Difference between revisions of "Der Besuch Der Alten Dame"
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| − | ''[[Der Besuch Der Alten Dame]]'' ("The visit of the old lady") is a German tragicomedy by Swiss dramatist Friedrich Dürrenmatt. | + | ''[[Der Besuch Der Alten Dame]]'' ("The visit of the old lady") is a German tragicomedy by Swiss dramatist Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_D%C3%BCrrenmatt]. |
==The original text== | ==The original text== | ||
| − | A classic play about revenge, telling of a woman who returns to the village after the war to seek | + | A classic play about revenge, telling of a woman who returns to the village after the war to seek vengeance. |
| − | First performed in 1956 | + | First performed in German as ''[[Besuch der alten Dame]]'' at Schauspielhaus Zürich, in 1956. |
==Translations and adaptations== | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
Adapted and translated into English as ''[[The Visit]]'' by Maurice Valency and had its first Broadway theatre production, in 1958, directed by [[Peter Brook]] and starring Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. | Adapted and translated into English as ''[[The Visit]]'' by Maurice Valency and had its first Broadway theatre production, in 1958, directed by [[Peter Brook]] and starring Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. | ||
| − | Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Die Besoek van die Ou Dame]]'' ("The visit of the old lady") by [[Bartho Smit]] and | + | Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Die Besoek van die Ou Dame]]'' ("The visit of the old lady") by [[Bartho Smit]] in 1962 and published in ''[[Bartho Smit: Vertalings 2]]'' by [[Haum-literêr]]. |
| + | A localized English South African adaptation, set in "a little provincial town somewhere in South Afrrica" and entitled ''[[The Visit]]'', was written by an unnamed author. | ||
| + | Numerous adaptations have been made over the years, including a 1964 film with Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn, directed by Bernhard Wicki and a 1971 opera, with a libretto by the author and music by Gottfried von Einem. (For more on the adaptations, see the [[Wikipedia]] entry at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Visit_(play) ). | ||
== Performance history in South Africa == | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| − | 1962: Presented in [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Die Besoek van die Ou Dame]]'' by ''[[Die Johannesburgse Afrikaanse Toneelkomitee]]'' at the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]] in 1962, with [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]] in the lead, directed by [[Fred Engelen]]. | + | 1962: Presented in [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Die Besoek van die Ou Dame]]'' by ''[[Die Johannesburgse Afrikaanse Toneelkomitee]]'' at the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]] in 1962, with [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]] in the lead, directed by [[Fred Engelen]]. Also in the cast were [[Jan Schutte]], Designs and set were by [[Kobus Esterhuysen]]. |
1963: Produced in English as ''[[The Visit]]'' by [[Albert Thomas]] for the [[Peninsula Dramatic Society]] at the [[Labia Theatre]] from 11 to 16 February 1963. | 1963: Produced in English as ''[[The Visit]]'' by [[Albert Thomas]] for the [[Peninsula Dramatic Society]] at the [[Labia Theatre]] from 11 to 16 February 1963. | ||
| − | 1966: Presented in English as ''[[The Visit]]'' by [[CAPAB]], opening 13 October 1966 at the [[Hofmeyr Theatre]] directed by the New York director Stanley Waren [http://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/Academics-Research-Centers-Initiatives/Doctoral-Programs/Theatre/Faculty-Bios/Stanley-Waren] starring [[Babs Laker]], [[Johann Nell]], [[Phillip Boucher]], visiting British actor Michael Mellinger, [[Alan Prior]], [[Michael Newell]], [[Eric Brundl]], [[Yvonne Bryceland]], [[Glynn Day]], [[Norman Ettlinger]], [[Pietro Nolte]], [[Norman Coombes]] and others. Decor and costumes by [[Michael Clarke]]. | + | 1966: Presented in English as ''[[The Visit]]'' by [[CAPAB]], opening 13 October 1966 at the [[Hofmeyr Theatre]] directed by the New York director [[Stanley Waren]] [http://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/Academics-Research-Centers-Initiatives/Doctoral-Programs/Theatre/Faculty-Bios/Stanley-Waren] starring [[Babs Laker]], [[Johann Nell]], [[Phillip Boucher]], visiting British actor Michael Mellinger, [[Alan Prior]], [[Michael Newell]], [[Eric Brundl]], [[Yvonne Bryceland]], [[Glynn Day]], [[Norman Ettlinger]], [[Pietro Nolte]], [[Norman Coombes]] and others. Decor and costumes by [[Michael Clarke]]. |
| − | 1994: Performed as ''[[The Visit]]'' by [[Magnet Theatre]]. | + | 1994: Performed as ''[[The Visit]]'' by [[Magnet Theatre]] |
| + | |||
| + | 2018: Performed as ''[[The Visit]]'' on 14 to 16 June by trainee performers of [[Magnet Theatre]] at the [[Old Match Factory]], their theatre, on the corner of Lower Main and St Michael’s Roads in Observatory, Cape Town. Co-directed by [[Mark Fleishman]] and [[Warona Seane]], with [[Abigail Mei]], [[Andiswa Anthony]], [[Asamkela Ketelo]], [[Bonga Tshabalala]], [[Carlo Daniels]], [[Luxolo Mboso]], [[Siyavuya Gqumehlo]], [[Palesa Mohlala]], [[Rene Brown]], [[Siphesande Mkokose]], [[Sivenathi Macibela]], [[Sizwe Lubengu]], [[Songezo Mtshixa]], [[Sityhilelo Makupula]], [[Vela Leon Zozo]], [[Kamva Obose]] and [[Yvonne Msebenzi]]. Set and costume design is by [[Craig Leo]], lighting design by [[Mark Fleishman]] and [[Themba Stewart]] and musical direction by [[Shaun Karssen]]. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| − | + | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Visit. | |
| + | |||
| + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_D%C3%BCrrenmatt | ||
Flyer for the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]] inaugural festival in 1962. | Flyer for the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]] inaugural festival in 1962. | ||
| Line 36: | Line 42: | ||
''The Visit'' theatre programme, 1966. | ''The Visit'' theatre programme, 1966. | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://magnettheatre.co.za/productions/the-visit/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | A copy of the typed text of the localized version of The Visit, found in the [[Stellenbosch Drama Department]] archives in 2022. | ||
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:03, 7 March 2023
Der Besuch Der Alten Dame ("The visit of the old lady") is a German tragicomedy by Swiss dramatist Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990)[1].
Contents
The original text
A classic play about revenge, telling of a woman who returns to the village after the war to seek vengeance.
First performed in German as Besuch der alten Dame at Schauspielhaus Zürich, in 1956.
Translations and adaptations
Adapted and translated into English as The Visit by Maurice Valency and had its first Broadway theatre production, in 1958, directed by Peter Brook and starring Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.
Translated into Afrikaans as Die Besoek van die Ou Dame ("The visit of the old lady") by Bartho Smit in 1962 and published in Bartho Smit: Vertalings 2 by Haum-literêr.
A localized English South African adaptation, set in "a little provincial town somewhere in South Afrrica" and entitled The Visit, was written by an unnamed author.
Numerous adaptations have been made over the years, including a 1964 film with Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn, directed by Bernhard Wicki and a 1971 opera, with a libretto by the author and music by Gottfried von Einem. (For more on the adaptations, see the Wikipedia entry at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Visit_(play) ).
Performance history in South Africa
1962: Presented in Afrikaans as Die Besoek van die Ou Dame by Die Johannesburgse Afrikaanse Toneelkomitee at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre in 1962, with Anna Neethling-Pohl in the lead, directed by Fred Engelen. Also in the cast were Jan Schutte, Designs and set were by Kobus Esterhuysen.
1963: Produced in English as The Visit by Albert Thomas for the Peninsula Dramatic Society at the Labia Theatre from 11 to 16 February 1963.
1966: Presented in English as The Visit by CAPAB, opening 13 October 1966 at the Hofmeyr Theatre directed by the New York director Stanley Waren [2] starring Babs Laker, Johann Nell, Phillip Boucher, visiting British actor Michael Mellinger, Alan Prior, Michael Newell, Eric Brundl, Yvonne Bryceland, Glynn Day, Norman Ettlinger, Pietro Nolte, Norman Coombes and others. Decor and costumes by Michael Clarke.
1994: Performed as The Visit by Magnet Theatre
2018: Performed as The Visit on 14 to 16 June by trainee performers of Magnet Theatre at the Old Match Factory, their theatre, on the corner of Lower Main and St Michael’s Roads in Observatory, Cape Town. Co-directed by Mark Fleishman and Warona Seane, with Abigail Mei, Andiswa Anthony, Asamkela Ketelo, Bonga Tshabalala, Carlo Daniels, Luxolo Mboso, Siyavuya Gqumehlo, Palesa Mohlala, Rene Brown, Siphesande Mkokose, Sivenathi Macibela, Sizwe Lubengu, Songezo Mtshixa, Sityhilelo Makupula, Vela Leon Zozo, Kamva Obose and Yvonne Msebenzi. Set and costume design is by Craig Leo, lighting design by Mark Fleishman and Themba Stewart and musical direction by Shaun Karssen.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Visit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_D%C3%BCrrenmatt
Flyer for the Johannesburg Civic Theatre inaugural festival in 1962.
Material collected by Gladys and Albert Thomas held by NELM: [Collection: FLETCHER, Jill]: 2005. 75. 21. 9 and The Argus 13 February 1963. (Labia production).
Die Loodswaaiers programme, 1966.
The Visit theatre programme, 1966.
https://magnettheatre.co.za/productions/the-visit/
A copy of the typed text of the localized version of The Visit, found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
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