Difference between revisions of "Arsenic and Old Lace"

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''Arsenic and Old Lace'', a murder comedy written in 1939 by American playwright Joseph Kesselring. The play was directed by Bretaigne Windust, and opened on January 10, 1941. It has become best known through the film adaptation starring Cary Grant.
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'''''Arsenic and Old Lace''''' is a murder comedy by Joseph Kesselring (1902-1967) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kesselring].  
  
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In South Africa it was produced by [[Costa Couvara]] for the [[Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society]], opening in the [[Little Theatre]] on 24 August 1942.
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==The original text==
  
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Staged in June 1964 by the [[Libertas Theatre Club]] in [[The Cellar]] in Dorp Street, Stellenbosch, directed by [[Esther van Ryswyk]], with [[Jane Turner]] (Abby), [[Marie van Heerden]] (Martha), [[John Kitson]] (Dr Harper), [[Rita Sierts-Ehlers]], [[Fred Roux]], [[Piet Retief]], [[Louis Eksteen]], [[Pieter de Swardt]] and [[P. van Aarde]].
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The play was first performed on January 10, 1941, directed by Bretaigne Windust.
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==Translations and adaptations==
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Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Gif en Oujongnooiens]]'' ("Poison and spinsters") by [[W.H. Grobler]]. Published as a performance text by [[DALRO]] in 1970. (The first run of 200 copies of the [[DALRO]] text initially had the name [[A.F.H. van Dyk]] as the translator, but this was apparently then blacked out, and [[W.H. Grobler]] was substituted.)
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It was adapted as an American film by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein and directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant and Boris Karloff. Released in 1944.
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== Performance history in South Africa ==
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1942: Produced by [[Costa Couvara]] for the [[Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society]], opening in the [[Little Theatre]] on 24 August 1942 starring, among ohters, [[Geraldine Jordi]].
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September 6 - 11, 1943: Produced by the [[SAWAS]] of Command 14 Entertainment Unit (Benoni) at the [[Standard Theatre]], Johannesburg. Directed by [[René Ahrenson]] of Cape Town and starring Captain [[George Bollaire]] of the SAAF. He came to South Africa from England where he starred in [[Squadron X]]. Other cast members included [[Taubie Kushlick]], [[Reginald Rawlings]], [[Cecilia Sonnenberg]], [[Fred Loehnen]] and [[Joel Herold]]. Proceeds from the concert went to the [[SAWAS]] Red Cross Prisoners of War Fund and Command 14 Entertainment Welfare Work.
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1947: Performed in the [[Port Elizabeth City Hall]] May 22 - 24, directed by [[Raymond Davidson]] for [[PEMADS]]. Mrs [[Gibson Lochhead]] took the role of "Abby" and Mrs [[Zilla Baird]] played "Martha". The business managers and prop-builders were [[Harold Davidson]] and [[Dave Berg]].
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1952: Presented by [[East London Technical College Drama Club]] at [[St Saviour's Hall]], East London, produced by [[Mary Howe]] (February).
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1964: Staged (in [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Gif en Oujongnooiens]]'' - ?) in June by the [[Libertas Theatre Club]] in [[The Cellar]] in Dorp Street, Stellenbosch, directed by [[Esther van Ryswyk]], with [[Jane Turner]] (Abby), [[Marie van Heerden]] (Martha), [[John Kitson]] (Dr Harper), [[Rita Sierts-Ehlers]], [[Fred le Roux]], [[Piet Retief]], [[Louis Eksteen]], [[Pieter de Swardt]] and [[P. van Aarde]].
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1978: Presented by the [[Westville Theatre Club]], directed by [[Steph Henley]], August.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic_and_Old_Lace_(play)
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic_and_Old_Lace_(play)
  
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''Trek'' 7(5):17, 1942.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kesselring
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''[[Trek]]'' 7(5):17, 1942.
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[[The Women's Auxiliary]], September 1943, pg 39.
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[[Saturday Post]], May 3, 1947.
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[[NELM]] catalogue: [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 3. 31.
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[[Arts Theatre Club]] archive held by [[George Mountjoy]].
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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== Return to ==
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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 [[ESAT Plays 1 A|A]] in Plays 1 Original SA Plays
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Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
  
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Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 A|A]] in Plays 2 Foreign Plays
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Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
  
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Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 17:30, 26 April 2024

Arsenic and Old Lace is a murder comedy by Joseph Kesselring (1902-1967) [1].

The original text

The play was first performed on January 10, 1941, directed by Bretaigne Windust.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Afrikaans as Gif en Oujongnooiens ("Poison and spinsters") by W.H. Grobler. Published as a performance text by DALRO in 1970. (The first run of 200 copies of the DALRO text initially had the name A.F.H. van Dyk as the translator, but this was apparently then blacked out, and W.H. Grobler was substituted.)

It was adapted as an American film by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein and directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant and Boris Karloff. Released in 1944.

Performance history in South Africa

1942: Produced by Costa Couvara for the Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society, opening in the Little Theatre on 24 August 1942 starring, among ohters, Geraldine Jordi.

September 6 - 11, 1943: Produced by the SAWAS of Command 14 Entertainment Unit (Benoni) at the Standard Theatre, Johannesburg. Directed by René Ahrenson of Cape Town and starring Captain George Bollaire of the SAAF. He came to South Africa from England where he starred in Squadron X. Other cast members included Taubie Kushlick, Reginald Rawlings, Cecilia Sonnenberg, Fred Loehnen and Joel Herold. Proceeds from the concert went to the SAWAS Red Cross Prisoners of War Fund and Command 14 Entertainment Welfare Work.

1947: Performed in the Port Elizabeth City Hall May 22 - 24, directed by Raymond Davidson for PEMADS. Mrs Gibson Lochhead took the role of "Abby" and Mrs Zilla Baird played "Martha". The business managers and prop-builders were Harold Davidson and Dave Berg.

1952: Presented by East London Technical College Drama Club at St Saviour's Hall, East London, produced by Mary Howe (February).

1964: Staged (in Afrikaans as Gif en Oujongnooiens - ?) in June by the Libertas Theatre Club in The Cellar in Dorp Street, Stellenbosch, directed by Esther van Ryswyk, with Jane Turner (Abby), Marie van Heerden (Martha), John Kitson (Dr Harper), Rita Sierts-Ehlers, Fred le Roux, Piet Retief, Louis Eksteen, Pieter de Swardt and P. van Aarde.

1978: Presented by the Westville Theatre Club, directed by Steph Henley, August.

Sources

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

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

Trek 7(5):17, 1942.

The Women's Auxiliary, September 1943, pg 39.

Saturday Post, May 3, 1947.

NELM catalogue: [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 3. 31.

Arts Theatre Club archive held by George Mountjoy.

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

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