Difference between revisions of "A Tale of Two Cities"
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''[[A Tale of Two Cities]]'' is a 1859 historical novel by [[Charles Dickens]] (1812-1870)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens]. | ''[[A Tale of Two Cities]]'' is a 1859 historical novel by [[Charles Dickens]] (1812-1870)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens]. | ||
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== The original text == | == The original text == | ||
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Set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution, it explores the complexities of the French Revolution through the stories of a variety of characters. | Set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution, it explores the complexities of the French Revolution through the stories of a variety of characters. | ||
First published in 1859 as a weekly serial in the journal ''All the Year Round'' (April to November), and, according to Wikipedia[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities], "is the biggest selling novel of all time", having sold over 200 million copies. | First published in 1859 as a weekly serial in the journal ''All the Year Round'' (April to November), and, according to Wikipedia[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities], "is the biggest selling novel of all time", having sold over 200 million copies. | ||
| − | The novel has often been adapted for stage, film, radio and TV, also in South Africa. | + | The novel has often been adapted for stage, film, radio and TV, also in South Africa. Among the 19th century stage adaptations are: |
| + | ''[[The Bastille Prisoner: A reading]]'' prepared by Charles Dickens (1866, never used); ''[[The Tale of Two Cities; A Drama]]'' by H.J. Rivers (1862); ''[[A Tale of Two Cities. A Drama]]'' by Tom Taylor (Lacy's Acting Edition of Plays, n.d.); ''[[The Only Way: A Tale of Two Cities]]'' (usually known simply as '''''[[The Only Way]]''''') by Freeman Wills and Frederick Longbridge (first performed in 1899, apparently unpublished). | ||
== South African stage versions == | == South African stage versions == | ||
| + | 1899: Performed as '''''[[The Only Way]]''''' (Wills and Longbridge) in the [[Opera House]], Cape Town, by the [[Herbert Flemming Company]], with [[J. Edward Pearce]] as "Sydney Carton". | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1963: A stage version adapted and directed by [[Jeppe Milton]] was staged by the [[St John Ambulance Players]] in the [[St John's Theatre]] in Durban, with [[Dale Cutts]] as Sydney Carton. | ||
1984: Produced by the [[University of Natal, Department of Speech and Drama|University of Natal]] (Durban). Adapted and directed by [[Themi Venturas]] in the [[Music-Hall]] style, as though directed by Dickens himself with a Victorian company. Performed as the university's entry for the [[National Arts Festival]] Student Drama, 1984. Stage manager [[Linda Nichol]]; Set designer [[Mark Faith]], built by [[Rogers Ganesan]] and The Company; Costume [[Beth Olmesdahl]] and [[June Gielink]]. The cast: [[Mark Faith]], [[Bradley Mart]], [[Christopher Wells]], [[Alan Adams]], [[Themi Venturas]], [[Brenda Radloff]], [[Melanie Bowles]], [[Celeste Litkie]], [[Catherine Ross]], [[Anne Harvey]]. | 1984: Produced by the [[University of Natal, Department of Speech and Drama|University of Natal]] (Durban). Adapted and directed by [[Themi Venturas]] in the [[Music-Hall]] style, as though directed by Dickens himself with a Victorian company. Performed as the university's entry for the [[National Arts Festival]] Student Drama, 1984. Stage manager [[Linda Nichol]]; Set designer [[Mark Faith]], built by [[Rogers Ganesan]] and The Company; Costume [[Beth Olmesdahl]] and [[June Gielink]]. The cast: [[Mark Faith]], [[Bradley Mart]], [[Christopher Wells]], [[Alan Adams]], [[Themi Venturas]], [[Brenda Radloff]], [[Melanie Bowles]], [[Celeste Litkie]], [[Catherine Ross]], [[Anne Harvey]]. | ||
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==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
| + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities#Stage_productions | ||
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| + | Frederick Wilse Bateson. 1940. ''The Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature'' (Volume 1). CUP: p.443, Google E-book[https://books.google.co.za/books?id=Uak8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA443&lpg=PA443&dq=The+Only+Way+a+play+by+F.+Wills&source=bl&ots=A3W0-pvbRB&sig=ACfU3U1A5ok5q_7vp-Bi7T48EmcslksKXw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiu8-P97crmAhWAQkEAHUagAZMQ6AEwCXoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=The%20Only%20Way%20a%20play%20by%20F.%20Wills&f=false] | ||
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| + | [[D.C. Boonzaier]], 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in ''SA Review'', 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] 1980: pp. 374-439.) | ||
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| + | [[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: p.407. | ||
| − | + | [[St John Ambulance Players]] theatre programme, 1963. | |
National Arts Festival programme, 1984, 1996 | National Arts Festival programme, 1984, 1996 | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Petru Wessels|Petru]] & [[Carel Trichardt]] theatre programme collection. | ||
Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]] | Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
| + | == 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 [[ | + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] |
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:23, 22 November 2020
A Tale of Two Cities is a 1859 historical novel by Charles Dickens (1812-1870)[1].
The original text
Set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution, it explores the complexities of the French Revolution through the stories of a variety of characters.
First published in 1859 as a weekly serial in the journal All the Year Round (April to November), and, according to Wikipedia[2], "is the biggest selling novel of all time", having sold over 200 million copies.
The novel has often been adapted for stage, film, radio and TV, also in South Africa. Among the 19th century stage adaptations are:
The Bastille Prisoner: A reading prepared by Charles Dickens (1866, never used); The Tale of Two Cities; A Drama by H.J. Rivers (1862); A Tale of Two Cities. A Drama by Tom Taylor (Lacy's Acting Edition of Plays, n.d.); The Only Way: A Tale of Two Cities (usually known simply as The Only Way) by Freeman Wills and Frederick Longbridge (first performed in 1899, apparently unpublished).
South African stage versions
1899: Performed as The Only Way (Wills and Longbridge) in the Opera House, Cape Town, by the Herbert Flemming Company, with J. Edward Pearce as "Sydney Carton".
1963: A stage version adapted and directed by Jeppe Milton was staged by the St John Ambulance Players in the St John's Theatre in Durban, with Dale Cutts as Sydney Carton.
1984: Produced by the University of Natal (Durban). Adapted and directed by Themi Venturas in the Music-Hall style, as though directed by Dickens himself with a Victorian company. Performed as the university's entry for the National Arts Festival Student Drama, 1984. Stage manager Linda Nichol; Set designer Mark Faith, built by Rogers Ganesan and The Company; Costume Beth Olmesdahl and June Gielink. The cast: Mark Faith, Bradley Mart, Christopher Wells, Alan Adams, Themi Venturas, Brenda Radloff, Melanie Bowles, Celeste Litkie, Catherine Ross, Anne Harvey.
1996: Produced by the Johannesburg Civic Theatre at the National Arts Festival, 1996, adapted for the stage and directed by Janice Honeyman, assisted by Roy Hunter. Set design James MacNamara, costumes design Lindy Grindlay, lighting design Jane Gosnell, sound design John Shaughnessy, puppets Lynton Richards. The cast: Simon Jones, David Lee, Neville Thomas, Iain Paton, Nicky Rebelo, Robert Colman, Chris van Niekerk, Rebecca Waddell, Jennifer Woodburn, Maragret Heale, James Borthwick, Catharine Cooke, Yana Sakelaris, Alistair Prodgers, Michael McCabe, Brett Goldin, Denise Stock, Peter Holden, Mike Huff, Thomas Hall, Dale Cutts, David Butler, Simon Huff, Erin Cutts, Chelsea Hopkins.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities#Stage_productions
Frederick Wilse Bateson. 1940. The Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (Volume 1). CUP: p.443, Google E-book[3]
D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p.407.
St John Ambulance Players theatre programme, 1963.
National Arts Festival programme, 1984, 1996
Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.
Go to the 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
