View source for 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)[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dario_Fo]

== 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''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammelot]).

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 Isaac]]s 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.

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

== Return to ==

Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]

Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]

Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]

Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]

Return to [[Main Page]]