Difference between revisions of "The Story of an African Farm"
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| − | + | '''''The Story of an African Farm''''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_an_African_Farm] is an 1883 novel by South African author [[Olive Schreiner]] (1855-1920). | |
| + | == The original text == | ||
| + | The novel details the lives of three characters, first as children and then as adults – Waldo, Em and Lyndall – who live on a farm in the Karoo region of South Africa. The story is set in the middle- to late-nineteenth century – the First Boer War is alluded to, but not mentioned by name. The book is semi-autobiographical: in particular, the two principal protagonists (Waldo and Lyndall) display strong similarities to Schreiner's life and philosophy. The book was first published in 1883 in London, under the pseudonym Ralph Iron. It quickly became a best-seller, despite causing some controversy over its frank portrayal of freethought, feminism, premarital sex and pregnancy out of wedlock, and transvestitism. (Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_an_African_Farm#Plot_summary]) | ||
| − | Return to [[ | + | ==Translations and adaptations== |
| − | + | Adaptated for the stage by [[André P. Brink]] as a play, '''''The Story of an African Farm'''''. | |
| − | Return to [[ | + | |
| + | Adapted for the stage by [[James Ambrose Brown]]. Script held by [[NELM]]: [Collection: SIMON, Barney]: 1995. 11. 1. 24 | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| + | 1975: First performed in the original [[Arena Theatre]] (a converted rehearsal room) at the [[Nico Malan Theatre]] on 28 October 1975, directed by [[Rosalie van der Gucht]] with [[Dugald Thomson]], [[Nicholas Ellenbogen]], [[Lois Butlin]], [[John Whiteley]] and [[Dawie Ackerman]] amongst others in the cast. The production was sold out and led to renewed interest in the works of Olive Schreiner. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1975: The [[André P. Brink]] adaptation was staged by PACT, directed by [[Ken Leach]], with [[Annelisa Weiland]] (Olive Schreiner/Lyndall), [[Errol Ross]] (Julius Gau/Stranger), [[Beryl Ellis]] (Mrs Fouche/Tant Sannie), [[Diane Wilson]] (Rebecca Schreiner/Landlady), [[Norman Coombes]] (Gottlob Schreiner/Otto), [[Dorothy Gould]] (Ettie/Em), [[Frantz Dobrowsky]] (Waldo), [[Michael Mayer]] (Bonaparte Blenkins), [[Nigel Daly]] (Gregory Rose) and [[Denis Bettesworth]] (Piet van der Walt). Decor by [[Richard Cook]] and costumes by [[Frances Michaletos]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1988: An amateur production was directed by [[Garth Anderson]], [[Cygnet Theatre]], Pietermaritzburg. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1993/4?: Produced by the [[Theatre Workshop Company]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Film and television adaptations == | ||
| + | |||
| + | In November 1974, filmmaker [[Lynton Stephenson]] announced that he was planning a film version of the book and in February 1975 director [[Howard Rennie]] indicated that his own production would be scripted by [[Robert Bolt]]. However, neither of these films came to pass. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1980 – A screenplay written by [[Des Jones]] was turned into an [[SABC]] television series by [[Edgar Bold]]. The cast included [[Fiona Stuart-White]] (Lyndall), [[Diane Britz]] (Em), [[Willie Esterhuizen]] (Waldo), [[Kenneth Hendel]] (Bonaparte Blenkins), [[Gordon Vorster]] (Otto) and [[Julie Strijdom]] (Tant Sannie). | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2004 – A film version scripted by [[Thandi Brewer]] and [[Bonnie Rodini]] was directed by [[David Lister]]. In the cast were [[Kasha Kropinski]] (Lyndall), [[Anneke Weidemann]] (Em), [[Luke Gallant]] (Waldo), [[Richard E. Grant]] (Bonaparte Blenkins), [[Armin Mueller-Stahl]] and [[Karin van der Laag]] (Tant Sannie). | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Sources == | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[PACT]] theatre programme, 1975. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''[[The Natal Witness]]'', 15 April 1988. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 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|South African Festivals and Competitions]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | ||
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:19, 5 November 2020
The Story of an African Farm [1] is an 1883 novel by South African author Olive Schreiner (1855-1920).
Contents
The original text
The novel details the lives of three characters, first as children and then as adults – Waldo, Em and Lyndall – who live on a farm in the Karoo region of South Africa. The story is set in the middle- to late-nineteenth century – the First Boer War is alluded to, but not mentioned by name. The book is semi-autobiographical: in particular, the two principal protagonists (Waldo and Lyndall) display strong similarities to Schreiner's life and philosophy. The book was first published in 1883 in London, under the pseudonym Ralph Iron. It quickly became a best-seller, despite causing some controversy over its frank portrayal of freethought, feminism, premarital sex and pregnancy out of wedlock, and transvestitism. (Wikipedia [2])
Translations and adaptations
Adaptated for the stage by André P. Brink as a play, The Story of an African Farm.
Adapted for the stage by James Ambrose Brown. Script held by NELM: [Collection: SIMON, Barney]: 1995. 11. 1. 24
Performance history in South Africa
1975: First performed in the original Arena Theatre (a converted rehearsal room) at the Nico Malan Theatre on 28 October 1975, directed by Rosalie van der Gucht with Dugald Thomson, Nicholas Ellenbogen, Lois Butlin, John Whiteley and Dawie Ackerman amongst others in the cast. The production was sold out and led to renewed interest in the works of Olive Schreiner.
1975: The André P. Brink adaptation was staged by PACT, directed by Ken Leach, with Annelisa Weiland (Olive Schreiner/Lyndall), Errol Ross (Julius Gau/Stranger), Beryl Ellis (Mrs Fouche/Tant Sannie), Diane Wilson (Rebecca Schreiner/Landlady), Norman Coombes (Gottlob Schreiner/Otto), Dorothy Gould (Ettie/Em), Frantz Dobrowsky (Waldo), Michael Mayer (Bonaparte Blenkins), Nigel Daly (Gregory Rose) and Denis Bettesworth (Piet van der Walt). Decor by Richard Cook and costumes by Frances Michaletos.
1988: An amateur production was directed by Garth Anderson, Cygnet Theatre, Pietermaritzburg.
1993/4?: Produced by the Theatre Workshop Company.
Film and television adaptations
In November 1974, filmmaker Lynton Stephenson announced that he was planning a film version of the book and in February 1975 director Howard Rennie indicated that his own production would be scripted by Robert Bolt. However, neither of these films came to pass.
1980 – A screenplay written by Des Jones was turned into an SABC television series by Edgar Bold. The cast included Fiona Stuart-White (Lyndall), Diane Britz (Em), Willie Esterhuizen (Waldo), Kenneth Hendel (Bonaparte Blenkins), Gordon Vorster (Otto) and Julie Strijdom (Tant Sannie).
2004 – A film version scripted by Thandi Brewer and Bonnie Rodini was directed by David Lister. In the cast were Kasha Kropinski (Lyndall), Anneke Weidemann (Em), Luke Gallant (Waldo), Richard E. Grant (Bonaparte Blenkins), Armin Mueller-Stahl and Karin van der Laag (Tant Sannie).
Sources
PACT theatre programme, 1975.
The Natal Witness, 15 April 1988.
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
