Difference between revisions of "Children of a Lesser God"

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(Created page with " Produced at the [Market Theatre]] in 1983, with Michael Richard, Michael Brunner, ; == Sources == Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography == Return to == Ret...")
 
 
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''[[Children of a Lesser God]]'' is a play by the American playwright Mark Medoff (1940 – 2019)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Medoff].
  
  
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==The original text==
  
Produced at the [Market Theatre]] in 1983, with [[Michael Richard]], [[Michael Brunner]], ;  
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Medoff wrote the play for deaf actress Phyllis Frelich, whom he had met at the University of Rhode Island's New Repertory Project in 1977. Loosely based Frelich's relationship with her hearing husband Robert Steinberg, the play chronicles the tumultuous relationship and marriage between a reluctant-to-speak deaf woman and an unconventional speech pathologist for the deaf.
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Completed in 1979, it was originally developed from workshops and showcased at New Mexico State University, with Frelich and Steinberg in the lead roles. It then had a successful run at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, followed by a Broadway production, directed by Gordon Davidson with  Frelich and Johan Rubenstein in the leading roles, opening at the Longacre Theatre on March 30, 1980. The piece received three Tony Awards, including Best Play, and ran for 887 performances.
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== Translations and adaptations ==
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Made into an award-winning film in 1986,  directed by Randa Haines with William Hurt, Marlee Matlin, Piper Laurie and Philip Bosco.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_a_Lesser_God_(film)]
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Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Kinders van Stilte]]'' ("Children of Silence") by [[Antoinette Louw]].
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== Performance history in South Africa ==
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1982: Produced at the [[Baxter Theatre]] in 1982 and the [[Market Theatre]] in September 1982 and January 1983 by [[Market Theatre Company]] and [[Company of Four]], directed by [[Philipa Ailion]],  with [[Michael Richard]], [[Jean St Clair]], [[Edward Lee Kelly]], [[Danny Keogh]], [[Bess Finney]], [[Roz Monat]], [[Jean Worth]], [[Michael Brunner]], ;  
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2013: Performed in [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Kinders van Stilte]]'' in the [[Wynand Mouton Theatre]] in Bloemfontein, with [[Antoinette Louw]] in the leading role.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_a_Lesser_God_(play)
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_a_Lesser_God_(film)
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[[Percival Tucker]] 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]]. 
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''[[Volksblad]]'', 10 July 2013.
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 C|C]] in Plays 2 Foreign Plays
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Return to [[South_African_Films]]
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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 [[South_African_Radio/Plays|South African Radio Plays and Serials]]
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Return to [[South_African_Television/Plays|South African Television Plays and Series]]
  
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
 
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 +
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 07:22, 23 July 2024

Children of a Lesser God is a play by the American playwright Mark Medoff (1940 – 2019)[1].


The original text

Medoff wrote the play for deaf actress Phyllis Frelich, whom he had met at the University of Rhode Island's New Repertory Project in 1977. Loosely based Frelich's relationship with her hearing husband Robert Steinberg, the play chronicles the tumultuous relationship and marriage between a reluctant-to-speak deaf woman and an unconventional speech pathologist for the deaf.

Completed in 1979, it was originally developed from workshops and showcased at New Mexico State University, with Frelich and Steinberg in the lead roles. It then had a successful run at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, followed by a Broadway production, directed by Gordon Davidson with Frelich and Johan Rubenstein in the leading roles, opening at the Longacre Theatre on March 30, 1980. The piece received three Tony Awards, including Best Play, and ran for 887 performances.

Translations and adaptations

Made into an award-winning film in 1986, directed by Randa Haines with William Hurt, Marlee Matlin, Piper Laurie and Philip Bosco.[2]

Translated into Afrikaans as Kinders van Stilte ("Children of Silence") by Antoinette Louw.

Performance history in South Africa

1982: Produced at the Baxter Theatre in 1982 and the Market Theatre in September 1982 and January 1983 by Market Theatre Company and Company of Four, directed by Philipa Ailion, with Michael Richard, Jean St Clair, Edward Lee Kelly, Danny Keogh, Bess Finney, Roz Monat, Jean Worth, Michael Brunner, ;

2013: Performed in Afrikaans as Kinders van Stilte in the Wynand Mouton Theatre in Bloemfontein, with Antoinette Louw in the leading role.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_a_Lesser_God_(play)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_a_Lesser_God_(film)

Percival Tucker 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

Volksblad, 10 July 2013.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to South_African_Films

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 South African Radio Plays and Serials

Return to South African Television Plays and Series

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page