Difference between revisions of "Why Strelitzias Cannot Fly"

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''[[Why Strelitzias Cannot Fly]]'' is a musical play for children by [[Geraldine Aron]] and [[Debbie Lan]].  
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''[[Why Strelitzias Cannot Fly]]'' is a musical for children by [[Geraldine Aron]] (1941-) and [[Debbie Lan]].  
  
 +
Often written '''''[[Why Strelitzias Can't Fly]]''''' and was later also known as '''''[[Why Birds of Paradise Cannot Fly]]'''''.
  
Often also called ''[[Why Strelitzias Can't Fly]]''.
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==The original text==
  
==The original text===
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The piece is based on Aron's own children's book ''Why strelitzias cannot fly: a South African folk tale'' which was published by [[Tafelberg Publishers]] in 1982, with illustrations by Cherylle Hayden. 
  
Based on Aron's own children's book ''[[Why Strelitzias Cannot Fly: a South African folk tale]]'', which was published by [[Tafelberg Publishers]] in 1982 (with illustrations by Cherylle Hayden), the musical was written by .
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==Translations and adaptations==
  
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The original novel was translated into [[Afrikaans]] as '''''[[Waarom Strelitzias Nie Kan Vlieg Nie]]''''' (published by [[Tafelberg Publishers]], Cape Town, in 1982) and into seven other languages, including [[Tswana]] (as ''[[Go reng ditereletsia di sa kgone go fofa]]'', published by [[Via Afrika]], Cape Town, in 1985).
  
 +
The novel was adapted as a stage musical by by [[Geraldine Aron]] and [[Debbie Lan]], and first performed by [[CAPAB]] in 1983. According to WGM Atlantic[https://www.wgmtalent.com/screen-writers/geraldine-aron/], the was play later also billed as '''''[[Why Birds of Paradise Cannot Fly]]'''''.
  
The novel translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Waarom strelitzias nie kan vlieg nie]]'' (published by [[Tafelberg Publishers]], Cape Town, in 1982) and into [[Tswana]] as ''[[Go reng ditereletsia di sa kgone go fofa]]'' (published by [[Via Afrika]], Cape Town, in 1985).  
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Translated into an [[Afrikaans]] version called '''''[[Waarom Strelitzias Nie Kan Vlieg Nie]]''''' by [[Johan Esterhuizen]] and first performed by the [[Stellenbosch Drama Department]] in 2001. The text is unpublished, but the performance text is held by [[DALRO]].
  
'''See ''[[Why Strelitzias Can't Fly]]'''''
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== Performance history in South Africa ==
  
==Sources==
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1983: First performed by [[CAPAB]] in the Nico Malan Arena in December 1983, directed by [[Johan Esterhuizen]], with [[Marthinus Basson]], [[Lynita Crofford]], [[Margaretha Fischer]], [[Terry Greyvenstein]], [[Greg Latter]], [[André Roothman]], [[Diane Wilson]], [[Marlene Winberg]]. Decor and costumes [[Penny Simpson]], lighting [[Malcolm Hurrell]].
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1991: Presented by [[CAPAB]] at the [[Guild Theatre]], directed by [[George Mountjoy]], with [[Lori-Ann Schlimper]], [[Melani Johnson]], [[Liezl van Rensburg]], [[Marie van Rensburg]], [[Michael Mangxila]], [[Clayton Schlimper]], [[Daluxolo Papu]], [[Arthur de Klerk]], [[Rob Schlimper]], [[Jean Wittstock]], [[Grace Birtwistle]].
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2001: Performed in [[Afrikaans]] in the [[H.B. Thom Theatre]] by students of the [[University of Stellenbosch]] from 27 March to 6 April, directed by [[Johan Esterhuizen]], assisted by [[Gilliam Johan Winckler]]. The cast consisted of [[Liani Marè]], [[Anneke Senekal]], [[Liselle Jones]], [[Bea Claasen]], [[Natalie Hoffman]], [[Trudy Gunther]], [[Liana Jansen]], [[Ilse-Marie Stols]], [[Hester van der Merwe]], [[Cindy Swanepoel]], [[Bernadette van Wyk]], [[Jaco Olivier]], [[Niel Rademan]], [[Welma Winter]], [[Yanou Ceulaers]] and [[Stefan Blignaut]]. The production team included [[Su Gustafson]] (production manager), [[Barnie Mans]] (stage manager), [[Larien Truter]] (production manager), [[Maritha Visagie]] (design) and [[Francois van Wyk]] (design).
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== Sources ==
 +
 
 +
[[Sydney Paul Gosher]]. 1988. ''A Historical and Critical Survey of the South African One-act Play Written in English''. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Pretoria: [[University of South Africa]].
 +
 
 +
https://www.wgmtalent.com/screen-writers/geraldine-aron/
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 +
Material held by [[NELM]].
 +
 
 +
An English copy of the text, as well as the stage manager's prompt copy for the Stellenbosch [[Afrikaans]] production in 2001, found in the [[Stellenbosch Drama Department]]'s archives in 2022. Now held in the [[Performing Arts Research Collection]]  ([[PARC]])  at the [[Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation]], with offices at Pieter Okkers House, 7 Joubert Street, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
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[[Arts Theatre Club]] archive held by [[George Mountjoy]].
  
 
https://books.google.co.za/books/about/Why_Strelitzias_Cannot_Fly.html?id=YFsVAAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y
 
https://books.google.co.za/books/about/Why_Strelitzias_Cannot_Fly.html?id=YFsVAAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y
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https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au=%22Hayden,%20Cherylle%22
 
https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au=%22Hayden,%20Cherylle%22
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Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==

Latest revision as of 06:27, 26 August 2025

Why Strelitzias Cannot Fly is a musical for children by Geraldine Aron (1941-) and Debbie Lan.

Often written Why Strelitzias Can't Fly and was later also known as Why Birds of Paradise Cannot Fly.

The original text

The piece is based on Aron's own children's book Why strelitzias cannot fly: a South African folk tale which was published by Tafelberg Publishers in 1982, with illustrations by Cherylle Hayden.

Translations and adaptations

The original novel was translated into Afrikaans as Waarom Strelitzias Nie Kan Vlieg Nie (published by Tafelberg Publishers, Cape Town, in 1982) and into seven other languages, including Tswana (as Go reng ditereletsia di sa kgone go fofa, published by Via Afrika, Cape Town, in 1985).

The novel was adapted as a stage musical by by Geraldine Aron and Debbie Lan, and first performed by CAPAB in 1983. According to WGM Atlantic[1], the was play later also billed as Why Birds of Paradise Cannot Fly.

Translated into an Afrikaans version called Waarom Strelitzias Nie Kan Vlieg Nie by Johan Esterhuizen and first performed by the Stellenbosch Drama Department in 2001. The text is unpublished, but the performance text is held by DALRO.

Performance history in South Africa

1983: First performed by CAPAB in the Nico Malan Arena in December 1983, directed by Johan Esterhuizen, with Marthinus Basson, Lynita Crofford, Margaretha Fischer, Terry Greyvenstein, Greg Latter, André Roothman, Diane Wilson, Marlene Winberg. Decor and costumes Penny Simpson, lighting Malcolm Hurrell.

1991: Presented by CAPAB at the Guild Theatre, directed by George Mountjoy, with Lori-Ann Schlimper, Melani Johnson, Liezl van Rensburg, Marie van Rensburg, Michael Mangxila, Clayton Schlimper, Daluxolo Papu, Arthur de Klerk, Rob Schlimper, Jean Wittstock, Grace Birtwistle.

2001: Performed in Afrikaans in the H.B. Thom Theatre by students of the University of Stellenbosch from 27 March to 6 April, directed by Johan Esterhuizen, assisted by Gilliam Johan Winckler. The cast consisted of Liani Marè, Anneke Senekal, Liselle Jones, Bea Claasen, Natalie Hoffman, Trudy Gunther, Liana Jansen, Ilse-Marie Stols, Hester van der Merwe, Cindy Swanepoel, Bernadette van Wyk, Jaco Olivier, Niel Rademan, Welma Winter, Yanou Ceulaers and Stefan Blignaut. The production team included Su Gustafson (production manager), Barnie Mans (stage manager), Larien Truter (production manager), Maritha Visagie (design) and Francois van Wyk (design).

Sources

Sydney Paul Gosher. 1988. A Historical and Critical Survey of the South African One-act Play Written in English. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Pretoria: University of South Africa.

https://www.wgmtalent.com/screen-writers/geraldine-aron/

Material held by NELM.

An English copy of the text, as well as the stage manager's prompt copy for the Stellenbosch Afrikaans production in 2001, found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department's archives in 2022. Now held in the Performing Arts Research Collection (PARC) at the Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation, with offices at Pieter Okkers House, 7 Joubert Street, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Arts Theatre Club archive held by George Mountjoy.

https://books.google.co.za/books/about/Why_Strelitzias_Cannot_Fly.html?id=YFsVAAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y

https://www.worldcat.org/title/why-strelitzias-cannot-fly-a-south-african-folk-tale/oclc/23881778

https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au=%22Hayden,%20Cherylle%22 Go to ESAT Bibliography

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