Difference between revisions of "Burning Bright"

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''[[Burning Bright]]'' is an experimental play/novella by John Steinbeck
  
Based on the experimental play/novella ''Burning Bright'' by John Steinbeck, a play written in novel format. "Rather than providing only the dialogue and brief stage directions as would be expected in a play, Steinbeck fleshes out the scenes with details of both the characters and the environment"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_Bright].
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==The original text==
  
== Performance history in South Africa ==
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A play written in novel format. "Rather than providing only the dialogue and brief stage directions as would be expected in a play, Steinbeck fleshes out the scenes with details of both the characters and the environment"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_Bright]. The play's name comes from ''The Tyger'', William Blake's famous poem about the wonder of the creation. The programme of the 1962 South African production at the [[Alexander Theatre]] describes the play as  a "modern morality play, a parable told through four symbolic characters: husband, wife, friend and intruder",  in which  Steinbeck, like Blake, "pondered on man's finiteness in a boundless universe and found his answer in the creative richness of love: in man's capacity for good". The play moves through three backgrounds namely a circus, a farm and on board a ship.
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The play was first staged by Rodgers and Hammerstein in New Haven and Boston in 1950, directed by Guthrie McClintic. It was later turned into an opera by American composer Frank Lewin.
  
The [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] staged a production of this play in 1962 with Israeli [[Albert Ninio]] directing [[Gordon Mulholland]]. The play's name comes from ''The Tyger'', a poem by William Blake about the "wonder of the creation". Steinbeck, like Blake, "pondered on man's finiteness in a boundless universe and found his answer in the creative richness of love: in man's capacity for good" (according to the programme of the production of 1962). The play was described as a "modern morality play, a parable told through four symbolic characters: husband, wife, friend and intruder" (Programme 1962). The play moves through three backgrounds namely a circus, a farm and on board a ship. The cast consisted of [[Gordon Mulholland]] (Joe Saul), [[Simon Swindell]] (Friend Ed), [[Marijke Haakman]] (Mordeen) and [[Michael McGovern]] (Victor). Decor by [[Roy Cooke]]. Stage Manager: [[Norman Kelly-Harde]]. Asst. Stage Manager: [[Garth Scott]].
 
  
 
==Translations and adaptations==
 
==Translations and adaptations==
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== Performance history in South Africa ==
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1962: The [[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Reps]] staged a production of the play in 1962 with Israeli [[Albert Ninio]] directing [[Gordon Mulholland]]. The cast consisted of [[Gordon Mulholland]] (Joe Saul), [[Simon Swindell]] (Friend Ed), [[Marijke Haakman]] (Mordeen) and [[Michael McGovern]] (Victor). Decor by [[Roy Cooke]]. Stage Manager: [[Norman Kelly-Harde]]. Asst. Stage Manager: [[Garth Scott]].
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_Bright
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_Bright
  
 
[[Alexander Theatre]] programme of January 1962, No. 156.
 
[[Alexander Theatre]] programme of January 1962, No. 156.
  
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Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 B|B]] in Plays 1 Original SA Plays
 
Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 B|B]] in Plays 1 Original SA Plays
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Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
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Latest revision as of 16:26, 24 November 2020

Burning Bright is an experimental play/novella by John Steinbeck

The original text

A play written in novel format. "Rather than providing only the dialogue and brief stage directions as would be expected in a play, Steinbeck fleshes out the scenes with details of both the characters and the environment"[1]. The play's name comes from The Tyger, William Blake's famous poem about the wonder of the creation. The programme of the 1962 South African production at the Alexander Theatre describes the play as a "modern morality play, a parable told through four symbolic characters: husband, wife, friend and intruder", in which Steinbeck, like Blake, "pondered on man's finiteness in a boundless universe and found his answer in the creative richness of love: in man's capacity for good". The play moves through three backgrounds namely a circus, a farm and on board a ship.

The play was first staged by Rodgers and Hammerstein in New Haven and Boston in 1950, directed by Guthrie McClintic. It was later turned into an opera by American composer Frank Lewin.


Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1962: The Reps staged a production of the play in 1962 with Israeli Albert Ninio directing Gordon Mulholland. The cast consisted of Gordon Mulholland (Joe Saul), Simon Swindell (Friend Ed), Marijke Haakman (Mordeen) and Michael McGovern (Victor). Decor by Roy Cooke. Stage Manager: Norman Kelly-Harde. Asst. Stage Manager: Garth Scott.

Sources

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

Alexander Theatre programme of January 1962, No. 156.


Return to

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Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page