Difference between revisions of "No Why"

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''[[No Why]]'' is a play by John Whiting ()[]
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''[[No Why]]'' is a play by John Whiting (1917–1963)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Whiting]
  
==The play==
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==The original text==
  
Jacob has been sent to the attic in disgrace. One by one family members come up from a party to accuse him of doing a disgusting thing. He sits silently, listening as they reveal more about themselves and their relationships with each other than about what Jacob has done. One by one, they go back downstairs, leaving the child alone with his father. He attempts to create a spark of feeling between them, but wishes in his heart that Jacob had never been born. Unable to reach his son, he descends. Alone now, Jacob hangs himself as music and laughter are heard from below.
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Written in 1957, the play tells of Jacob, who has been sent to the attic in disgrace. One by one family members come up from a party to accuse him of doing a disgusting thing. He sits silently, listening as they reveal more about themselves and their relationships with each other than about what Jacob has done. One by one, they go back downstairs, leaving the child alone with his father. He attempts to create a spark of feeling between them, but wishes in his heart that Jacob had never been born. Unable to reach his son, he descends. Alone now, Jacob hangs himself as music and laughter are heard from below.
  
Translated into Afrikaans as '''''[[Geen Vrae]]''''' by an unnamed author.
 
  
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Performed as part of Expeditions One by the Royal Shakespeare Company, on 2nd July 1964 at Aldwych Theatre, London.
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Published by [[Samuel French]] in 1961 and in Volume 2 of ''The Collected Plays of John Whiting'' by Theatre Arts Books, 1969.
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==Translations and adaptations==
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Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as '''''[[Geen Vrae]]''''' by an unnamed author.
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== Performance history in South Africa ==
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== Sources ==
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Whiting
  
 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Why-Acting-John-Whiting/dp/0573021805
 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Why-Acting-John-Whiting/dp/0573021805
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Copy of the [[Afrikaans]] text found in the [[Stellenbosch Drama Department]]'s theatre archives and now held in the [[ESAT repository]] 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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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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== Return to ==
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Return to [[South_African_Films]]
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Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
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Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
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Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
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Return to [[South_African_Radio/Plays|South African Radio Plays and Serials]]
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Return to [[South_African_Television/Plays|South African Television Plays and Series]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
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Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 07:33, 26 May 2025

No Why is a play by John Whiting (1917–1963)[1]

The original text

Written in 1957, the play tells of Jacob, who has been sent to the attic in disgrace. One by one family members come up from a party to accuse him of doing a disgusting thing. He sits silently, listening as they reveal more about themselves and their relationships with each other than about what Jacob has done. One by one, they go back downstairs, leaving the child alone with his father. He attempts to create a spark of feeling between them, but wishes in his heart that Jacob had never been born. Unable to reach his son, he descends. Alone now, Jacob hangs himself as music and laughter are heard from below.


Performed as part of Expeditions One by the Royal Shakespeare Company, on 2nd July 1964 at Aldwych Theatre, London.

Published by Samuel French in 1961 and in Volume 2 of The Collected Plays of John Whiting by Theatre Arts Books, 1969.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Afrikaans as Geen Vrae by an unnamed author.

Performance history in South Africa

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Whiting

https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Why-Acting-John-Whiting/dp/0573021805

Copy of the Afrikaans text found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department's theatre archives and now held in the ESAT repository at the Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation, with offices at Pieter Okkers House, 7 Joubert Street, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to South_African_Films

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to South African Radio Plays and Serials

Return to South African Television Plays and Series

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page