The Morals of Marcus

The Morals of Marcus is a play William John Locke (1863-1930)[1]

The original text

The play was an adaptation for the stage based on Locke's own novel The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne (1905)[2], which tells the story of a woman escapes the Turkish harem in which she has been brought up and flees to London in the company of a British adventurer, who gives her shelter at his home.

The play was first performed at the Garrick Theatre, London, on 30 August 1906, and played for 197 performances till 2 March 1907. It opened on Broadway in 1907.

Translations and adaptations

The novel was also adapted for film, two silent versions were made (in 1915 and 1921) and in 1935, Miles Mander directed the film The Morals of Marcus, with Ian Hunter in the title role.

Performance history in South Africa

1908-9: Produced as The Morals of Marcus by Leonard Rayne and his company as part of a repertoire of six plays, opening at the Standard Theatre, Johannesburg, and then touring the various cities, including a performances at the Opera House, Cape Town, during February of 1909.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morals_of_Marcus_Ordeyne_(novel)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_John_Locke

J.P. Wearing. 2013. The London Stage 1900-1909: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. (Second, revised edition, p. 310). Scarecrow Press, Google E-book[3]

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.429

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