Difference between revisions of "Chinchilla"
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| − | ''Chinchilla | + | ''[[Chinchilla]]'' is a play written by Scottish playwright, translator and theatre director Robert David MacDonald [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_David_MacDonald] (1929-2004). |
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| + | Subtitled ''Figures in a Classical Landscape with Ruins''. | ||
== The original text == | == The original text == | ||
| + | Written in 1977, it is a semi-fictitious account of the ''Ballet Russe'' and their founder Diaghilev [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Diaghilev] (the "Chinchilla" of the play's title), the play is set on the Lido Beach in Venice, 1914. The action alternates between past, present and future, 1910-1929 and tells of the impresario, Chinchilla who is on holiday in Venice, longing for both love and money amid the backstage drama of dancers, choreographers, designers and hangers-on. Autocratic, splendid and world-weary, he is the creator and destroyer of what happens on his stage and to his company. | ||
| + | |||
| + | First performed by the Citizens Theatre Company, Glasgow, becoming a major production at the 1979 Edinburgh Festival, The text was published in the volume ''Robert David MacDonald. Plays One'', Oberon Modern Playwrights in 1998. | ||
==Translations and adaptations== | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
== Performance history in South Africa == | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| − | Performed at the [[People's Space]] directed by [[Richard Grant]], | + | |
| + | 1980: Performed by the [[Troupe Theatre Company]] at the [[People's Space]] in May 1980 directed by [[Richard Grant]], with [[Duarte Sylwain]] as Chinchilla, [[Caroline Newby]] (Mimi), [[Chris Galloway]] (Levka), [[Ian Roberts]] (Gabriel), [[John Caviggia]] (Fedya), [[Anthony Hemmes]] (Ilya), [[Gavin van den Berg]] (Vatza), [[Jeni Gardner]] (Nina), [[Alastair Forsyth]] (Maxim), [[Stephen Brown]] (Konstantin), [[Nicholas Shepherd]] (Clorindo). Set design by [[Richard Grant]], lighting by [[Richard Grant]] and [[Nic Fine]], costumes designed by [[Jeni Halliday]]. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| − | |||
| − | ''Die Burger'' 5 May 1980. | + | https://www.concordtheatricals.co.uk/p/10789/chinchilla |
| + | |||
| + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_David_MacDonald | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''[[Chinchilla]]'' theatre programme, 1980. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Notes in a photocopy of the programme for the English production for ''[[The Parents]]'' at [[The People's Space]] (1979), held in the [[PARC]] research collection at the [[Africa Open Institute]], Stellenbosch. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''[[Die Burger]]'' 5 May 1980. | ||
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:04, 5 February 2026
Chinchilla is a play written by Scottish playwright, translator and theatre director Robert David MacDonald [1] (1929-2004).
Subtitled Figures in a Classical Landscape with Ruins.
Contents
The original text
Written in 1977, it is a semi-fictitious account of the Ballet Russe and their founder Diaghilev [2] (the "Chinchilla" of the play's title), the play is set on the Lido Beach in Venice, 1914. The action alternates between past, present and future, 1910-1929 and tells of the impresario, Chinchilla who is on holiday in Venice, longing for both love and money amid the backstage drama of dancers, choreographers, designers and hangers-on. Autocratic, splendid and world-weary, he is the creator and destroyer of what happens on his stage and to his company.
First performed by the Citizens Theatre Company, Glasgow, becoming a major production at the 1979 Edinburgh Festival, The text was published in the volume Robert David MacDonald. Plays One, Oberon Modern Playwrights in 1998.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1980: Performed by the Troupe Theatre Company at the People's Space in May 1980 directed by Richard Grant, with Duarte Sylwain as Chinchilla, Caroline Newby (Mimi), Chris Galloway (Levka), Ian Roberts (Gabriel), John Caviggia (Fedya), Anthony Hemmes (Ilya), Gavin van den Berg (Vatza), Jeni Gardner (Nina), Alastair Forsyth (Maxim), Stephen Brown (Konstantin), Nicholas Shepherd (Clorindo). Set design by Richard Grant, lighting by Richard Grant and Nic Fine, costumes designed by Jeni Halliday.
Sources
https://www.concordtheatricals.co.uk/p/10789/chinchilla
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_David_MacDonald
Chinchilla theatre programme, 1980.
Notes in a photocopy of the programme for the English production for The Parents at The People's Space (1979), held in the PARC research collection at the Africa Open Institute, Stellenbosch.
Die Burger 5 May 1980.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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