Difference between revisions of "Michael McGovern"

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'''McGOVERN, Michael''' (1934- ) is a London-born South African actor and performer. He began his theatrical career after leaving the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1957, when he auditioned at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, for the American musical ''[[The Pajama Game]]''. When the production was brought on tour to South Africa he took over the leading role of Sid. He decided to stay in South Africa and work in the local theatre. ([[JODS]] programme note, ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]'' (1962).
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[[Michael McGovern]] (1934- ) is a London-born South African actor and performer.  
  
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== Biography ==
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He began his theatrical career after leaving the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1957, when he auditioned at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, for the American musical ''[[The Pajama Game]]''. When the production was brought on tour to South Africa he took over the leading role of Sid. He decided to stay in South Africa and work in the local theatre.
  
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Michael married the actress [[Joan Friedman]], and they had three children.
  
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Actor.  Worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company. ''[[Same Time Next Year]]''.(SACD 1973) (SACD 1975/76) (SACD 1978/79)  (SACD 1980/81) (SACD 1981/82)
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== Career ==
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He was a member of the [[Cockpit Players]] between 1958 and 1962. When the Cockpit Players disbanded he moved to Johannesburg and stayed until 1966 doing plays and musicals.  
  
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(19**-) Actor, radio playwright and director. Came from Ireland. Was a member of the [[Cockpit Players]] between 1958 and 1962, in which time he played in ''[[Try for White]]'' (1959), ''[[The Caretaker]]'' (1960), ''[[The Birthday Party]]'' (1962), ''[[The Hostage]]'' (19**) and ''[[The Night of the Iguana]]'' (1962). Also did musical work, e.g. ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' ([[JODS]] , 1965), *. Later also acted under [[Leonard Schach]] in the [[PACT]] production of ''[[In the Case of J. Robert Oppenheimer]]'' (1971). At [[Maynardville]] he did ***. At [[The Space]] in the 1970s he did ''[[Othello Slegs Blankes]]''. ** In 197* he did Stanley in ''[[A Streetcar named Desire]]'' for [[Pieter Toerien]]?* Much of his public fame though rests on his work in radio, including ***. Also has some film credits, including the 1974 Roger Moore film, Gold, * He starred in the American musical, ''[[The Pajama Game]]'',  which [[African Consolidated Theatre]]’s brought out in 1958. It marked the Broadway choreographic debut of [[Bob Fosse]], and McGovern stayed on to become one of our leading actors. He starred in [[Thornton Wilder]]’s, ''[[The Matchmaker]]'', which was staged by [[Leonard Schach]]’s [[Cockpit Players]] in 1959. This enduring show, also starring [[Marjorie Gordon]] as Dolly Levi, [[Nigel Hawthorne]], [[John McElvey]], [[Robert Haber]] and [[Heather Lloyd-Jones]], became the musical ''[[Hello, Dolly!]]''. He played the part of Algernon in ''[[Half in Earnest]]'', a musical version of [[Oscar Wilde]]’s ''[[The Importance of Being Earnest]]''. It was [[Kushlick-Gluckman]]’s first production, staged in April 1959, and directed by [[Leon Gluckman]]. It also starred [[Taubie Kushlick]], [[Olive King]], [[June Hern]] and [[Gordon Mulholland]]. He played in the [[Cockpit Players]] productions of [[Harold Pinter]]’s ''[[The Caretaker]]'' and [[Paddy Chayefsky]]’s prizewinning ''[[The Tenth Man]]'' at the [[Playhouse]] in 1961 with actors [[Siegfried Mynhardt]] and [[Nigel Hawthorne]]. He starred in [[Harold Pinter]]’s ''[[The Birthday Party]]'', followed by [[Tennessee Williams]]’ ''[[The Night of the Iguana]]'' which was staged at the [[Playhouse]] by the [[Cockpit Players]] in 1962. [[Leonard Schach]] directed, and in his company of actors for these plays were [[Siegfried Mynhardt]], [[Margaret Inglis]], [[Marjorie Gordon]], [[Diane Wilson]] and [[Kerry Jordan]]. He starred in [[Anthony Newley]]’s revue ''[[Stop the World, I Want to Get Off]]'' which was staged by [[Adam Leslie]] for the [[Reps]] in 1964. [[Albert Ninio]] directed this production, also starring [[Anna Quayle]]. It formed part of the Johannesburg Festival. He starred in the [[JODS]] production of [[Frank Loesser]]’s musical ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' which was based on the writings of [[Damon Runyon]] at the [[Civic]] in 1965. [[Anthony Farmer]] directed and did the design for this musical which also starred [[Diane Todd]], [[Charles Stodel]], [[Patricia Langford]] and [[Bradley Harris]]. It returned for another sell out season the following year. He starred in the [[Toerien-Firth]] revival of [[Tennessee Williams]]’ ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire]]'' with [[Anne Rogers]] in 1975. He starred in ''[[Henry IV, Part One]]'' directed by [[John Sichel]] for [[Joan Brickhill]] and [[Louis Burke]] at [[His Majesty’s]] circa 1975. Together with [[Shelagh Holliday]] and [[Michael Atkinson]] he starred in  ''[[Double Edge]]'' which [[Anthony Sharp]] directed for [[Toerien-Firth]] in 1976. He starred in [[Brickhill-Burke]]’s production of the Broadway hit ''[[I Love My Wife]]'' by [[Michael Stewart]], together with [[Tobie Cronje]], [[Erica Rogers]] and [[Jessica Jones]] at [[His Majesty’s]] in 1978. He starred in [[Hugh Leonard]]’s ''[[Da]]'', directed by [[Leonard Schach]], with [[Godfrey Quigley]] at the [[Andre Huguenet]] in 1979. It later went to the [[Intimate Theatre]]. He starred in the [[Toerien-Firth]] production of [[Simon Gray]]’s ''[[Stage Struck]]'' together with [[Kenneth Baker]]. It was directed by [[Stephen Hollis]] and was staged in 1980. He starred in [[Leonard Schach]]’s production of [[Harold Pinter]]’s ''[[Betrayal]]'' together with [[Helen Bourne]] and [[Michael McCabe]] for [[PACT]] in 1980. He starred in Tom Lehrer’s ''[[Tom Foolery]]'' together with [[Andre Hattingh]], [[Tim Plewman]] and [[Jonathan Rands]] at the [[Intimate]] in 1981. He starred in [[Lee Blessing]]’s ''[[A Walk in the Woods]]'' at the [[Market]] in 1989.  
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In 1966 he returned to England, until [[PACT]] lured him back to South Africa in 1971.
  
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Quoted from the programme of ''[[Tom Foolery]]'' in 1981: 'When the (Cockpit Players) disbanded he moved to Johannesburg and stayed until 1966 doing plays and musicals - ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'', ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]'', ''[[Irma La Douce]]'' and ''[[Stop the World I want to Get Off]]'' (for which he won Best Actor award) opposite [[Anna Quayle]]. During this time he did considerable amount of cabaret and made his first film ''[[Ride The High Wind]]'' in South West Africa. In 1966 he returned to England, and [[PACT]] then lured him back to play ''[[J. Robert Oppenheimer]]'', ''[[Child's Play]]'' and ''[[Applause]]''. Subsequent work includes ''[[Othello (Slegs Blankes)]]'' in Cape Town, for Toerien/Firth: ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire]]'', ''[[Double Edge]]'', ''[[Da]]'' and most recently ''[[Stage Struck]]'', ''[[I Love My Wife]]'', hosting ''[[Walk Right In]]'' for SATV, ''[[The Shrew]]'' at the [[Baxter]], and ''[[Betrayal]]'' for [[PACT]]. Michael is married to lovely actress [[Joan Friedman]], and they have three children, the youngest of whom, Travis, made his debut in May 1980.'
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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He starred in the American musical, ''[[The Pajama Game]]'' in 1958.
  
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He played the part of Algernon in ''[[Half in Earnest]]'', a musical version of [[Oscar Wilde]]’s ''[[The Importance of Being Earnest]]'' in 1959.
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As a member of the [[Cockpit Players]] he played in ''[[Try for White]]'' (1959), ''[[The Matchmaker]]'' (1959), ''[[The Caretaker]]'' (1961), ''[[The Tenth Man]]'' (1961), ''[[Billy Liar]]'' (1961), ''[[The Birthday Party]]'' (1962), ''[[The Hostage]]'' (19**) and ''[[The Night of the Iguana]]'' (1962). He also
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He played the lead in ''[[Hamlet]]'' at [[Maynardville]] in 1964.
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He starred in Anthony Newley’s revue ''[[Stop the World – I Want to Get Off]]'' which was staged by [[Adam Leslie]] for the [[Johannesburg Reps]] in 1964, in the [[JODS]] production of Frank Loesser’s musical ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' which was based on the writings of Damon Runyon at the [[Civic Theatre]] in 1965 and in the Toerien-Firth revival of Tennessee Williams’s ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire]]'' with [[Anne Rogers]] in 1975.
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Michael also starred in ''[[Henry IV, Part 1]]'' directed by [[John Sichel]] for [[Joan Brickhill]] and [[Louis Burke]] at [[His Majesty's Theatre]] (1976), in ''[[Double Edge]]'' (1976), ''[[I Love my Wife]]'' (1978), ''[[Da]]'' (1979), ''[[Stage Struck]]'' (1980), ''[[Betrayal]]'' ([[PACT]] in 1980), ''[[Tom Foolery]]'' (1981), ''[[A Walk in the Woods]]'' ([[Market Theatre]] in 1989).
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Michael starred in musicals such as ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]'' and ''[[Irma La Douce]]''
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For [[PACT]] he played in ''[[Betrayal]]'', ''[[Child's Play]]'' and ''[[Applause]]''. Subsequent work includes ''[[Othello Slegs Blankes]]'' at [[The Space]] in Cape Town, ''[[Double Edge]]'', ''[[Da]]'', ''[[Stage Struck]]'' and ''[[I Love my Wife]]''.
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Other productions include ''[[A Galway Girl]]'', ''[[I Spy]]'', ''[[Joggers]]'', ''[[Burning Bright]]'', ''[[The Andersonville Trial]]'', ''[[Gigi]]'' ([[CAPAB]] 1982), ''[[The Hostage]]'', ''[[In the Case of J. Robert Oppenheimer]]'' (1971), ''[[The Shrew]]'' by Charles Marowitz at the [[Chelsea Theatre]] in 1975 and in 1980 at the [[Baxter Theatre]].
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===Other work===
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He did a considerable amount of cabaret.
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Much of his public fame though rests on his work in radio.  He made his first film ''Ride The High Wind'' in South West Africa (now Namibia) and in 1974 he played in the Roger Moore film, ''Gold''. He hosted ''Walk Right In'' for [[SATV]].
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For othe film and television work see IMDb [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569583/].
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== Awards, etc. ==
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He won a Best Actor award for his role in ''[[Stop the World – I Want to Get Off]]''.
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Michael was nominated for a [[Vita Award]] for his role as John Honeyman in ''[[A Walk in the Woods]]'', 1990.
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== Sources ==
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[[SACD]] 1973; 1975/76; 1978/79; 1980/81; 1981/82.
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[[JODS]] programme note, ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]'' (1962).
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''[[Tom Foolery]]'' theatre programme, 1981.
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[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
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''[[Transvaler]]'', 20 July 1990.
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Photographs and other material held by [[NELM]].
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== Return to ==
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities M]]
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities M]]
  

Latest revision as of 05:46, 27 December 2023

Michael McGovern (1934- ) is a London-born South African actor and performer.

Biography

He began his theatrical career after leaving the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1957, when he auditioned at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, for the American musical The Pajama Game. When the production was brought on tour to South Africa he took over the leading role of Sid. He decided to stay in South Africa and work in the local theatre.

Michael married the actress Joan Friedman, and they had three children.

Career

He was a member of the Cockpit Players between 1958 and 1962. When the Cockpit Players disbanded he moved to Johannesburg and stayed until 1966 doing plays and musicals.

In 1966 he returned to England, until PACT lured him back to South Africa in 1971.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

He starred in the American musical, The Pajama Game in 1958.

He played the part of Algernon in Half in Earnest, a musical version of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest in 1959.

As a member of the Cockpit Players he played in Try for White (1959), The Matchmaker (1959), The Caretaker (1961), The Tenth Man (1961), Billy Liar (1961), The Birthday Party (1962), The Hostage (19**) and The Night of the Iguana (1962). He also

He played the lead in Hamlet at Maynardville in 1964.

He starred in Anthony Newley’s revue Stop the World – I Want to Get Off which was staged by Adam Leslie for the Johannesburg Reps in 1964, in the JODS production of Frank Loesser’s musical Guys and Dolls which was based on the writings of Damon Runyon at the Civic Theatre in 1965 and in the Toerien-Firth revival of Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire with Anne Rogers in 1975.

Michael also starred in Henry IV, Part 1 directed by John Sichel for Joan Brickhill and Louis Burke at His Majesty's Theatre (1976), in Double Edge (1976), I Love my Wife (1978), Da (1979), Stage Struck (1980), Betrayal (PACT in 1980), Tom Foolery (1981), A Walk in the Woods (Market Theatre in 1989).

Michael starred in musicals such as The Most Happy Fella and Irma La Douce

For PACT he played in Betrayal, Child's Play and Applause. Subsequent work includes Othello Slegs Blankes at The Space in Cape Town, Double Edge, Da, Stage Struck and I Love my Wife.

Other productions include A Galway Girl, I Spy, Joggers, Burning Bright, The Andersonville Trial, Gigi (CAPAB 1982), The Hostage, In the Case of J. Robert Oppenheimer (1971), The Shrew by Charles Marowitz at the Chelsea Theatre in 1975 and in 1980 at the Baxter Theatre.

Other work

He did a considerable amount of cabaret.

Much of his public fame though rests on his work in radio. He made his first film Ride The High Wind in South West Africa (now Namibia) and in 1974 he played in the Roger Moore film, Gold. He hosted Walk Right In for SATV.

For othe film and television work see IMDb [1].

Awards, etc.

He won a Best Actor award for his role in Stop the World – I Want to Get Off.

Michael was nominated for a Vita Award for his role as John Honeyman in A Walk in the Woods, 1990.

Sources

SACD 1973; 1975/76; 1978/79; 1980/81; 1981/82.

JODS programme note, The Most Happy Fella (1962).

Tom Foolery theatre programme, 1981.

Tucker, 1997.

Transvaler, 20 July 1990.

Photographs and other material held by NELM.

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities M

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to Main Page

Retrieved from "https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php?title=Michael_McGovern&oldid=249513"