The Brothers

The Brothers can refer to any of two foreign plays originally written in English, an English translation of Bruderzwist, oder, Die Versöhnung, a German original by Von Kotzebue, and a play by South African playwright Reza de Wet. (See in addition also the South African plays entitled Broers and Brothers.)

They have all been performed in South Africa at some time or another.

The Brothers by Edward Young (1753)

The Play

A Gothic style tragedy in verse about the feud between Perseus and Demetrius. Written and performed in 1752-3.

Translations and adaptations

Possibly translated into Dutch as De Gebroeders, according to F.C.L. Bosman (1928)

Productions in South Africa

1818: According to F.C.L. Bosman (1928), this play may have been performed in Dutch under the title De Gebroeders by Tot Nut en Vermaak, Cape Town, on 15 August, 1818. However, he3 also suggests it may have been a translation of Bruderzwist, oder, Die Versöhnung, the German 5 act play by Von Kotzebue.

Sources

The Oxford Handbook of the Georgian Theatre 1737-1832, as edited by Julia Swindells, David Francis Taylor[1]

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [2]: pp. 133.

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The Brothers by Richard Cumberland (1769)

The Play

A comedy set partly in Cornwall, about a villain and his virtuous young brother. The play, completed in 1769, was Cumberland's breakthrough work and very popular.

Productions in South Africa

1807: Produced in Cape Town on 10 October by the Garrison Players, followed by High Life Below Stairs (Townley). A prologue was written and spoken by Captain Collins, and an epilogue by Captain Frazer. The cast, mentioned in the Prologue, included Captain Frazer, Captain Collins, Captain Napier, Mr Morgan, Mr Strawbenzee, Mr Loftus, Mr O'Flaherty, Mr Longley, Mr Gleadow, Mr Hamilton, Mr Wilson and Mr Stock.

Sources

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [3]: pp.73-4, 133, .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brothers_(Cumberland_play)

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The Brothers by Reza de Wet (2006)

The play

A play depicting a night in the lives of Anton Chekhov and his brother Alexander, when they argue about the death of their middel brother, Kolya. Also known in the Afrikaans version as Broers

First published as The Brothers by Oberon Books in 2006.

Translations and adaptations

Reworked in an Afrikaans version by the author as Broers ("Brothers")

Performances

Not initially performed in English, it was rewritten in Afrikaans at the request of director Marthinus Basson as Broers ("Brothers") in 2006. After its publication however, the English version has been performed internationally and locally.

South African performances

2006: Premiered in Afrikaans, as Broers, at Aardklop, directed by Marthinus Basson with Neels in the same year, going on to other festivals later.

International performances

2014: Performed in English as The Brothers At the White Bear Theatre, Kennington Park Rd, London in April 2014, directed by Karima Setohy with Ralph Aiken, Edmund Sage-Green and Beth Dalloway.

Sources

http://oberonbooks.com/the-brothers

http://www.thesouthafrican.com/theatre-review-the-brothers-by-reza-de-wet-white-bear-theatre/

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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