Difference between revisions of "Cause Célèbre"
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| − | by Terence Rattigan. | + | '''''Cause Célèbre''''' or '''''A Woman of Principle''''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cause_C%C3%A9l%C3%A8bre_%28play%29] is a 1977 play by Terence Rattigan[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_Rattigan]. It is based on the true and famous case of Alma Rattenbury, who in 1935 was charged, together with her teenage lover, with the murder of her husband who had been bludgeoned to death. First performed in London in 1977 just a few months before the dramatist’s death. |
| − | + | == The original text == | |
| + | ''Cause Célèbre'' or ''A Woman of Principle'' was originally a radio play, first broadcast on the BBC on 27 October 1975. Rattigan was then commissioned to rewrite it into a stage play ready to be produced in Autumn 1976, but his terminal cancer and casting problems meant he was only able to start work in January 1977, alongside Robin Midgely. This stage version premiered on 4 July 1977 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. (Wikipedia) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
| + | A 1987 television version of the stage play starred Helen Mirren as Alma. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1978: Staged in Johannesburg and in the [[Nico Malan Theatre]] in Cape Town by [[Pieter Toerien]] and [[Shirley Firth]], directed by [[Joan Kemp-Welch]], featuring [[Mary Miller]] (Alma Rattenbury), [[Robin Dolton]] (Francis Rattenbury & John Davenport), [[Brenda Wood]] (Irene Riggs & Joan Webster), [[Deon Stewardson]] (George Wood), [[Ann Courtneidge]] (Edith Davenport), [[Peter Lyons]] (Tony Davenport), [[Naomi Buch]] (Stella Morrison), [[Nick Collis]] (Randolph Brown), [[Kenneth Baker]] (Judge), [[William Lucas]] (O'Connor), [[Norman Coombes]] (Croom-Johnson), [[Michael Findlay]] (Casswell), [[Peter van Dissel]] (Montagu) and [[Graham Coppin]]/[[David Howard]] (Christopher). | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| + | [[Pieter Toerien]] and [[Shirley Firth]] theatre programme (undated). | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Petru Wessels|Petru]] & [[Carel Trichardt]] theatre programme collection. | ||
| − | Go to [[ | + | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] |
== Return to == | == Return to == | ||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]] | ||
| − | Return to [[ | + | Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]] |
| − | Return to [[ | + | Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]] |
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | ||
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:25, 6 September 2015
Cause Célèbre or A Woman of Principle [1] is a 1977 play by Terence Rattigan[2]. It is based on the true and famous case of Alma Rattenbury, who in 1935 was charged, together with her teenage lover, with the murder of her husband who had been bludgeoned to death. First performed in London in 1977 just a few months before the dramatist’s death.
Contents
The original text
Cause Célèbre or A Woman of Principle was originally a radio play, first broadcast on the BBC on 27 October 1975. Rattigan was then commissioned to rewrite it into a stage play ready to be produced in Autumn 1976, but his terminal cancer and casting problems meant he was only able to start work in January 1977, alongside Robin Midgely. This stage version premiered on 4 July 1977 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. (Wikipedia)
Translations and adaptations
A 1987 television version of the stage play starred Helen Mirren as Alma.
Performance history in South Africa
1978: Staged in Johannesburg and in the Nico Malan Theatre in Cape Town by Pieter Toerien and Shirley Firth, directed by Joan Kemp-Welch, featuring Mary Miller (Alma Rattenbury), Robin Dolton (Francis Rattenbury & John Davenport), Brenda Wood (Irene Riggs & Joan Webster), Deon Stewardson (George Wood), Ann Courtneidge (Edith Davenport), Peter Lyons (Tony Davenport), Naomi Buch (Stella Morrison), Nick Collis (Randolph Brown), Kenneth Baker (Judge), William Lucas (O'Connor), Norman Coombes (Croom-Johnson), Michael Findlay (Casswell), Peter van Dissel (Montagu) and Graham Coppin/David Howard (Christopher).
Sources
Pieter Toerien and Shirley Firth theatre programme (undated).
Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
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 The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
