Difference between revisions of "King Kong"

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by [[Aldo Brincat]]. A slapstick spoof on the movie of the same name. Performed by Brincat in Durban in 2001.
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[[King Kong]][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong] is the name of an iconic 20th century character (in film and other media), and also the name given to a number of plays, musicals and films since 1933.  
  
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==AND==
 
  
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A jazz musical by [[Harry Bloom]] (book), [[Pat Williams]] (lyrics) and [[Todd Mitshikiza]]**** (Nguni lyrics and music). Musical about the rise and fall of heavyweight boxer [[Ezekiel Dhlamini]]. The producer was [[Leon Gluckman]], musical director [[Stanle (Spike) Glasser]], the choreographer [[Arnold Dover]] and the designer [[Arthur Goldreich. The facilitators of the production were [[Clive Menell|Clive]] and [[Irene Menell]]. A production for [[Union Artists]], it had the [[Anglo-American Corporation]] as a major sponsor. Written in  (?*)1957, first performed in the [[Wits Great Hall]] in 1959. The production starred trumpeter [[Hugh Masekela]], [[Nathan Mdledle]] in the lead role, band vocalist [[Miriam Makeba]], [[Joe Mogotsi]] and [[Peggy Phango]]. Toured the country, playing in **, **, ** and other venues. One of the key theatrical events in the development of South African theatre, it has had its share of controversy. On the one hand it was seen as, and almost certainly was, an exploitation of black talent by white entrepreneurs, and a presented a white-washed European version of black community life. On the other hand it gave many performers access to professional theatre, launched the careers and made stars of many performers, some of them in the international arena (e.g.  Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela), and it contributed powerfully to the development of the so-called “township musical” tradition utilized by [[Gibson Kente]], [[Sam Manghwane]] and others, and even the eventual style and form of so-called “black theatre” and “protest theatre”. King Kong was unsuccessfully revived in the 1980s, while an attempt to revive it again in 2001 at the [[Spier Festival]] in Stellenbosch floundered on copyright and other issues. Text published by [[Collins]] in 1961 as [[King Kong – An African Jazz Opera]]. A version of the text by *** first published [[Fontana Books]] 1961, a second version by *** published by *** in 19**. There is also a book about the show by [[Mona Glasser]] called [[King Kong. A Venture in the Theatre]] (Cape Town: [[Norman Howell]], 1960). (Tucker, 1997)
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= The original text =
  
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[[King Kong]] (originally simply "Kong") is the name given to the colossal gorilla, a character created by filmmaker Merian C. Cooper and scriptwriter [[Edgar Wallace]] (1875–1932) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Wallace] for the sensational 1933 RKO film by the same name.
  
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Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 K|K]]
 
  
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Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays|South African Theatre Plays]]
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= Adaptations =
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The film went on to become an influential cinematic legend, with the character firmly established as one of the world's most famous movie icons, and both the character and the theme (of a ravaging huge monster) inspiring countless sequels, remakes, spin-offs, imitators, parodies, cartoons, books, comics, video games, theme park rides, and even a number of stage plays. His role in the different narratives varies, ranging from a rampaging monster to a tragic antihero.
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In 1959 a musical called ''[[King Kong]]'' opened in Johannesburg, South Africa - though ''not'' based on the [[Edgar Wallace]] character. (See ''[[King Kong: An All-African Jazz Opera]]'' below.)
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In 2013 a musical called ''[[King Kong]]'', this time based on the film story,  opened in Australia[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong_%282013_musical%29].
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= South African stage versions =
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In South Africa there have been two '''stage plays''' by this name.
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== (1) ''[[King Kong: An All-African Jazz Opera]]'' by [[Todd Matshikiza]], [[Harry Bloom]] and [[Pat Willams]](1959)==
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'''See ''[[King Kong: An All-African Jazz Opera]]'''''
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== (2) ''[[King Kong]]'' by [[Aldo Brincat]] (2001) ==
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Called a "Physical Comedy", it is a one hour slapstick spoof on the movie of the same name, written and produced by [[Aldo Brincat]] in Durban, 2001
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2001: First performed in the [[Kwasuka Theatre]], Durban on 29 October to 24 November  by [[Aldo Brincat]] and [[Michael Gritten]], directed by [[Peter Court]].
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''[[King Kong]]'' won two Durban theatre awards at the time, one for best director the other for best actor (Michael Gritten).
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= Sources =
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"King Kong" in [[Wikipedia]] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong.)
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http://www.brincatproductions.co.za/productions.htm
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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= Return to =
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Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
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Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
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Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 19:37, 9 December 2023

King Kong[1] is the name of an iconic 20th century character (in film and other media), and also the name given to a number of plays, musicals and films since 1933.


The original text

King Kong (originally simply "Kong") is the name given to the colossal gorilla, a character created by filmmaker Merian C. Cooper and scriptwriter Edgar Wallace (1875–1932) [2] for the sensational 1933 RKO film by the same name.


Adaptations

The film went on to become an influential cinematic legend, with the character firmly established as one of the world's most famous movie icons, and both the character and the theme (of a ravaging huge monster) inspiring countless sequels, remakes, spin-offs, imitators, parodies, cartoons, books, comics, video games, theme park rides, and even a number of stage plays. His role in the different narratives varies, ranging from a rampaging monster to a tragic antihero.

In 1959 a musical called King Kong opened in Johannesburg, South Africa - though not based on the Edgar Wallace character. (See King Kong: An All-African Jazz Opera below.)

In 2013 a musical called King Kong, this time based on the film story, opened in Australia[3].

South African stage versions

In South Africa there have been two stage plays by this name.


(1) King Kong: An All-African Jazz Opera by Todd Matshikiza, Harry Bloom and Pat Willams(1959)

See King Kong: An All-African Jazz Opera


(2) King Kong by Aldo Brincat (2001)

Called a "Physical Comedy", it is a one hour slapstick spoof on the movie of the same name, written and produced by Aldo Brincat in Durban, 2001


2001: First performed in the Kwasuka Theatre, Durban on 29 October to 24 November by Aldo Brincat and Michael Gritten, directed by Peter Court.

King Kong won two Durban theatre awards at the time, one for best director the other for best actor (Michael Gritten).

Sources

"King Kong" in Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong.)

http://www.brincatproductions.co.za/productions.htm

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page

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