Difference between revisions of "Bleak House"
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1878: Burnett's play '''''[[Jo]]''''' performed by [[Disney Roebuck]] and his company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, from 8 to 13 April. | 1878: Burnett's play '''''[[Jo]]''''' performed by [[Disney Roebuck]] and his company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, from 8 to 13 April. | ||
| − | 1894: According to [[D.C. Boonzaier|Boonzaier]] (1923), an | + | 1894: According to [[D.C. Boonzaier|Boonzaier]] (1923), an adaptation of ''[[Bleak House]]''was performed as ''[[Bleak House]]'' by [[Arturo Bonamici]] and his company. As it starred [[Jenny Lee]] in the role of "Jo", this was most probably also Burnett's play. |
= Sources = | = Sources = | ||
Revision as of 06:01, 22 May 2020
Bleak House is the name of a famous novel by Charles Dickens ()[], which was often dramatized.
Contents
The novel
The novel was first published as a 20-episode serial between March 1852 and September 1853, and is considered by amny to be one of Dickens's best novels. It has many characters and several sub-plots, so dramatizations of the book tended to single out plot strands for staging, in some cases choosing a suitable title to indicate the choice.
Dramatizations of the novel
Wikipedia mentions at least three 19th century adaptations for the stage, and a number of radio, film and TV versions in the 20th century. Undoubtedly there have been many more.
Below we list only such versions as have been performed in South Africa.
Jo by J.P. Burnett
The original text
Written in 1876 by John Pringle Burnett ()[], the play focussed on the sympathetic key character of "Jo", the young boy who lives on the streets and tries to make a living as a crossing sweeper - probably written as a vehicle for his wife, Jennie Lee, who played "Jo" in the original production, and often afterwards.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history of the various adaptations in South Africa
1878: Burnett's play Jo performed by Disney Roebuck and his company in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, from 8 to 13 April.
1894: According to Boonzaier (1923), an adaptation of Bleak Housewas performed as Bleak House by Arturo Bonamici and his company. As it starred Jenny Lee in the role of "Jo", this was most probably also Burnett's play.
Sources
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 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.367, 400
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