Difference between revisions of "The Miracle Worker"

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by [[William Gibson]]. Full-length. Cast: mixed.  
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'''''The Miracle Worker''''' is a 1959 three-act play by American playwright and novelist [[William Gibson]] (1914-2008) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gibson_%28playwright%29]. It is based on Helen Keller's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Keller] autobiography ''The Story of My Life''.
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See also: ''[[Monday After the Miracle]]''
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''Not to be confused with the [[Afrikaans]] film '''''[[Die Wonderwerker]]''''' ("[[The miracle worker]]", 2012)''
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== The original text ==
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The play explores the relationship between Hellen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan, adapted from a television play Gibson had written in 1957. The play premiered on Broadway at the Playhouse Theatre on October 19, 1959, and opened in the West End , London in 1961. The 1962 film won multiple Oscars for author, director and cast.
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==Translations and adaptations==
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===Translations===
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Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as '''''Die Wonderwerk''''' ("''The Miracle''"), by [[Pieter-Paul Fourie]]. The text has never been published.
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The text of another [[Afrikaans]] translation (by [[Fanus Mocke]]) and also called '''''Die Wonderwerk''''', is held by [[Dalro]][http://www.dalro.co.za/].
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'''NOTE:''' ''The direct [[Afrikaans]] translation of the title (i.e. as ''[[Die Wonderwerker]]'') has funnily enough never been used for the play. However, that  title '''was''' later used for the impressive 2012 film by [[Katinka Heyns]] about an incident in the life of the poet, journalist and naturalist [[Eugène Marais]].''
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===Adaptations===
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The play has been filmed a number of times (e.g. 1962, 1979, and 2000)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miracle_Worker].
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
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[[Leonard Schach]] and the [[Cockpit Players]] did this play at the [[Playhouse]] in 1961 on its Southern African tour, starring [[Reinet Maasdorp]] and [[Fiona Fraser]]. It opened at the [[Hofmeyr Theatre]] in January 1961 with [[Joyce Bradley]], [[Fiona Fraser]], [[Joan Gibson]], [[Estelle Kohler]], [[Reinet Maasdorp]] and [[Alan Prior]]. Decor was by [[Pamela Lewis]].
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1961: Produced by the [[Cockpit Players]], opening at the [[Hofmeyr Theatre]] in January and going on a Southern African tour. Directed by [[Leonard Schach]] with [[Joyce Bradley]], [[Fiona Fraser]], [[Joan Gibson]], [[Estelle Kohler]], [[Reinet Maasdorp]] and [[Alan Prior]]. Decor was by [[Pamela Lewis]].
  
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==Translations and adaptations==
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1978:  Performed in [[Afrikaans]] by [[PACT]] in the [[Breytenbach Theatre]], directed by [[Leonard Schach]] with [[Diane Britz]], [[Rika Sennett]] and [[Trix Pienaar]]. Translation by [[Pieter-Paul Fourie]]. The playwright was invited to South Africa and attended the rehearsals for the play.
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''[[Die Wonderwerk]]'', a translation into [[Afrikaans]] by [[Pieter-Paul Fourie]] was staged by [[PACT]], directed by [[Leonard Schach]] and starring [[Diane Britz]], [[Rika Sennett]] and [[Trix Pienaar]] in 1978.
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1979: Performed in [[Afrikaans]] by [[CAPAB]] in the [[Nico Malan Theatre]], opening on 17 April, directed by [[William Egan]] with [[Johan Botha]], [[Brümilda van Rensburg]], [[Marko van der Colff]], [[Melanie-Ann Sher]], [[Liz Dick]], [[Allan Dyssel]], [[Sandra Ferreira]], [[Johan Esterhuizen]], [[Neels Coetzee]], [[Trix Pienaar]], [[Amanda Strydom]], [[Willem de la Querra]]. Design by [[Raimond Schoop]]. Lighting by [[John T. Baker]]. Translation by [[Pieter-Paul Fourie]].
  
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The translation by [[Pieter-Paul Fourie]] was presented by [[CAPAB]] in the [[Nico Malan Theatre]], opening on 17 April 1979, directed by [[William Egan]]. Lighting was by [[John T. Baker]]. The cast were [[Johan Botha]], [[Brümilda van Rensburg]], [[Marko van der Colff]], [[Melanie-Ann Sher]], [[Liz Dick]], [[Allan Dyssel]], [[Sandra Ferreira]], [[Johan Esterhuizen]], [[Neels Coetzee]], [[Trix Pienaar]], [[Amanda Strydom]], [[Willem de la Querra]].
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1979: The [[Pieter-Paul Fourie|Fourie]] [[Afrikaans]] translation was staged by [[PACT]], directed by [[Louis van Niekerk]], with [[Diane Britz]] (Helen Keller), [[Trudie Taljaard]] (Anne Sullivan), [[Rika Sennett]] (Kate Keller), [[Louis van Niekerk]] (Kapt Keller), [[Annalise Bosch]] (Tant Ev), [[Gerben Kamper]] (James Keller), [[Alwyn Swart]] (Dr Anagnos), [[Michele Cooper]] (Martha), [[Jan Menzel]] (Percy), [[Marie Hoogenraad]] (Viney) and others. Decor and costumes by [[Johan Engels]].
  
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Afrikaans translation by [[Johan Mocke]]: ''[[Die Wonderwerk]]'', ''Wonderwerker'' (available at Dalro, http://www.dalro.co.za/).
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1991: The [[Pieter-Paul Fourie|Fourie]] [[Afrikaans]] translation was staged by [[PACT]], directed by [[Louis van Niekerk]], with [[Ronel Kriel]] (Helen Keller), [[Ilse van Hemert]] (Anne Sullivan), [[Mitzi Booysen]] (Kate Keller), [[Johan Malherbe]] (Kapt Keller), [[Christine Basson]] (Tant Ev), [[Dirk Stoltz]] (James Keller), [[Tjaart Potgieter]] (Dr Anagnos), [[Althea Mahery]] (Martha), [[Fabian Langerman]] (Percy), [[Noria Mabuela]] (Viney) and others. Designed by [[Chris van den Berg]].
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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''Wikipedia'' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miracle_Worker_(play)]
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[[ESAT Bibliography I|Inskip]], 1977. p 123
 
[[ESAT Bibliography I|Inskip]], 1977. p 123
  
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CAPAB theatre pamphlet, 1979.
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''Star'' 18 July 1978.
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''Die Wonderwerk'' theatre programme, ([[CAPAB]] 1979).
  
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[[PACT]] theatre programme, 1979.
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[[Petru Wessels|Petru]] & [[Carel Trichardt]] theatre programme collection.
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[[ESAT Bibliography Mam-Mar|Martin]] 2008.
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==
  
−
Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 M|M]] in Plays II Foreign Plays
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Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
  
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Return to [[South_African_Theatre/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]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
  
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 +
 +
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 17:10, 30 May 2024

The Miracle Worker is a 1959 three-act play by American playwright and novelist William Gibson (1914-2008) [1]. It is based on Helen Keller's [2] autobiography The Story of My Life.

See also: Monday After the Miracle

Not to be confused with the Afrikaans film Die Wonderwerker ("The miracle worker", 2012)

The original text

The play explores the relationship between Hellen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan, adapted from a television play Gibson had written in 1957. The play premiered on Broadway at the Playhouse Theatre on October 19, 1959, and opened in the West End , London in 1961. The 1962 film won multiple Oscars for author, director and cast.

Translations and adaptations

Translations

Translated into Afrikaans as Die Wonderwerk ("The Miracle"), by Pieter-Paul Fourie. The text has never been published.

The text of another Afrikaans translation (by Fanus Mocke) and also called Die Wonderwerk, is held by Dalro[3].

NOTE: The direct Afrikaans translation of the title (i.e. as Die Wonderwerker) has funnily enough never been used for the play. However, that title was later used for the impressive 2012 film by Katinka Heyns about an incident in the life of the poet, journalist and naturalist Eugène Marais.

Adaptations

The play has been filmed a number of times (e.g. 1962, 1979, and 2000)[4].

Performance history in South Africa

1961: Produced by the Cockpit Players, opening at the Hofmeyr Theatre in January and going on a Southern African tour. Directed by Leonard Schach with Joyce Bradley, Fiona Fraser, Joan Gibson, Estelle Kohler, Reinet Maasdorp and Alan Prior. Decor was by Pamela Lewis.

1978: Performed in Afrikaans by PACT in the Breytenbach Theatre, directed by Leonard Schach with Diane Britz, Rika Sennett and Trix Pienaar. Translation by Pieter-Paul Fourie. The playwright was invited to South Africa and attended the rehearsals for the play.

1979: Performed in Afrikaans by CAPAB in the Nico Malan Theatre, opening on 17 April, directed by William Egan with Johan Botha, Brümilda van Rensburg, Marko van der Colff, Melanie-Ann Sher, Liz Dick, Allan Dyssel, Sandra Ferreira, Johan Esterhuizen, Neels Coetzee, Trix Pienaar, Amanda Strydom, Willem de la Querra. Design by Raimond Schoop. Lighting by John T. Baker. Translation by Pieter-Paul Fourie.

1979: The Fourie Afrikaans translation was staged by PACT, directed by Louis van Niekerk, with Diane Britz (Helen Keller), Trudie Taljaard (Anne Sullivan), Rika Sennett (Kate Keller), Louis van Niekerk (Kapt Keller), Annalise Bosch (Tant Ev), Gerben Kamper (James Keller), Alwyn Swart (Dr Anagnos), Michele Cooper (Martha), Jan Menzel (Percy), Marie Hoogenraad (Viney) and others. Decor and costumes by Johan Engels.

1991: The Fourie Afrikaans translation was staged by PACT, directed by Louis van Niekerk, with Ronel Kriel (Helen Keller), Ilse van Hemert (Anne Sullivan), Mitzi Booysen (Kate Keller), Johan Malherbe (Kapt Keller), Christine Basson (Tant Ev), Dirk Stoltz (James Keller), Tjaart Potgieter (Dr Anagnos), Althea Mahery (Martha), Fabian Langerman (Percy), Noria Mabuela (Viney) and others. Designed by Chris van den Berg.

Sources

Wikipedia [5]

Inskip, 1977. p 123

Star 18 July 1978.

Die Wonderwerk theatre programme, (CAPAB 1979).

PACT theatre programme, 1979.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

Martin 2008.

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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