Difference between revisions of "Othello"
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=''[[Othello]]'' and South Africa: An overview = | =''[[Othello]]'' and South Africa: An overview = | ||
| − | In the early 19th century this was the most popular Shakespeare play in Cape Town, at least 15 performances being done between 1800 and 1864. This includes one travesty and three productions by a [[Dutch]] amateur groups [[Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst]] and [[Vlyt en Kunst]], in [[Dutch]] translation. However, most probably because of its racial overtones, the play was seldom performed in the later 19th and most of the 20th centuries, though the play was regularly studied by University students. | + | In the early 19th century this was the most popular Shakespeare play put on in Cape Town, at least 15 performances being done between 1800 and 1864. This includes one travesty and three productions by a [[Dutch]] amateur groups [[Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst]] and [[Vlyt en Kunst]], in [[Dutch]] translation. However, most probably because of its racial overtones, the play was seldom performed in the later 19th and most of the 20th centuries, though the play was regularly studied by University students. |
| − | It resurfaced in the later part of the 20th century, influenced by the eventual release of the 1965 Laurence Olivier film in the 1970s and the gradual relaxing of the Apartheid regulations in the 1980s. In 1972 a provocative adaptation, ''[[Othello Slegs Blankes]]'' was done at the [[Space Theatre]] (without an "Othello"), and in 1975 an [[Afrikaans]] version of the play with Othello played in black-face. The first [[Black|black]] Othello in the country was played by [[John Kani]] in a landmark production directed for the [[Market Theatre]] by [[Janet Suzman]] in 1986. | + | It resurfaced in the later part of the 20th century, influenced by the eventual release of the 1965 Laurence Olivier film in the 1970s and the gradual relaxing of the Apartheid regulations in the 1980s. In 1972 a provocative adaptation, ''[[Othello Slegs Blankes]]'' ("Othello Whites Only") was done at the [[Space Theatre]] (without an "Othello"), and in 1975 an [[Afrikaans]] version of the play with Othello played in black-face. The first [[Black|black]] Othello in the country was played by [[John Kani]] in a landmark production directed for the [[Market Theatre]] by [[Janet Suzman]] in 1986. |
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| + | In 2023, [[Lara Foot]] adapted the play, setting it in the early 20th century in Germany and South West Africa (Namibia), with a text in English, [[Afrikaans]] and [[Xhosa]]. This version made its debut at the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus and earned Foot the Gustaf Theatre Award 2023 for Outstanding Artistic Achievement for her direction of the play. | ||
The play and its plot have taken many forms over the years, including a variety of films, operas, ballets, and other stage presentations. (For a list of international translations and adaptations, see for example the [[Wikipedia]][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othello] entry on the play.) | The play and its plot have taken many forms over the years, including a variety of films, operas, ballets, and other stage presentations. (For a list of international translations and adaptations, see for example the [[Wikipedia]][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othello] entry on the play.) | ||
| − | In the following two sections we list '''international adaptations''' performed in South Africa, then | + | In the following two sections we list '''international adaptations''' performed on stage in South Africa (excluding the operatic versions), then '''original South African adaptations''', created and performed in the country. |
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| + | For information on performances of Verdi's opera in South Africa, see ''[[Otello]]''. | ||
=International adaptations of ''[[Othello]]'' performed in South Africa= | =International adaptations of ''[[Othello]]'' performed in South Africa= | ||
| − | '''For more details of the South African | + | '''For more details of the South African ''PERFORMANCES'' of these adaptations of the play, see the chronological listing of South African productions of ''Othello'', in the last section below. It includes ALL versions known to have been done in the country.''''' |
==''[[Othello-travestie]]'' by Ibef== | ==''[[Othello-travestie]]'' by Ibef== | ||
| − | ''[[Othello-travestie]]'' is a work in three acts by an author who signs himself "Ibef". | + | '''''[[Othello-travestie]]''''' is a work in three acts by an author who signs himself "Ibef". |
Published by J. J. Stockdale, 1813, it contains "Burlesque Notes in the Manner of the Most Celebrated Commentators; and Other Curious Appendices". | Published by J. J. Stockdale, 1813, it contains "Burlesque Notes in the Manner of the Most Celebrated Commentators; and Other Curious Appendices". | ||
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==''[[Othello Travestie]]'' by Maurice G. Dowling== | ==''[[Othello Travestie]]'' by Maurice G. Dowling== | ||
| − | ''[[Othello Travestie]]'' is described as "an operatic [[burlesque]] [[burletta]]", written by Maurice G. Dowling. Based on Shakespeare's ''[[Othello]]'', it was first performed at the Liver Theatre, Liverpool in March 1834, and later at the Strand Theatre London. Published in London by Thomas Hailes Lacy, 1834. | + | '''''[[Othello Travestie]]''''' is described as "an operatic [[burlesque]] [[burletta]]", written by Maurice G. Dowling. Based on Shakespeare's ''[[Othello]]'', it was first performed at the Liver Theatre, Liverpool in March 1834, and later at the Strand Theatre London. Published in London by Thomas Hailes Lacy, 1834. |
'''Sources:''' | '''Sources:''' | ||
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==''[[Othello: a Burlesque]]'' by George W. H. Griffin== | ==''[[Othello: a Burlesque]]'' by George W. H. Griffin== | ||
| − | + | A short, 8 page, version created and performed by Griffin & Christy's Minstrels at their opera house, New York in the 1870s and published as Issue 39 of Ethiopian drama by the Happy Hours Company, New York, in 1879 and as no 246 of Ames' series of Standard and Minor Drama. | |
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'''Sources:''' | '''Sources:''' | ||
| − | Facsimile version of the Ames edition, Hathi Trust Digital Library[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000092056575;view=1up;seq=2] | + | Facsimile version of the Ames edition, ''[[Hathi Trust Digital Library]]''[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000092056575;view=1up;seq=2] |
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| + | ==''[[Othello in Ireland]]'' a burlesque by an unnamed author== | ||
| − | + | No text by this name can be traced, but Bosman (1980) records several performances of a "popular burlesque" with this title produced by the dramatic company of the 9th Regiment in the course of two seasons (1866-7). It is usually referred to as a "[[burlesque]]", but once also described as a "beautiful semi-serio Opera in 5 acts, the text by Shakespeare". The latter is most probably a tongue-in-the-cheek description to fit the mood of the particular evening's entertainment, but does point to the text by Maurice G. Dowling as the probable source. | |
'''Sources:''' | '''Sources:''' | ||
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| + | [[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp.258-278. | ||
= Original South African translations and/or adaptations of the text = | = Original South African translations and/or adaptations of the text = | ||
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'''For more details of the South African performances of these translations and/or adaptations of the play, see the full list of performances below.''' | '''For more details of the South African performances of these translations and/or adaptations of the play, see the full list of performances below.''' | ||
| − | == | + | ==Translations== |
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| + | ==='''[[Dutch]]'''=== | ||
| − | + | Translated as ''[[Othello, of De Moor van Venetien]]'' by an anonymous author, based on the French version of J.-F. Ducis (1733-1816)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Ducis]. Published in Groningen by H. Eekhoff, 1802. | |
Also found as ''[[Othello, of De Moor]]'' (translated by an unknown author). | Also found as ''[[Othello, of De Moor]]'' (translated by an unknown author). | ||
| − | '''[[Afrikaans]]''' | + | ==='''[[Afrikaans]]'''=== |
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| + | Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Othello]]'' by [[Anna Neethling-Pohl|Anna S. Pohl]], published by Human & Rousseau, in 1976. | ||
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| + | ==='''English, [[Afrikaans]] and [[Xhosa]]'''=== | ||
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| + | In 2024, [[Lara Foot]] adapted and partly translated the play for South African performance, setting it in the early 20th century in Germany and South West Africa (Namibia), with a text in English, [[Afrikaans]] and [[Xhosa]]. | ||
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| + | ==Original South African stage adaptations== | ||
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| + | ===''[[Othello Slegs Blankes]]'' ("Othello Whites Only") by [[Donald Howarth]]=== | ||
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| + | Sometimes found listed as ''[[Othello Slegs vir Blankes]]'' or ''[[Othello – Slegs vir Blankes]]'' | ||
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| + | This is an adaptation written and directed by [[Donald Howarth]] specifically for production at [[The Space Theatre]] (Cape Town) from 24 June 1972, with [[David Nissen]] (composer and musician). The play is intended to be performed without the black character of "Othello" appearing on stage. The play text is unpublished, but the original playscript is held by [[NELM]] (Collection: SIMON, Barney: 1995. 11. 1. 48). | ||
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| + | '''Sources:''' | ||
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| + | Poster [[NELM]] [Collection: SIEFF, Percy]: 2013. 25. 1. 26 | ||
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| + | Original playscript, [[NELM]] (Collection: SIMON, Barney: 1995. 11. 1. 48). | ||
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| + | [[Brian Astbury|Astbury, Brian]] 1979. ''The Space/Die Ruimte/Indawo''. Cape Town: Moira and Azriel Fine. | ||
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| + | [[Brian Astbury]]. 2015. "A British playwright, a monkey for President, and a play with a missing leading man…", in: ''Theatre of Survival. The Story of The Space''[https://theatreofsurvival.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/20-a-british-playwright-a-monkey-for-president-and-a-play-with-a-missing-leading-man/] | ||
| − | == | + | ==South African film adaptations== |
| + | ===''[[Othello: A South African Tale]]'' (2002) by [[Eubulus Timothy]]=== | ||
| + | '''Sources''' | ||
| − | + | https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420049/ | |
| + | ===''[[Othello SA]]'' (2007) by [[Eubulus Timothy]]=== | ||
| + | Also billed simply as '''''[[Othello]]''''', it is a remake of the 2002 film by Timothy, with a number of different cast members. | ||
| − | + | https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1274413593/ | |
| − | + | =Chronological listing of South African productions of ''[[Othello]]''= | |
| − | + | '''''Unless noted otherwise in the list below, the play performed is the original Shakespeare text.''''' | |
1818: A performance in the [[African Theatre]], Cape Town by the [[Gentlemen Amateurs]] in conjunction with [[Mr Cooke]] and his ladies, on 24 October, 1818; as a benefit for the Liverpool actress [[Miss Williams]]. The afterpiece was ''[[The Poor Soldier]]'' (O'Keeffe). | 1818: A performance in the [[African Theatre]], Cape Town by the [[Gentlemen Amateurs]] in conjunction with [[Mr Cooke]] and his ladies, on 24 October, 1818; as a benefit for the Liverpool actress [[Miss Williams]]. The afterpiece was ''[[The Poor Soldier]]'' (O'Keeffe). | ||
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1842: ''[[Othello Travestie]]'' (Dowling) performed by the [[Garrison Players]] in the [[Garrison Theatre]], Cape Town, on 13 May, as an afterpiece to ''[[The Irish Attorney]]'' (Bernard). The performers included [[Mr Wellesley]] ("The Moor"), Mr [[D. M'Donald]] ("Desdemona") and [[Mr Priestly]] ("Iago"). Repeated on the 19th May apparently. | 1842: ''[[Othello Travestie]]'' (Dowling) performed by the [[Garrison Players]] in the [[Garrison Theatre]], Cape Town, on 13 May, as an afterpiece to ''[[The Irish Attorney]]'' (Bernard). The performers included [[Mr Wellesley]] ("The Moor"), Mr [[D. M'Donald]] ("Desdemona") and [[Mr Priestly]] ("Iago"). Repeated on the 19th May apparently. | ||
| − | 1847: Performed | + | 1847: Performed as ''[[Othello]]'' by the [[Garrison Players]] (the [[90th Light Infantry]]) in the [[Garrison Theatre]], Cape Town on 30 September, with ''[[Jack Brag]]'' (Hook). |
1847: Performed in English as ''[[Othello]]'' by the [[Garrison Players]] (the [[90th Light Infantry]]) in the [[Garrison Theatre]], Cape Town on 19 October, with ''[[The Infant of Spain]]'' (Hook). | 1847: Performed in English as ''[[Othello]]'' by the [[Garrison Players]] (the [[90th Light Infantry]]) in the [[Garrison Theatre]], Cape Town on 19 October, with ''[[The Infant of Spain]]'' (Hook). | ||
| + | 1852: Performed by the [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society]] for the Birkenhead Fund, a fund-raiser in aid of the victims of the shipwreck of that name. | ||
1852: Performed in Cape Town by members of the [[Garrison Players]], including [[Captain Hall]] and [[Lieutenant Johnson]], helped by local English amateurs, on 24 March, 1852, with as afterpiece ''[[Charles the Second, or The Merry Monarch]]'' (Payne). The performance was part of three evenings done "for the benefit of the unfortunate soldiers who persished in H.M.Steamer ''Birkenhead''". Unfortunately it appears that the three performances had apparently not served their intended purpose, as they eventually ran at a loss of £30. | 1852: Performed in Cape Town by members of the [[Garrison Players]], including [[Captain Hall]] and [[Lieutenant Johnson]], helped by local English amateurs, on 24 March, 1852, with as afterpiece ''[[Charles the Second, or The Merry Monarch]]'' (Payne). The performance was part of three evenings done "for the benefit of the unfortunate soldiers who persished in H.M.Steamer ''Birkenhead''". Unfortunately it appears that the three performances had apparently not served their intended purpose, as they eventually ran at a loss of £30. | ||
| − | 1861: Performed as a "musical extravaganza" called ''[[Othello]]'', by an unnamed author (probably the text by Dowling), in Cape Town by the [[Cape Town and Royal Alfred Dramatic Club]] on 7 | + | 1858: Performed by [[J.E.H. English]] and his company in the [[Harrington Street Theatre]], Cape Town, on 1 October, with [[Charles Fraser]] as "Othello" and an actor referred to simply as "a gentleman saved from the ''Eastern City''" playing "Iago". Also performed on the evening was ''[[The Corsican Brothers]]'' (Grangé and De Montépin/ Boucicault). |
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| + | 1861: Performed as a "musical extravaganza" called ''[[Othello]]'', by an unnamed author (probably the text by Dowling), in Cape Town by the [[Cape Town and Royal Alfred Dramatic Club]] on 7 March, with ''[[My Friend in the Straps]]'' (Selby). | ||
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| + | 1861: Performed in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, by [[Sefton Parry]] and his company, on 9 September, with ''[[The Good for Nothing]]'' (Buckstone). "Othello" was played by [[John Howard]], "Iago" by [[T. Brazier]], "Roderigo" by [[Mrs Tellett]], "Desdemona" by [[Mrs Parry]] and "Emilia" by [[Mrs Bland]]. | ||
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| + | 1861: Performed one more in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, by [[Sefton Parry]] and his company, on 12 September, this time with ''[[The Fox and the Wolf]]'' (Anon.). | ||
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| + | 1862: Scene II, Act III was produced in the Grahamstown [[Garrison Theatre]] on 27 January by the Non-commissioned Officers of the [[North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot]], with a cast consisting of Cast: [[T. H. Smith]] Esq. (Othello), Sergeant [[J. Lydon]] (Iago), Sergeant [[T. M'Kay]] (Cassio), Corporal [[J. Davies]] (Desdemona), Private [[J. M'Kechnie]] (Emilia). Also played was ''[[Amoroso, King of Little Britain]]'' (Planché). ''(For more on contemporary responses to the performances, see the entry on the [[North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot]])'' | ||
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| + | 1864: Performed in the [[Garrison Theatre]], Cape Town, by the [[11th Regiment]] as their farewell performance, before leaving for duty in Natal. Also performed was ''[[Michael Erle, the Maniac Lover, or The Fayre Lass of Lichfield]]'' (Wilks) and a farewell performance by the regiment's company of [[Amateur Christy's Minstrels]]. | ||
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| + | 1866: A burlesque called ''[[Othello in Ireland]]'' performed on 24 September by the [[9th Regiment]] in the [[Garrison Theatre]], Cape Town, as part of an evening of "Dramatic and Musical Entertainment" as a benefit for of the Band Sergeant [[T. Earnshaw]], along with sword dances by [[H. Wallace]] and musical numbers by [[Signor Bonicoli]] and [[Weber]]. | ||
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| + | 1867: ''[[Othello in Ireland]]'' performed "by special request" on 19 March by the [[9th Regiment]] in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, as part of a "Grand Fashionable Night", along with comic song by [[H.F. Simmonds]] and the "fashionable farce" ''[[Sayings and Doings]]'' (Morton). | ||
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| + | 1867: ''[[Othello in Ireland]]'' performed by "special request" once again on 8 June by the [[9th Regiment]] in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town. However it is now referred to as a "beautiful semi-serio Opera in 5 acts, the text by Shakespeare". Also part of the evening's entertainment were a "Gymnastics Display" and ''[[The Bal Masqué]]'' (or ''[[Sloppy Sam]]''). | ||
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| + | 1867: A final performance of ''[[Othello in Ireland]]'' by the [[9th Regiment]] took place on 3 August in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town. This time accompanied by ''[[The Nervous Cures]]'', three gymnastic displays and Scottish folk dances by [[H. Wallace]]. | ||
| − | + | 1867: Performed as ''[[Othello]]'' by the [[Le Roy and Duret]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town on 16 December, as part of a "Grand Shakespearian Night", along with a "Pas Seul" by [[Miss Clara]] and ''[[A Rough Diamond]]'' (Buckstone) as afterpiece. | |
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| + | 1867: Performed as ''[[Othello]]'' by the [[Le Roy and Duret]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town on 19 December, with ''[[Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw]]'' (Morton) as afterpiece. (The role of "Othello" was played by [[T. Brazier]] and [[W.J.S. Bennee]] on alternate nights, one on the 16th the other on the 19th.) | ||
1868: Produced in [[Dutch]] as ''[[Othello, of De Moor]]'' by [[Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst]] at the [[Odd Fellows Hall]], Cape Town on 13 November, with ''[[Het Bankroet van den Schoenlapper]]'' (Pujos and Dabaytua). | 1868: Produced in [[Dutch]] as ''[[Othello, of De Moor]]'' by [[Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst]] at the [[Odd Fellows Hall]], Cape Town on 13 November, with ''[[Het Bankroet van den Schoenlapper]]'' (Pujos and Dabaytua). | ||
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1868: Produced in [[Dutch]] as ''[[Othello, of De Moor]]'' by [[Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst]] at the [[Odd Fellows Hall]], Cape Town on 30 November, with ''[[De Helleveeg]]'' (Loosjes). | 1868: Produced in [[Dutch]] as ''[[Othello, of De Moor]]'' by [[Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst]] at the [[Odd Fellows Hall]], Cape Town on 30 November, with ''[[De Helleveeg]]'' (Loosjes). | ||
| − | 1869: Performed as an "Ethiopian [[Burlesque]] in 3 Acts" by the [[Amateur Coloured Troupe]] in the [[Young Men’s Institute and Club]], Cape Town. This | + | 1869: Performed as an "Ethiopian [[Burlesque]] in 3 Acts" by the [[Amateur Coloured Troupe]] in the [[Young Men’s Institute and Club]], Cape Town. (This '''may''' have been based on the 1813 three-act ''[[Othello-travestie]]'' written by "Ibef.", since the later Christy versions - such as the one by Griffin - tended to be one-act pieces). |
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| + | 1876: Performed as ''[[Othello]]'' by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Burg Street, Cape Town on 27 May, as a benefit for [[Mr Fairclough]]. | ||
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| + | 1876: Performed as ''[[Othello]]'' by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Burg Street, Cape Town on 19 June, with a ballet as afterpiece, and repeated on 28 June (without the dance). | ||
| − | + | 1877: Performed as ''[[Othello]]'' by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Burg Street, Cape Town on 27 and 28 August, with [[G. Seymour]] and [[Geo. Yates]] in the leading roles. | |
| + | 1891-2: Performed by the [[Geneviève Ward Company]] during a nine months' tour of South Africa, under the auspices of [[Luscombe Searelle]], featuring [[Geneviève Ward]] and [[W.H. Vernon]] in the leading roles. | ||
| + | 1895-6: Performed and taken on tour by the [[Holloway Theatre Company]], opening in the [[Standard Theatre]], Johannesburg, on December 26th with [[W.J. Holloway]] and [[Amy Coleridge]] in the leading roles. The company also included [[Gerald Lawrence]], [[Amy Grace]], [[Leonard Rayne]], [[John Nesbitt]] and [[William Haviland]]. The company also played other cities, including the [[Opera House]], Cape Town, for a season that opened in May 1896. | ||
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| + | 1905: Performed in South Africa by [[Leonard Rayne]] and his company as part of a season of plays, ''inter alia'' playing in the [[Opera House]], Cape Town. | ||
1946: Produced by [[Frank Hammerton]] for the [[Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society]] at the [[Little Theatre]]. With [[E. Clifford Jones]], [[Dan Bosman]], [[Hazel Casson]], [[Pietro Nolte]], [[Mary Dean]], [[Rosa Lussman]], [[Dan Bosman]], [[Frank Hammerton]]. | 1946: Produced by [[Frank Hammerton]] for the [[Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society]] at the [[Little Theatre]]. With [[E. Clifford Jones]], [[Dan Bosman]], [[Hazel Casson]], [[Pietro Nolte]], [[Mary Dean]], [[Rosa Lussman]], [[Dan Bosman]], [[Frank Hammerton]]. | ||
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1982: [[Maynardville]], opening 8 January 1982 directed by [[Roy Sargeant]] for [[CAPAB]] with [[Robert Stephens]] as Othello, [[Richard Grant]] as Cassio and [[Neil McCarthy]] as Montano, also starring [[Bobby Heaney]] (Roderigo), [[Michael Richard]] (Iago), [[Hugh Rouse]] (Brabantio), [[Marko van der Colff]] (Duke), [[James Irwin]] (Gratiano), [[John Maytham]] (a senator), [[Louise Saint-Claire]] (Desdemona), [[Fiona Ramsay]] (Emilia), [[Janet Buckland]] (Bianca) and [[Roger Dwyer]] (Lodovico). Lighting by [[Brian Kennedy]], decor and costumes by [[Dicky Longhurst]], music by [[Michael Tuffin]]. [[Henry Goodman]] was the fight director. | 1982: [[Maynardville]], opening 8 January 1982 directed by [[Roy Sargeant]] for [[CAPAB]] with [[Robert Stephens]] as Othello, [[Richard Grant]] as Cassio and [[Neil McCarthy]] as Montano, also starring [[Bobby Heaney]] (Roderigo), [[Michael Richard]] (Iago), [[Hugh Rouse]] (Brabantio), [[Marko van der Colff]] (Duke), [[James Irwin]] (Gratiano), [[John Maytham]] (a senator), [[Louise Saint-Claire]] (Desdemona), [[Fiona Ramsay]] (Emilia), [[Janet Buckland]] (Bianca) and [[Roger Dwyer]] (Lodovico). Lighting by [[Brian Kennedy]], decor and costumes by [[Dicky Longhurst]], music by [[Michael Tuffin]]. [[Henry Goodman]] was the fight director. | ||
| − | + | 1983: A community theatre production by [[Phyllis Klotz]] was done in Cape Town, probably the first time a black actor played the leading role in South Africa. | |
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| + | 1986: In a landmark production, directed for the [[Market Theatre]] by [[Janet Suzman]] in 1986, [[John Kani]] played "Othello", [[Joanna Weinberg]] played "Desdemona" and [[Richard Haines]] gave a superb performance as "Iago". Designs were by [[Johan Engels]]. | ||
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| + | 1987: Directed by [[Janet Suzman]] at the [[Market Theatre]]. Cast : [[John Kani]], [[Joanna Weinberg]], [[Stuart Brown]], [[Frantz Dobrowsky]], [[Dorothy Ann Gould]], [[Richard Haines]], [[Peter Krummeck]], [[Martin le Maitre]], [[Neil McCarthy]], [[Lindsay Reardon]], [[John Whiteley]], [[Gaynor Young]], [[Johan Arangies]], [[Saul Bamberger]], [[Robert Coleman]], | ||
| + | [[Adrian Galley]], [[Denis Hutchinson]], [[Terence Reis]], [[David Thomas]]. | ||
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| + | 1989: A made for TV film version of the Suzman production was made by [[Eric Abraham]] and broadcast on BBC television on 27 December. A video of this version was marketed afterwards[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378503/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk2]). | ||
1998: Directed by [[Megan Wilson]] at the [[Wits Theatre Complex|Amphitheatre]], Wits, Johannesburg. | 1998: Directed by [[Megan Wilson]] at the [[Wits Theatre Complex|Amphitheatre]], Wits, Johannesburg. | ||
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2010: Performed at the Wits [[Amphitheatre]] with an all-student cast at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, during April, 2010, directed by [[John Kani]] and [[Sarah Roberts]] | 2010: Performed at the Wits [[Amphitheatre]] with an all-student cast at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, during April, 2010, directed by [[John Kani]] and [[Sarah Roberts]] | ||
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2013: The [[Playbill Theatre Company]] performed it in Johannesburg's [[Jo'burg Theatre]], directed by [[Denel Honeyball]], with [[Muntu Ngubane]], [[Aimee Goldsmith]], [[Craig Wainwright]], [[Miles Petzer]], [[Glen Biederman-Pam]], [[Ryan Dittman]], [[John Whitely]], [[Liesel Retief]] and [[Nadia Woodward]]. | 2013: The [[Playbill Theatre Company]] performed it in Johannesburg's [[Jo'burg Theatre]], directed by [[Denel Honeyball]], with [[Muntu Ngubane]], [[Aimee Goldsmith]], [[Craig Wainwright]], [[Miles Petzer]], [[Glen Biederman-Pam]], [[Ryan Dittman]], [[John Whitely]], [[Liesel Retief]] and [[Nadia Woodward]]. | ||
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2016: Performed 26 January till 23 February at [[Maynardville]], directed by [[Fred Abrahamse]] with set and costume designs by [[Marcel Meyer]], lighting design by [[Faheem Bardien]], original music score by [[Charl-Johan Lingenfelder]]. The cast included [[Pope Jerrod]] as "Othello", [[Melissa Haiden]] as "Desdemona", [[Marcel Meyer]] as "Iago", [[Lee-Ann van Rooi]] as "Emilia", [[Stephen Jubber]] as "Cassio", [[Matthew Baldwin]] as "Roderigo", [[Faniswa Yisa]] as "Bianca", [[Robin Smith]] as "Brabantio", [[Daniel Richards]] as "Lodovico" and [[Siya Sikawuti]] as "Montano" and "The Duke of Venice". | 2016: Performed 26 January till 23 February at [[Maynardville]], directed by [[Fred Abrahamse]] with set and costume designs by [[Marcel Meyer]], lighting design by [[Faheem Bardien]], original music score by [[Charl-Johan Lingenfelder]]. The cast included [[Pope Jerrod]] as "Othello", [[Melissa Haiden]] as "Desdemona", [[Marcel Meyer]] as "Iago", [[Lee-Ann van Rooi]] as "Emilia", [[Stephen Jubber]] as "Cassio", [[Matthew Baldwin]] as "Roderigo", [[Faniswa Yisa]] as "Bianca", [[Robin Smith]] as "Brabantio", [[Daniel Richards]] as "Lodovico" and [[Siya Sikawuti]] as "Montano" and "The Duke of Venice". | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2024: The [[Lara Foot]] adaptation of the play performed at the [[Baxter Theatre]] from 6 April to 4 May. Set in [[German Southwest Africa]] (now [[Namibia]]) in the time of German colonialism and including the period of the Herero and Nama genocide and the Herero uprising, the text is in English, [[Afrikaans]] and [[Xhosa]]. Directed by [[Lara Foot]], with [[Atandwa Kani]] (as "Othello"), [[Albert Pretorius]] ("Iago"), [[Carla Smith]] ("Desdemona"), [[Fansiwa Yisa]] ("Emilia"), [[Carlo Daniels]] ("Cassio"), [[Wessel Pretorius]] ("Roderigo"), [[Morne Visser]] ("Brabantio"), [[Lyle October]] ("Montano"), [[Tamzin Williams]] ("Bianca") and [[Brendon Sean Murray]] (the "Duke", as well as various other roles). Additional roles portrayed by [[Awethu Hleli]], [[Nolufefe Ntshuntshe]] and [[Caleb Swanepoel]]. Design by [[Gerhard Marx]], music composed by [[Kyle Shepherd]] and lighting design by [[Patrick Curtis]]. | ||
=Sources= | =Sources= | ||
| − | https://en. | + | [[Eastern Province Herald]], 7/4/1852. |
| + | |||
| + | Arogundade, Ben. 2011. "Most Memorable Othello Adaptations" in ''Huffpost''[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-arogundade/othello-adaptations-_b_931540.html] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Artscape]] (press release)[http://www.artscape.co.za/press-release/artscape-presents-othello-at-maynardville/133/] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[ArtsLink]] (news article)[http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=33538]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Brian Astbury|Astbury, Brian]]. 1979. ''The Space/Die Ruimte/Indawo''. Cape Town: Moira and Azriel Fine. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman, F.C.L.]], 1928. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855''. Pretoria: [[J.H. de Bussy]]. [http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/]: pp. 204, 215, 338-9, 393-5, 401-3, 409-410 | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman, F.C.L.]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp. 99, 109, 121, 123, 160, 201, 231, 234, 256, 258-260, 278, 339, 340, 344-5, 359, 392-3, 422, 445 | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Natasha Distiller|Distiller, Natasha]]. 2012. Authentic protest, authentic Shakespeare, authentic | ||
| + | Africans: Performing Othello in South Africa. ''Comparative Drama'', 46 (3):339–355. | ||
| − | + | [[M.M.G. Dowling|Dowling, M.M.G.]] (1834). ''Othello travestie: an operatic burlesque burletta''. London: T.H. Lacy. (Facsimile version of the text of the original text, Hathi Trust[http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044086860160;view=1up;seq=7]). | |
| − | + | ''Dramachicks'' - a blog[http://dramachicks.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/views-and-reviews-ophelia-thinks-harder-by-jean-betts-and-william-shakespeare/] | |
| − | + | [[Ruphin Coudyzer]]. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of [[Market Theatre]] productions. (Provided by Coudyzer) | |
| − | + | [[Jill Fletcher|Fletcher, Jill]]. 1994. ''The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930''. Cape Town: Vlaeberg | |
| − | + | Facsimile Version of ''Othello, of De Moor van Venetien'': [[Hathi Trust Digital Library]][https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100865262] | |
| + | |||
| + | Foulkes, Richard. 2006. ''Performing Shakespeare in the Age of Empire''. Cambridge University Press[https://books.google.co.za/books?id=ifMPfQ_R_J4C&pg=PA153&lpg=PA153&dq=sir+frank+benson+in+South+Africa&source=bl&ots=yEHM3C0RnG&sig=JxlM2YHVWCKXko-GZKWB-yW6nQU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4u65VOuhOcmuUc-PgpgL&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=sir%20frank%20benson%20in%20South%20Africa&f=false] | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Donald Inskip|Inskip, Donald P.]] 1972. ''Forty [[Little Theatre|Little]] Years: The Story of a Theatre''. Cape Town: Howard Timmins. |
| − | + | [[Donald Inskip|Inskip, Donald P.]] 1976. ''The [[Maynardville]] Chronicle, 1956-1976''. Epping: Printpak: p. 127 | |
| − | + | [[Maynardville]] theatre programme, 1982, donated by [[Tony Fletcher]], held by [[NELM]]: [Collection: FLETCHER, Jill]: 2005. 75. 19. 9. | |
''[[North Lincoln Sphinx]]'' Vol 1, No 11. January 28, 1862. | ''[[North Lincoln Sphinx]]'' Vol 1, No 11. January 28, 1862. | ||
| Line 184: | Line 277: | ||
''[[North Lincoln Sphinx]]'' Vol 1, N0 13, July 23, 1862. (Keiskama Hoek) | ''[[North Lincoln Sphinx]]'' Vol 1, N0 13, July 23, 1862. (Keiskama Hoek) | ||
| − | + | Rafferty, Barclay. 2015 ''Adaptations of Othello: (In)Adaptability and Transmedial Representations of Race''. Unpublished Doctoral thesis, De Montford University[https://www.dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2086/12075/Thesis.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y] | |
| − | [ | + | Rosario, Catherine Ann. 2015. ''Black Rams and Extravagant Strangers: Shakespeare’s Othello and its Rewritings, from Nineteenth-Century Burlesque to Post-Colonial Tragedy''. Unpublished PhD thesis, Goldsmith's College, University of London[http://research.gold.ac.uk/14856/1/THE_thesis_RosarioC_2015.pdf] |
| − | [[ | + | [[Pat Schwartz|Schwartz, Pat]] 1988. ''The Best of Company: The Story of Johannesburg's [[Market Theatre]]''. Johannesburg: Ad Donker. |
| − | + | ''[[Teaterwoordeboek]]'', Vaktaalburo, 1977. | |
| − | + | [[Stefani Terblanche]]. 2024. "Kani Jr gereed vir gróót rol". ''[[Die Burger]]'', 2 April, p.8.[https://epublikasies.netwerk24.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=2de50421-74d1-4d60-be88-d53f1cc8d3b5] | |
''[[Trek]]'', 10(13):18, 1945. | ''[[Trek]]'', 10(13):18, 1945. | ||
| − | + | [[Wikipedia]]: Entry on [[Othello]][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othello] | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]] | Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:50, 25 September 2024
Othello is a tragedy by William Shakespeare (1564–1616)[1].
Contents
- 1 The original play
- 2 Othello and South Africa: An overview
- 3 International adaptations of Othello performed in South Africa
- 4 Original South African translations and/or adaptations of the text
- 5 Chronological listing of South African productions of Othello
- 6 Sources
- 7 Return to
The original play
The text
The full title of the play is The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. Also referred to as The Moor of Venice , Othello, or The Moor of Venice or simply as Othello. Possibly written in 1603 or 1604, and first performed by Shakespeare’s theatre group, the King’s Men, as The Moor of Venice on November 1, 1604, in the Banqueting House of London’s Whitehall Palace. The play was apparently based on Un Capitano Moro ("A Moorish Captain"), a short story first published in 1565, written by Cinthio[2], a disciple of Boccaccio.
Adaptations
The play has over the years had numerous incarnations in many forms across the globe. In the section entitled "Othello and South Africa" (below) we list only those performed (or possibly performed) in South Africa. For further examples of adaptation and visualization, see for example the Wikipedia entry on Othello in Popular Culture[3], and the two doctoral studies by Barclay Rafferty (2015) and Catherine Ann Rosario (2015) listed under "Sources".
Othello and South Africa: An overview
In the early 19th century this was the most popular Shakespeare play put on in Cape Town, at least 15 performances being done between 1800 and 1864. This includes one travesty and three productions by a Dutch amateur groups Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst and Vlyt en Kunst, in Dutch translation. However, most probably because of its racial overtones, the play was seldom performed in the later 19th and most of the 20th centuries, though the play was regularly studied by University students.
It resurfaced in the later part of the 20th century, influenced by the eventual release of the 1965 Laurence Olivier film in the 1970s and the gradual relaxing of the Apartheid regulations in the 1980s. In 1972 a provocative adaptation, Othello Slegs Blankes ("Othello Whites Only") was done at the Space Theatre (without an "Othello"), and in 1975 an Afrikaans version of the play with Othello played in black-face. The first black Othello in the country was played by John Kani in a landmark production directed for the Market Theatre by Janet Suzman in 1986.
In 2023, Lara Foot adapted the play, setting it in the early 20th century in Germany and South West Africa (Namibia), with a text in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. This version made its debut at the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus and earned Foot the Gustaf Theatre Award 2023 for Outstanding Artistic Achievement for her direction of the play.
The play and its plot have taken many forms over the years, including a variety of films, operas, ballets, and other stage presentations. (For a list of international translations and adaptations, see for example the Wikipedia[4] entry on the play.)
In the following two sections we list international adaptations performed on stage in South Africa (excluding the operatic versions), then original South African adaptations, created and performed in the country.
For information on performances of Verdi's opera in South Africa, see Otello.
International adaptations of Othello performed in South Africa
For more details of the South African PERFORMANCES of these adaptations of the play, see the chronological listing of South African productions of Othello, in the last section below. It includes ALL versions known to have been done in the country.
Othello-travestie by Ibef
Othello-travestie is a work in three acts by an author who signs himself "Ibef". Published by J. J. Stockdale, 1813, it contains "Burlesque Notes in the Manner of the Most Celebrated Commentators; and Other Curious Appendices".
Sources:
Facsimile version of the 1813 edition, Google E-book[5]
Othello Travestie by Maurice G. Dowling
Othello Travestie is described as "an operatic burlesque burletta", written by Maurice G. Dowling. Based on Shakespeare's Othello, it was first performed at the Liver Theatre, Liverpool in March 1834, and later at the Strand Theatre London. Published in London by Thomas Hailes Lacy, 1834.
Sources:
Dowling, M. M. G. (1834). Othello travestie: an operatic burlesque burletta. London: T.H. Lacy. (Facsimile version of the text of the original text, Hathi Trust[6]).
F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [7]: pp. 393-5.
Othello: a Burlesque by George W. H. Griffin
A short, 8 page, version created and performed by Griffin & Christy's Minstrels at their opera house, New York in the 1870s and published as Issue 39 of Ethiopian drama by the Happy Hours Company, New York, in 1879 and as no 246 of Ames' series of Standard and Minor Drama.
Sources:
Facsimile version of the Ames edition, Hathi Trust Digital Library[8]
Othello in Ireland a burlesque by an unnamed author
No text by this name can be traced, but Bosman (1980) records several performances of a "popular burlesque" with this title produced by the dramatic company of the 9th Regiment in the course of two seasons (1866-7). It is usually referred to as a "burlesque", but once also described as a "beautiful semi-serio Opera in 5 acts, the text by Shakespeare". The latter is most probably a tongue-in-the-cheek description to fit the mood of the particular evening's entertainment, but does point to the text by Maurice G. Dowling as the probable source.
Sources:
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.258-278.
Original South African translations and/or adaptations of the text
The play has been translated into a number of South African languages, and a few local adaptations have also been performed.
For more details of the South African performances of these translations and/or adaptations of the play, see the full list of performances below.
Translations
Dutch
Translated as Othello, of De Moor van Venetien by an anonymous author, based on the French version of J.-F. Ducis (1733-1816)[9]. Published in Groningen by H. Eekhoff, 1802.
Also found as Othello, of De Moor (translated by an unknown author).
Afrikaans
Translated into Afrikaans as Othello by Anna S. Pohl, published by Human & Rousseau, in 1976.
English, Afrikaans and Xhosa
In 2024, Lara Foot adapted and partly translated the play for South African performance, setting it in the early 20th century in Germany and South West Africa (Namibia), with a text in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa.
Original South African stage adaptations
Othello Slegs Blankes ("Othello Whites Only") by Donald Howarth
Sometimes found listed as Othello Slegs vir Blankes or Othello – Slegs vir Blankes
This is an adaptation written and directed by Donald Howarth specifically for production at The Space Theatre (Cape Town) from 24 June 1972, with David Nissen (composer and musician). The play is intended to be performed without the black character of "Othello" appearing on stage. The play text is unpublished, but the original playscript is held by NELM (Collection: SIMON, Barney: 1995. 11. 1. 48).
Sources:
Poster NELM [Collection: SIEFF, Percy]: 2013. 25. 1. 26
Original playscript, NELM (Collection: SIMON, Barney: 1995. 11. 1. 48).
Astbury, Brian 1979. The Space/Die Ruimte/Indawo. Cape Town: Moira and Azriel Fine.
Brian Astbury. 2015. "A British playwright, a monkey for President, and a play with a missing leading man…", in: Theatre of Survival. The Story of The Space[10]
South African film adaptations
Othello: A South African Tale (2002) by Eubulus Timothy
Sources
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420049/
Othello SA (2007) by Eubulus Timothy
Also billed simply as Othello, it is a remake of the 2002 film by Timothy, with a number of different cast members.
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1274413593/
Chronological listing of South African productions of Othello
Unless noted otherwise in the list below, the play performed is the original Shakespeare text.
1818: A performance in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the Gentlemen Amateurs in conjunction with Mr Cooke and his ladies, on 24 October, 1818; as a benefit for the Liverpool actress Miss Williams. The afterpiece was The Poor Soldier (O'Keeffe).
1829: Performed in English as Othello, or The Moor of Venice in the African Theatre, Cape Town, on 9 December, with as afterpiece The Wags of Windsor (Colman Jr), by the visiting professional actor H. Booth, supported by a number of local amateurs. Booth not only appeared in the roles of "Othello" and "Looney Mactmolter" in the afterpiece, but also sang a song as interlude.
1831: Performed in English as Othello by All the World's a Stage on 14 May, with Past Ten O'clock, and a Rainy Night (Dibdin) as afterpiece.
1832: Performed on 3 March as Othello by All the World's a Stage, with as afterpiece Amateurs and Actors (Peake).
1834: Performed in English, under the patronage of the Governor, as Othello, or The Moor of Venice by the Private Amateur Company (a civil society), in the Amateur Theatre (Liefhebbery Toneel) on 20 August, with A Day after the Fair (Somerset) as afterpiece.
1836: Performed in Dutch as Othello, of De Jaloersche Zwart ("Othello, or The Jealous Black") by Vlyt en Kunst in the Liefhebbery Toneel (Hope Street Theatre)in Cape Town on 19 August 1837, directed by C.E. Boniface. The rest of the programme consisted of De Logen om Best Wil (Garrick). The production appears to have been successful, but did elicit some criticism from a writer called "Philemon" who protested at the gruesome and immoral nature of the play.
1837: Performed in Dutch as Othello, of De Moor van Venetien by Vlyt en Kunst in the Liefhebbery Toneel (Hope Street Theatre) in Cape Town on 19 August 1837, directed by C.E. Boniface. The rest of the programme consisted of Dirk Menschenschrik (Holberg) and some tricks by "een Groote Baviaan" as afterpiece. The musical society De Getrouwheid assisted in the evening's entertainment.
1842: Othello Travestie (Dowling) performed by the Garrison Players in the Garrison Theatre, Cape Town, on 13 May, as an afterpiece to The Irish Attorney (Bernard). The performers included Mr Wellesley ("The Moor"), Mr D. M'Donald ("Desdemona") and Mr Priestly ("Iago"). Repeated on the 19th May apparently.
1847: Performed as Othello by the Garrison Players (the 90th Light Infantry) in the Garrison Theatre, Cape Town on 30 September, with Jack Brag (Hook).
1847: Performed in English as Othello by the Garrison Players (the 90th Light Infantry) in the Garrison Theatre, Cape Town on 19 October, with The Infant of Spain (Hook).
1852: Performed by the Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society for the Birkenhead Fund, a fund-raiser in aid of the victims of the shipwreck of that name.
1852: Performed in Cape Town by members of the Garrison Players, including Captain Hall and Lieutenant Johnson, helped by local English amateurs, on 24 March, 1852, with as afterpiece Charles the Second, or The Merry Monarch (Payne). The performance was part of three evenings done "for the benefit of the unfortunate soldiers who persished in H.M.Steamer Birkenhead". Unfortunately it appears that the three performances had apparently not served their intended purpose, as they eventually ran at a loss of £30.
1858: Performed by J.E.H. English and his company in the Harrington Street Theatre, Cape Town, on 1 October, with Charles Fraser as "Othello" and an actor referred to simply as "a gentleman saved from the Eastern City" playing "Iago". Also performed on the evening was The Corsican Brothers (Grangé and De Montépin/ Boucicault).
1861: Performed as a "musical extravaganza" called Othello, by an unnamed author (probably the text by Dowling), in Cape Town by the Cape Town and Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 7 March, with My Friend in the Straps (Selby).
1861: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Sefton Parry and his company, on 9 September, with The Good for Nothing (Buckstone). "Othello" was played by John Howard, "Iago" by T. Brazier, "Roderigo" by Mrs Tellett, "Desdemona" by Mrs Parry and "Emilia" by Mrs Bland.
1861: Performed one more in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Sefton Parry and his company, on 12 September, this time with The Fox and the Wolf (Anon.).
1862: Scene II, Act III was produced in the Grahamstown Garrison Theatre on 27 January by the Non-commissioned Officers of the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot, with a cast consisting of Cast: T. H. Smith Esq. (Othello), Sergeant J. Lydon (Iago), Sergeant T. M'Kay (Cassio), Corporal J. Davies (Desdemona), Private J. M'Kechnie (Emilia). Also played was Amoroso, King of Little Britain (Planché). (For more on contemporary responses to the performances, see the entry on the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot)
1864: Performed in the Garrison Theatre, Cape Town, by the 11th Regiment as their farewell performance, before leaving for duty in Natal. Also performed was Michael Erle, the Maniac Lover, or The Fayre Lass of Lichfield (Wilks) and a farewell performance by the regiment's company of Amateur Christy's Minstrels.
1866: A burlesque called Othello in Ireland performed on 24 September by the 9th Regiment in the Garrison Theatre, Cape Town, as part of an evening of "Dramatic and Musical Entertainment" as a benefit for of the Band Sergeant T. Earnshaw, along with sword dances by H. Wallace and musical numbers by Signor Bonicoli and Weber.
1867: Othello in Ireland performed "by special request" on 19 March by the 9th Regiment in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, as part of a "Grand Fashionable Night", along with comic song by H.F. Simmonds and the "fashionable farce" Sayings and Doings (Morton).
1867: Othello in Ireland performed by "special request" once again on 8 June by the 9th Regiment in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town. However it is now referred to as a "beautiful semi-serio Opera in 5 acts, the text by Shakespeare". Also part of the evening's entertainment were a "Gymnastics Display" and The Bal Masqué (or Sloppy Sam).
1867: A final performance of Othello in Ireland by the 9th Regiment took place on 3 August in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town. This time accompanied by The Nervous Cures, three gymnastic displays and Scottish folk dances by H. Wallace.
1867: Performed as Othello by the Le Roy and Duret company in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town on 16 December, as part of a "Grand Shakespearian Night", along with a "Pas Seul" by Miss Clara and A Rough Diamond (Buckstone) as afterpiece.
1867: Performed as Othello by the Le Roy and Duret company in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town on 19 December, with Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw (Morton) as afterpiece. (The role of "Othello" was played by T. Brazier and W.J.S. Bennee on alternate nights, one on the 16th the other on the 19th.)
1868: Produced in Dutch as Othello, of De Moor by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst at the Odd Fellows Hall, Cape Town on 13 November, with Het Bankroet van den Schoenlapper (Pujos and Dabaytua).
1868: Produced in Dutch as Othello, of De Moor by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst at the Odd Fellows Hall, Cape Town on 30 November, with De Helleveeg (Loosjes).
1869: Performed as an "Ethiopian Burlesque in 3 Acts" by the Amateur Coloured Troupe in the Young Men’s Institute and Club, Cape Town. (This may have been based on the 1813 three-act Othello-travestie written by "Ibef.", since the later Christy versions - such as the one by Griffin - tended to be one-act pieces).
1876: Performed as Othello by the Disney Roebuck company in the Theatre Royal, Burg Street, Cape Town on 27 May, as a benefit for Mr Fairclough.
1876: Performed as Othello by the Disney Roebuck company in the Theatre Royal, Burg Street, Cape Town on 19 June, with a ballet as afterpiece, and repeated on 28 June (without the dance).
1877: Performed as Othello by the Disney Roebuck company in the Theatre Royal, Burg Street, Cape Town on 27 and 28 August, with G. Seymour and Geo. Yates in the leading roles.
1891-2: Performed by the Geneviève Ward Company during a nine months' tour of South Africa, under the auspices of Luscombe Searelle, featuring Geneviève Ward and W.H. Vernon in the leading roles.
1895-6: Performed and taken on tour by the Holloway Theatre Company, opening in the Standard Theatre, Johannesburg, on December 26th with W.J. Holloway and Amy Coleridge in the leading roles. The company also included Gerald Lawrence, Amy Grace, Leonard Rayne, John Nesbitt and William Haviland. The company also played other cities, including the Opera House, Cape Town, for a season that opened in May 1896.
1905: Performed in South Africa by Leonard Rayne and his company as part of a season of plays, inter alia playing in the Opera House, Cape Town.
1946: Produced by Frank Hammerton for the Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society at the Little Theatre. With E. Clifford Jones, Dan Bosman, Hazel Casson, Pietro Nolte, Mary Dean, Rosa Lussman, Dan Bosman, Frank Hammerton.
1957: Rhodes University Dramatic Society performances of Othello, the Moor of Venice, produced by Guy Butler.
1970: Directed by Leonard Schach at Maynardville starring Bernard Brown, Louis Burke, Cecilia Sonnenberg, Jeanne Wennberg, Michael Drin, Don Maguire, Christopher Hale, Geoffrey Frederick, Richard Poore, Ronald Fenton, Kerry Marsh. Decor by Pamela Lewis, costumes by Jennifer Craig.
1970: Presented by NAPAC Drama at the Alhambra Theatre, Durban, directed by Daniel Thorndike, from 9 September 1970.
1972: Othello Slegs Blankes produced at The Space (Cape Town) in 1972. The text was adapted, written and directed by Donald Howarth, and featured John Badenhorst, Limpie Basson, Peter Benedix, Mavourneen Bryceland, Yvonne Bryceland, Ben Dekker, Val Donald, Anthony Flesch, Keith Grenville, David Haynes, John Kennedy, Charles Kidd, Charles Kinsman, Icky Kurgan, Michael McGovern, Paul Slabolepszy, Michael Swinton, David Nissen, Harry Victor. Costumes by Aubrey Couling, lighting by Brian Astbury, music by David Nissen and stage management by Bee Berman.
1975: Shortly after the release of the 1965 Laurence Olivier film in South Africa in the 1970s, PACT produced an Afrikaans version, in a translation by Anna S. Pohl. Breytenbach Theatre and Alexander Theatre. The production featured Louis van Niekerk in the lead role in black-face, Sandra Prinsloo as Desdemona and Marius Weyers as Iago, Tobie Cronjé also included in the cast, and was directed by Francois Swart.
1977: Presented by KRUIK Toneel at the Nico Malan Theatre, opening 29 January. The Pohl Afrikaans translation was used, direction by Pieter Fourie, decor, costumes and lighting by Raimond Schoop. The cast included Marius Weyers (Othello), Pieter Geldenhuys, Johan Esterhuizen, Cobus Rossouw(on loan from SWAPAC), Mees Xteen, Johan Botha, Marko van der Colff, James Blanckenberg, Neels Coetzee, Liz Dick (Desdemona), Sandra Ferreira, Tarina Kleyn, Chris Truter, Henry Hopkins, Fitz Morley, Willem de la Querra, Billy de la Querra, Martin Crous.
1977: Performed by SWAPAC in Windhoek, using the same Afrikaans translation.
1978: Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival 1978 Mannville production in English directed by Helen Mann.
1982: Maynardville, opening 8 January 1982 directed by Roy Sargeant for CAPAB with Robert Stephens as Othello, Richard Grant as Cassio and Neil McCarthy as Montano, also starring Bobby Heaney (Roderigo), Michael Richard (Iago), Hugh Rouse (Brabantio), Marko van der Colff (Duke), James Irwin (Gratiano), John Maytham (a senator), Louise Saint-Claire (Desdemona), Fiona Ramsay (Emilia), Janet Buckland (Bianca) and Roger Dwyer (Lodovico). Lighting by Brian Kennedy, decor and costumes by Dicky Longhurst, music by Michael Tuffin. Henry Goodman was the fight director.
1983: A community theatre production by Phyllis Klotz was done in Cape Town, probably the first time a black actor played the leading role in South Africa.
1986: In a landmark production, directed for the Market Theatre by Janet Suzman in 1986, John Kani played "Othello", Joanna Weinberg played "Desdemona" and Richard Haines gave a superb performance as "Iago". Designs were by Johan Engels.
1987: Directed by Janet Suzman at the Market Theatre. Cast : John Kani, Joanna Weinberg, Stuart Brown, Frantz Dobrowsky, Dorothy Ann Gould, Richard Haines, Peter Krummeck, Martin le Maitre, Neil McCarthy, Lindsay Reardon, John Whiteley, Gaynor Young, Johan Arangies, Saul Bamberger, Robert Coleman, Adrian Galley, Denis Hutchinson, Terence Reis, David Thomas.
1989: A made for TV film version of the Suzman production was made by Eric Abraham and broadcast on BBC television on 27 December. A video of this version was marketed afterwards[11]).
1998: Directed by Megan Wilson at the Amphitheatre, Wits, Johannesburg.
2001: Maynardville 12 January to 24 February 2001, directed by Keith Grenville with Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Othello.
2010: Performed at the Wits Amphitheatre with an all-student cast at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, during April, 2010, directed by John Kani and Sarah Roberts
2013: The Playbill Theatre Company performed it in Johannesburg's Jo'burg Theatre, directed by Denel Honeyball, with Muntu Ngubane, Aimee Goldsmith, Craig Wainwright, Miles Petzer, Glen Biederman-Pam, Ryan Dittman, John Whitely, Liesel Retief and Nadia Woodward.
2016: Performed at Maynardville, directed by Fred Abrahamse with set and costume designs by Marcel Meyer, lighting design by Faheem Bardien, original music score by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder.
2016: Performed 26 January till 23 February at Maynardville, directed by Fred Abrahamse with set and costume designs by Marcel Meyer, lighting design by Faheem Bardien, original music score by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder. The cast included Pope Jerrod as "Othello", Melissa Haiden as "Desdemona", Marcel Meyer as "Iago", Lee-Ann van Rooi as "Emilia", Stephen Jubber as "Cassio", Matthew Baldwin as "Roderigo", Faniswa Yisa as "Bianca", Robin Smith as "Brabantio", Daniel Richards as "Lodovico" and Siya Sikawuti as "Montano" and "The Duke of Venice".
2024: The Lara Foot adaptation of the play performed at the Baxter Theatre from 6 April to 4 May. Set in German Southwest Africa (now Namibia) in the time of German colonialism and including the period of the Herero and Nama genocide and the Herero uprising, the text is in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. Directed by Lara Foot, with Atandwa Kani (as "Othello"), Albert Pretorius ("Iago"), Carla Smith ("Desdemona"), Fansiwa Yisa ("Emilia"), Carlo Daniels ("Cassio"), Wessel Pretorius ("Roderigo"), Morne Visser ("Brabantio"), Lyle October ("Montano"), Tamzin Williams ("Bianca") and Brendon Sean Murray (the "Duke", as well as various other roles). Additional roles portrayed by Awethu Hleli, Nolufefe Ntshuntshe and Caleb Swanepoel. Design by Gerhard Marx, music composed by Kyle Shepherd and lighting design by Patrick Curtis.
Sources
Eastern Province Herald, 7/4/1852.
Arogundade, Ben. 2011. "Most Memorable Othello Adaptations" in Huffpost[12]
Astbury, Brian. 1979. The Space/Die Ruimte/Indawo. Cape Town: Moira and Azriel Fine.
Bosman, F.C.L., 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [15]: pp. 204, 215, 338-9, 393-5, 401-3, 409-410
Bosman, F.C.L.. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 99, 109, 121, 123, 160, 201, 231, 234, 256, 258-260, 278, 339, 340, 344-5, 359, 392-3, 422, 445
Distiller, Natasha. 2012. Authentic protest, authentic Shakespeare, authentic Africans: Performing Othello in South Africa. Comparative Drama, 46 (3):339–355.
Dowling, M.M.G. (1834). Othello travestie: an operatic burlesque burletta. London: T.H. Lacy. (Facsimile version of the text of the original text, Hathi Trust[16]).
Dramachicks - a blog[17]
Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
Fletcher, Jill. 1994. The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930. Cape Town: Vlaeberg
Facsimile Version of Othello, of De Moor van Venetien: Hathi Trust Digital Library[18]
Foulkes, Richard. 2006. Performing Shakespeare in the Age of Empire. Cambridge University Press[19]
Inskip, Donald P. 1972. Forty Little Years: The Story of a Theatre. Cape Town: Howard Timmins.
Inskip, Donald P. 1976. The Maynardville Chronicle, 1956-1976. Epping: Printpak: p. 127
Maynardville theatre programme, 1982, donated by Tony Fletcher, held by NELM: [Collection: FLETCHER, Jill]: 2005. 75. 19. 9.
North Lincoln Sphinx Vol 1, No 11. January 28, 1862.
North Lincoln Sphinx Vol 1, No 12. Febuary 28, 1862.
North Lincoln Sphinx Vol 1, N0 13, July 23, 1862. (Keiskama Hoek)
Rafferty, Barclay. 2015 Adaptations of Othello: (In)Adaptability and Transmedial Representations of Race. Unpublished Doctoral thesis, De Montford University[20]
Rosario, Catherine Ann. 2015. Black Rams and Extravagant Strangers: Shakespeare’s Othello and its Rewritings, from Nineteenth-Century Burlesque to Post-Colonial Tragedy. Unpublished PhD thesis, Goldsmith's College, University of London[21]
Schwartz, Pat 1988. The Best of Company: The Story of Johannesburg's Market Theatre. Johannesburg: Ad Donker.
Teaterwoordeboek, Vaktaalburo, 1977.
Stefani Terblanche. 2024. "Kani Jr gereed vir gróót rol". Die Burger, 2 April, p.8.[22]
Trek, 10(13):18, 1945.
Wikipedia: Entry on Othello[23]
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