Difference between revisions of "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
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''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' by William Shakespeare. Written between 1590 and 1596, first produced 1604. The work lost favour during the restoration period (Samuel Pepys described the 1662 revival as "the most insipid and ridiculous play I ever saw in my life") but gained new interest in the 19th century as a way of showcasing elaborate costumes and sets. Since then, A Midsummer Night's Dream has been adapted for opera, ballet, television, and film. | ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' by William Shakespeare. Written between 1590 and 1596, first produced 1604. The work lost favour during the restoration period (Samuel Pepys described the 1662 revival as "the most insipid and ridiculous play I ever saw in my life") but gained new interest in the 19th century as a way of showcasing elaborate costumes and sets. Since then, A Midsummer Night's Dream has been adapted for opera, ballet, television, and film. | ||
| + | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
A copy of the play was on sale in Cape Town in 1800 for £25, but no production followed apparently, despite the hopes of the reporter of the [[Kaapsche Courant]] (15 November). | A copy of the play was on sale in Cape Town in 1800 for £25, but no production followed apparently, despite the hopes of the reporter of the [[Kaapsche Courant]] (15 November). | ||
Early amateur productions in South Africa include ** and [[Cecil John Rhodes]] being entertained by [[Rudyard Kipling]] and artist Jan Juta's sister [[René Juta]], her other sisters and family servants with the performance of scenes from ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' on the slopes of Devil's Peak in the 1890s (Merrington, 200*; Juta 1972: 52). | Early amateur productions in South Africa include ** and [[Cecil John Rhodes]] being entertained by [[Rudyard Kipling]] and artist Jan Juta's sister [[René Juta]], her other sisters and family servants with the performance of scenes from ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' on the slopes of Devil's Peak in the 1890s (Merrington, 200*; Juta 1972: 52). | ||
| − | First produced professionally in South Africa by the [[Holloway Company]] in Cape Town in 1900 (*??). Other notable productions include ***, the Shakespeare quadcentennial production at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1964 (directed by [[Joan Brickhill]] and [[Louis Burke]] and featuring them with [[Jenny Gratus]]. Another production in 1964 was by [[PACOFS]] in collaboration with The Shakespeare Circle, directed by [[John Boulter]], the performance on the first night was in an old railway shed in Tweespruit before moving to Bloemfontein's [[Civic Theatre]]. The cast included Robin Short and Michael van Gelder. [[Robert Lang]] was the stage manager | + | First produced professionally in South Africa by the [[Holloway Company]] in Cape Town in 1900 (*??). Other notable productions include ***, the Shakespeare quadcentennial production at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1964 (directed by [[Joan Brickhill]] and [[Louis Burke]] and featuring them with [[Jenny Gratus]]. Another production in 1964 was by [[PACOFS]] in collaboration with The Shakespeare Circle, directed by [[John Boulter]], the performance on the first night was in an old railway shed in Tweespruit before moving to Bloemfontein's [[Civic Theatre]]. The cast included Robin Short and Michael van Gelder. [[Robert Lang]] was the stage manager. |
Presented by [[Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch|University Theatre Stellenbosch]] in 1975, produced by [[Ria Olivier]] and [[Pat Harvey]]. | Presented by [[Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch|University Theatre Stellenbosch]] in 1975, produced by [[Ria Olivier]] and [[Pat Harvey]]. | ||
| + | [[Robert Mohr]]’s 1981 production (with [[Etienne Puren]], [[Louise Saint Claire]], [[Michael Richard]] and [[Tobie Cronjé]]) during the opening season of the [[Pretoria State Theatre]]. | ||
| − | + | In 1997 [[Shirley Johnston]] directed the play for the [[University of Stellenbosch Drama Department]] in the [[H.B. Thom Theatre]], starring [[Jerick September]], [[Ilse Oppelt]], [[Francois Toerien]], [[Jenny Stead]], [[Anton Luitingh]], [[Albert Snyman]], [[Hugo Theart]], [[Abduragman Adams]] and others. | |
| + | [[Esther van Ryswyk]]’s famous puppet-and-human version (starring [[Clare Stopford]], [[Fiona Ramsay]], [[Neil McCarthy]], [[David Butler]], [[Jennie Reznek]], [[Robert Finlayson]] and [[Gaynor Young]] and many others) was staged at the [[Oude Libertas Theatre]] and [[Baxter Theatre]] through a Market-Baxter-[[Handspring Puppet Company]] collaboration in 1988, then moved to the [[Market Theatre]] in 1989, redirected by [[Fred Abrahamse]]. **, [[Maynardville]], 1981 (dir [[Phillip Grout]]), [[Maynardville]], 1995 (dir [[Patrick Sandford]]), [[Maynardville]], 2002 (dir [[Fred Abrahamse]]). | ||
| + | By [[Artscape]] in 2012 at the [[Artscape]] Theatre and the [[National Arts Festival]] and from 23 January to 26 February 2013 at the [[Maynardville]] Open-Air Theatre, in repertory with ''[[Cardenio]]'' (12 January to 16 February 2013) This production is the play's sixth staging at [[Maynardville]] since the open-air theatre began in 1957. It includes [[Marcel Meyer]], [[Terence Bridgett]], [[Hannah Borthwick]] and [[Sven Ruygrok]]. | ||
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| − | Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 M|M]] in Plays | + | |
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| + | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
| + | Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''Midsomernagdroom'' by [[Eitemal]], published by Human & Rousseau in 1974 and produced by ** in 19**. | ||
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| + | == Sources == | ||
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| + | Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
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| + | == Return to == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[ESAT Templates]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 M|M]] in Plays I Original SA Plays | ||
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| + | Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 M|M]] in Plays II Foreign Plays | ||
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| + | Return to [[ESAT Plays 3 M|M]] in Plays III Collections | ||
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| + | Return to [[ESAT Festivals M|M]] in Plays IV: Festivals and Pageants | ||
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]] | Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]] | ||
| − | Return to [[ | + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] |
Revision as of 11:24, 28 February 2014
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. Written between 1590 and 1596, first produced 1604. The work lost favour during the restoration period (Samuel Pepys described the 1662 revival as "the most insipid and ridiculous play I ever saw in my life") but gained new interest in the 19th century as a way of showcasing elaborate costumes and sets. Since then, A Midsummer Night's Dream has been adapted for opera, ballet, television, and film.
Performance history in South Africa
A copy of the play was on sale in Cape Town in 1800 for £25, but no production followed apparently, despite the hopes of the reporter of the Kaapsche Courant (15 November).
Early amateur productions in South Africa include ** and Cecil John Rhodes being entertained by Rudyard Kipling and artist Jan Juta's sister René Juta, her other sisters and family servants with the performance of scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream on the slopes of Devil's Peak in the 1890s (Merrington, 200*; Juta 1972: 52).
First produced professionally in South Africa by the Holloway Company in Cape Town in 1900 (*??). Other notable productions include ***, the Shakespeare quadcentennial production at the Alexander Theatre in 1964 (directed by Joan Brickhill and Louis Burke and featuring them with Jenny Gratus. Another production in 1964 was by PACOFS in collaboration with The Shakespeare Circle, directed by John Boulter, the performance on the first night was in an old railway shed in Tweespruit before moving to Bloemfontein's Civic Theatre. The cast included Robin Short and Michael van Gelder. Robert Lang was the stage manager.
Presented by University Theatre Stellenbosch in 1975, produced by Ria Olivier and Pat Harvey.
Robert Mohr’s 1981 production (with Etienne Puren, Louise Saint Claire, Michael Richard and Tobie Cronjé) during the opening season of the Pretoria State Theatre.
In 1997 Shirley Johnston directed the play for the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in the H.B. Thom Theatre, starring Jerick September, Ilse Oppelt, Francois Toerien, Jenny Stead, Anton Luitingh, Albert Snyman, Hugo Theart, Abduragman Adams and others.
Esther van Ryswyk’s famous puppet-and-human version (starring Clare Stopford, Fiona Ramsay, Neil McCarthy, David Butler, Jennie Reznek, Robert Finlayson and Gaynor Young and many others) was staged at the Oude Libertas Theatre and Baxter Theatre through a Market-Baxter-Handspring Puppet Company collaboration in 1988, then moved to the Market Theatre in 1989, redirected by Fred Abrahamse. **, Maynardville, 1981 (dir Phillip Grout), Maynardville, 1995 (dir Patrick Sandford), Maynardville, 2002 (dir Fred Abrahamse).
By Artscape in 2012 at the Artscape Theatre and the National Arts Festival and from 23 January to 26 February 2013 at the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, in repertory with Cardenio (12 January to 16 February 2013) This production is the play's sixth staging at Maynardville since the open-air theatre began in 1957. It includes Marcel Meyer, Terence Bridgett, Hannah Borthwick and Sven Ruygrok.
Translations and adaptations
Translated into Afrikaans as Midsomernagdroom by Eitemal, published by Human & Rousseau in 1974 and produced by ** in 19**.
Sources
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Templates
Return to M in Plays I Original SA Plays
Return to M in Plays II Foreign Plays
Return to M in Plays III Collections
Return to M in Plays IV: Festivals and Pageants
Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays
Return to The ESAT Entries
