Difference between revisions of "Everyman"

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''[[Everyman]]'' (English) or '''''[[Elckerlijc]]''''' ([[Dutch]]) is an Anglo-Dutch morality play by an unknown playwright.
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''[[Everyman]]'' (English) (or '''''[[Elckerlijc]]''''' in [[Dutch]]) is a morality play by an unknown playwright.
  
−
The name is generally found in German translation as ''[[Jedermann]]'', in French as  and ''[[Afrikaans]]'' versions include the titles ''[[Elkeman]]'',
+
==The original text(s)==
  
 +
Though orignally apparently named ''[[The Somonyng of Everyman]]'' in Middle English, and ''''[[Den Spyeghel der Salicheyt van Elckerlijc]]'' (or in full: ''[[Den Spyeghel der Salicheyt van Elckerlijc - Hoe dat elckerlijc mensche wert ghedaecht Gode rekeninghe te doen]]'') in Flemish, the play is more generally referred to as simply as '''''[[Everyman]]''''' (English), '''''[[Elckerlijc]]''''' in [[Flemish]] or [[Dutch]],  '''''[[Jedermann]]'''''  in German, and '''''[[Elkeman]]''''' in ''[[Afrikaans]]''. 
  
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== The original text ==
+
The spelling of the [[Dutch]] play's shorter title actually varies substantially, including ''[[Elckerlijk]]'', ''[[Elkerlijk]]'', ''[[Elckerlyc]]''.
  
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The play, by whatever title, is possibly the most famous example of a [[morality play]] from the 15th century, telling of how God summons Everyman by ordering Death to take him for his own. Everyman pleads delay and then seeks around for anyone who may bear him company. First he turns to Fellowship, later to Knowledge, Beauty, Strength, and so on.
+
''Not to be confused with the 1975 [[Dutch]] film '''[[Elckerlyc]]''' directed by Jos Stelling.''
  
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Though '''''Everyman''''' is often considered  an original English morality play, it was most probably first known in the Dutch form, though many sources are mentioned by various authors. (See for example the overview of the text's hisory by Clifford Davidson, Martin W. Walsh  and Ton J. Broos, 2007)
+
The play, by whatever title, is possibly the most famous example of a [[morality play]] from the late 15th century, telling of how God summons Everyman by ordering Death to take him for his own. Everyman pleads delay and then seeks around for anyone who may bear him company. First he turns to Fellowship, later to Knowledge, Beauty, Strength, and so on.
  
−
Another suggestion for the origins of the play is that it is a version of a Latin play called ''[[Quilibet]]'' by Petrus Dorlandus (also known as Petrus Diesthemius or Peter van Diest). , or even . (The latter suggestion from J.W. van Bart in his introduction to his edition of Gennep’s ''Een comedia ofte spel van Homulus'').
+
Though ''[[The Somonyng of Everyman]]'' ("The Summoning of Everyman") is often considered  an original English morality play, there is a strong argument for Flemish work ''[[Den Spyeghel der Salicheyt van Elckerlijc]]'' being the original text, though many other sources are also mentioned by various authors. (See for example the overview of the text's history by Clifford Davidson, Martin W. Walsh  and  Ton J. Broos, 2007).
  
−
The spelling of the [[Dutch]] play's title varies. Other forms of spelling are ''[[Elckerlijk]]'', ''[[Elkerlijk]]'', ''[[Elckerlyc]]''.  
+
One such suggestion is that of the play is a version of a Latin play called ''[[Quilibet]]'' by Petrus Dorlandus (also known as Petrus Diesthemius or Peter van Diest). (The latter suggestion from J.W. van Bart in his introduction to his edition of Gennep’s ''Een comedia ofte spel van Homulus'').
  
−
The English title is usually given as ''[[Everyman]]'' (though a version ''[[Every Man]]'' has been noted).
+
Notable productions of the [[Dutch]] text were mount­ed well in­to the modern age, especially one by [[Johan de Meester]] in 1907 and another performed at the Holland Festival be­tween 1950 and 1971.
  
−
Notable productions of the Dutch text were mount­ed well in­to the modern age, especially by [[Johan de Meester]] in 1907 and at the Holland Festival be­tween 1950 and 1971.
+
==Translations and adaptations==
 +
 
 +
'''''[[Homulus]]''''' (1536), translation in Latin  by Christianus Ischyrius (i.e. Christiaen Stercks), rector of the Maastricht Latin School,  
 +
 
 +
'''''[[Hecastus]]''''' (1536), adaptation in Latin  by Georgius Macropedius (also known as Joris van Lanckvelt).  
  
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==Translations and adaptations==
+
'''''[[Jedermann]]''''' (1911) German adaptation by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. (In fact, generally found in German translation as '''''[[Jedermann]]'''''.).
  
−
Everyman, in English (16th century)
+
'''''[[Everyman]]''''' (1901), a modern play based on the medieval morality play, was written by Charles Frohman and directed by Ben Greet and was first performed in 1901 in Britain, opening on Broadway in 1902. (See "''Everyman'' (modern play)" in ''Wikipedia''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyman_(modern_play)].)
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Homulus, translation in Latin (1536) by Christianus Ischyrius[1] 1536 Latin translation entitled Homulus by Christianus Ischyrius, rector of the Maastricht Latin School,
 
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Hecastus, adaptation in Latin (1536) by Macropedius
 
−
Jedermann (1911), Hugo von Hofmannsthal's German adaptation of Everyman
 
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See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elckerlijc
 
  
−
A modern play, based on the medieval morality play and also called ''[[Everyman]]'', was written by Charles Frohman and directed by Ben Greet was first performed in 1901 in Britain, and opened on Broadway in 1902. (See "''Everyman'' (modern play)" in ''Wikipedia''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyman_(modern_play)].)
+
'''''[[The Summoning of Everyman]]'': A Modern Version of the Mediaeval Morality Play''' by Herbert W. Payne. Samuel French, 1947
  
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''The Summoning of Everyman: A Modern Version of the Mediaeval Morality Play'' by Herbert W. Payne. Samuel French, 1947
+
'''''[[Elckerlijc]]''''' (or '''''Den Spieghel der Salicheit van Elckerlijc''''') was published as part of a series of Medieval [[Dutch]] texts for South African students in 1987. It includes an [[Afrikaans]] version of the text entitled '''''[[Elkeman]]'''''.  
  
−
Generally found in German translation as '''''[[Jedermann]]'''''.
+
'''''[[Everyman: A Morality Play]]''''' (1950) is a South African English text written by [[Guy Butler]] and described in the subtitle as "A Modernised Version of the Medieval Interlude of the Same Name". (The unpublished manuscript is held in the [[NELM]] archives.)
  
−
In 1987 ''[[Elckerlijc]]'' (or ''Den Spieghel der Salicheit van Elckerlijc'') was published as part of a series of Medieval [[Dutch]] texts for South African students and [[Afrikaans]] versions of the text include the titles '''''[[Elkeman]]''''',
+
'''''[[Iedereen]]''''' (1950s?) is a modernised [[Afrikaans]] adaptation by Dr [[W.H. Vos]] of Payne's 1947 English text, for the [[Piketberg Bybelspelvereniging]] ("Piketberg bible play society").
  
−
''[[Everyman: A Morality Play. A Modernised Version of the Medieval Interlude of the Same Name]]'' is a South African English text written by [[Guy Butler]] in 1950. (The unpublished manuscript is held in the [[NELM]] archives.)
+
'''''[[Elkeman]]''''' is an [[Afrikaans]] verse translation by [[Tom Weber]]
  
−
''[[Crossroads]]'' is an improvised and adapted performance text by [[Theatre Workshop '71]] of ''Everyman''.
+
'''''[[Crossroads]]''''' is an improvised and adapted performance text by [[Theatre Workshop '71]] of ''Everyman''.
  
−
[[Reza de Wet]]'s  [[Afrikaans]] play ''[[Mirakel]]'' uses an attempt by a touring company of actors to perform  an [[Afrikaans]] version of ''[[Everyman]]'' (referred to as ''[[Elkeman]]'') in a rural South African town in 1936, using this as the framing event for the contemporary intrigue.  First performed in Afrikaans in 1992 and published in 1993, then translated into English as ''[[Miracle]]'' in 2000.
+
'''''[[Mirakel]]''''' (1992), an original [[Afrikaans]] play by [[Reza de Wet]],  uses an attempt by a touring company of actors to perform  an [[Afrikaans]] version of ''[[Everyman]]'' (referred to as ''[[Elkeman]]'') in a rural South African town in 1936, using this as the framing event for the contemporary intrigue.  First performed in Afrikaans in 1992 and published in 1993, then translated into English as '''''[[Miracle]]''''' in 2000.
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
  
−
1927: Performed in [[Dutch]] as ''[[Elckerlijc]]'' in the open air, on the grounds of St Cyprian School in Cape Town on Saturday 9 April by the visiting [[Dutch]] company of [[Anton Verheyen]], [[Louis de Vriendt]], [[Mignon Sorel]] and others. A choir was directed by [[Sarah Goldblatt]] was also incorporated.
+
1927: Performed in [[Dutch]] as '''''[[Elckerlijc]]''''' in the open air, on the grounds of St Cyprian School in Cape Town on Saturday 9 April by the visiting [[Dutch]] company of [[Anton Verheyen]], [[Louis de Vriendt]], [[Mignon Sorel]] and others. A choir was directed by [[Sarah Goldblatt]] was also incorporated.
  
 
1927: This same production was performed in the [[Recreation Hall]] in Stellenbosch on 12 April. Due to bad weather the planned open-air performance was not possible.
 
1927: This same production was performed in the [[Recreation Hall]] in Stellenbosch on 12 April. Due to bad weather the planned open-air performance was not possible.
  
−
Pre-1931: ''[[Everyman]]'' produced in English by professor [[William H. Bell]] as his first production at the [[Stal Plein Hotel]]. (This activity which would lead to the founding of the [[University of Cape Town Drama Department|Department of Speech and Drama]] in 19**.)  
+
Pre-1931: ''[[Everyman]]'' produced in English by professor [[William H. Bell]] with [[Minna Freund]] as his first production at the [[Stal Plein Hotel]]. (This activity which would lead to the founding of the [[University of Cape Town Drama Department|Department of Speech and Drama]] in 19**.)  
  
 
1963: ''[[Everyman]]'' adapted and produced in English for the [[Rhodes University Players]] by [[Guy Butler]], in collaboration with the Rhodes University Chamber Choir, directed by Georg Gruber, September 1963. ([[NELM]] AN: MANU-36130).
 
1963: ''[[Everyman]]'' adapted and produced in English for the [[Rhodes University Players]] by [[Guy Butler]], in collaboration with the Rhodes University Chamber Choir, directed by Georg Gruber, September 1963. ([[NELM]] AN: MANU-36130).
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198*: ''[[Everyman]]'' performed in English by [[PACT]] with [[Pamela Gien]], [[Madeleine Bertine Rose]],
 
198*: ''[[Everyman]]'' performed in English by [[PACT]] with [[Pamela Gien]], [[Madeleine Bertine Rose]],
  
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1992: [[Reza de Wet]]'s  play ''[[Miracle]]'', containing an section of ''[[Elkeman]]'',  performed in [[Afrikaans]] at the Grahamstown Festival.
+
1992: [[Reza de Wet]]'s  play ''[[Mirakel]]'', containing an section of ''[[Elkeman]]'',  performed in [[Afrikaans]] at the Grahamstown Festival.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
 +
 +
 +
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elckerlijc
 +
 +
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elckerlijc
  
 
Clifford Davidson, Martin W. Walsh  and  Ton J. Broos. 2007. Introduction to ''Everyman and Its Dutch Original, Elckerlijc''. University of Rochester, Robbins Library Digital Project - TEAMS Middle English Texts Series [http://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/davidson-everyman-introduction]
 
Clifford Davidson, Martin W. Walsh  and  Ton J. Broos. 2007. Introduction to ''Everyman and Its Dutch Original, Elckerlijc''. University of Rochester, Robbins Library Digital Project - TEAMS Middle English Texts Series [http://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/davidson-everyman-introduction]
 +
 +
Paul R. Sellin. 1974. "The Hidden God: Reformation Awe in Renaissance English Literature", In: Robert S. Kinsman. ''The Darker Vision of the Renaissance: Beyond the Fields of Reason''. University of California Press: p.147[https://books.google.co.za/books?id=RmLFapoCp-kC&pg=PA147&lpg=PA147&dq=Den+Spieghel+der+Salicheit+van+Elckerlijc&source=bl&ots=r5-NcL4mjL&sig=kkWzXMmZA_LRVPnvJpoJ9ob1lt0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwimuraF9ujbAhWnAcAKHdHpCvMQ6AEITzAM#v=onepage&q=Den%20Spieghel%20der%20Salicheit%20van%20Elckerlijc&f=false]
  
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyman_(play)
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyman_(play)
  
 
''World Drama'', Allardyce Nicoll, 1949. p 164.
 
''World Drama'', Allardyce Nicoll, 1949. p 164.
 +
 +
H.J. Schutte  and G.J. De Klerk. 1987. ''Den Spieghel der Salicheit van Elckerlijc''. Pretoria: HAUM-Literêr Uitgewers.
  
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elckerlijc
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elckerlijc
  
−
''Die Burger'' 8 April 1927.
+
Photocopy of the typed script of ''[[Elkeman]]'' by [[Tom Weber]], found in the [[Stellenbosch Drama Department]] archives in 2022. 
 +
 
 +
''[[Die Burger]]'' 8 April 1927.
  
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

Latest revision as of 15:50, 26 February 2024

Everyman (English) (or Elckerlijc in Dutch) is a morality play by an unknown playwright.

The original text(s)

Though orignally apparently named The Somonyng of Everyman in Middle English, and ''Den Spyeghel der Salicheyt van Elckerlijc (or in full: Den Spyeghel der Salicheyt van Elckerlijc - Hoe dat elckerlijc mensche wert ghedaecht Gode rekeninghe te doen) in Flemish, the play is more generally referred to as simply as Everyman (English), Elckerlijc in Flemish or Dutch, Jedermann in German, and Elkeman in Afrikaans.

The spelling of the Dutch play's shorter title actually varies substantially, including Elckerlijk, Elkerlijk, Elckerlyc.

Not to be confused with the 1975 Dutch film Elckerlyc directed by Jos Stelling.

The play, by whatever title, is possibly the most famous example of a morality play from the late 15th century, telling of how God summons Everyman by ordering Death to take him for his own. Everyman pleads delay and then seeks around for anyone who may bear him company. First he turns to Fellowship, later to Knowledge, Beauty, Strength, and so on.

Though The Somonyng of Everyman ("The Summoning of Everyman") is often considered an original English morality play, there is a strong argument for Flemish work Den Spyeghel der Salicheyt van Elckerlijc being the original text, though many other sources are also mentioned by various authors. (See for example the overview of the text's history by Clifford Davidson, Martin W. Walsh and Ton J. Broos, 2007).

One such suggestion is that of the play is a version of a Latin play called Quilibet by Petrus Dorlandus (also known as Petrus Diesthemius or Peter van Diest). (The latter suggestion from J.W. van Bart in his introduction to his edition of Gennep’s Een comedia ofte spel van Homulus).

Notable productions of the Dutch text were mount­ed well in­to the modern age, especially one by Johan de Meester in 1907 and another performed at the Holland Festival be­tween 1950 and 1971.

Translations and adaptations

Homulus (1536), translation in Latin by Christianus Ischyrius (i.e. Christiaen Stercks), rector of the Maastricht Latin School,

Hecastus (1536), adaptation in Latin by Georgius Macropedius (also known as Joris van Lanckvelt).

Jedermann (1911) German adaptation by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. (In fact, generally found in German translation as Jedermann.).

Everyman (1901), a modern play based on the medieval morality play, was written by Charles Frohman and directed by Ben Greet and was first performed in 1901 in Britain, opening on Broadway in 1902. (See "Everyman (modern play)" in Wikipedia[1].)

The Summoning of Everyman: A Modern Version of the Mediaeval Morality Play by Herbert W. Payne. Samuel French, 1947

Elckerlijc (or Den Spieghel der Salicheit van Elckerlijc) was published as part of a series of Medieval Dutch texts for South African students in 1987. It includes an Afrikaans version of the text entitled Elkeman.

Everyman: A Morality Play (1950) is a South African English text written by Guy Butler and described in the subtitle as "A Modernised Version of the Medieval Interlude of the Same Name". (The unpublished manuscript is held in the NELM archives.)

Iedereen (1950s?) is a modernised Afrikaans adaptation by Dr W.H. Vos of Payne's 1947 English text, for the Piketberg Bybelspelvereniging ("Piketberg bible play society").

Elkeman is an Afrikaans verse translation by Tom Weber

Crossroads is an improvised and adapted performance text by Theatre Workshop '71 of Everyman.

Mirakel (1992), an original Afrikaans play by Reza de Wet, uses an attempt by a touring company of actors to perform an Afrikaans version of Everyman (referred to as Elkeman) in a rural South African town in 1936, using this as the framing event for the contemporary intrigue. First performed in Afrikaans in 1992 and published in 1993, then translated into English as Miracle in 2000.

Performance history in South Africa

1927: Performed in Dutch as Elckerlijc in the open air, on the grounds of St Cyprian School in Cape Town on Saturday 9 April by the visiting Dutch company of Anton Verheyen, Louis de Vriendt, Mignon Sorel and others. A choir was directed by Sarah Goldblatt was also incorporated.

1927: This same production was performed in the Recreation Hall in Stellenbosch on 12 April. Due to bad weather the planned open-air performance was not possible.

Pre-1931: Everyman produced in English by professor William H. Bell with Minna Freund as his first production at the Stal Plein Hotel. (This activity which would lead to the founding of the Department of Speech and Drama in 19**.)

1963: Everyman adapted and produced in English for the Rhodes University Players by Guy Butler, in collaboration with the Rhodes University Chamber Choir, directed by Georg Gruber, September 1963. (NELM AN: MANU-36130).

198*: Everyman performed in English by PACT with Pamela Gien, Madeleine Bertine Rose,

1992: Reza de Wet's play Mirakel, containing an section of Elkeman, performed in Afrikaans at the Grahamstown Festival.

Sources

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elckerlijc

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elckerlijc

Clifford Davidson, Martin W. Walsh and Ton J. Broos. 2007. Introduction to Everyman and Its Dutch Original, Elckerlijc. University of Rochester, Robbins Library Digital Project - TEAMS Middle English Texts Series [2]

Paul R. Sellin. 1974. "The Hidden God: Reformation Awe in Renaissance English Literature", In: Robert S. Kinsman. The Darker Vision of the Renaissance: Beyond the Fields of Reason. University of California Press: p.147[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyman_(play)

World Drama, Allardyce Nicoll, 1949. p 164.

H.J. Schutte and G.J. De Klerk. 1987. Den Spieghel der Salicheit van Elckerlijc. Pretoria: HAUM-Literêr Uitgewers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elckerlijc

Photocopy of the typed script of Elkeman by Tom Weber, found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022.

Die Burger 8 April 1927.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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