhardt, Ronald Wallace, Mavourneen Bryceland, Doreen Lamb and Philip Boucher. Decor and costumes designed by Clarence Wilson. Dances choreographed by Gary Burne.

1964: Staged by CAPAB in the Hofmeyr Theatre, directed by Ricky Arden, with Yvonne Bryceland (Madame Desmermortes), Val Donald (Diana Messerschmann), Nanette Rennie (Lady India), Michael Newell (Frederic/Hugo), Paddy Canavan (Capulet), Harold Lake (Romainville), Judith Gibson (Isabelle), Geoffrey Morris (Joshua), Flora McKenna (Mother), Bryan Bales (Patrice), Alec Bell (Messerschmann). Technical supervision by Emile Aucamp.

1967: Directed by Richard Daneel for PACOFS in 1967, featuring Lynette Marais and Rina la Grange.

1976: Another production by PACOFS was directed by Rosalie van der Gucht, starring Francesca Bantock and Helen Bourne. Mavis Lilenstein was the stage manager.

Sources

Brooke 1978. 213, 217.

PACT report 1963/64; theatre programme 1964.

CAPAB theatre programme (undated).

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988

Scrapbook held by NELM: [Collection: LILENSTEIN, Mavis]: 2007. 9. 25. 5.

CAPAB List of Plays Presented, 1971

Return to

Return to R in Plays II Foreign Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page