Sabato, domenica e lunedi

Sabato, domenica e lunedi (1959) is a play by Italian actor, playwright, screenwriter, author and poet Eduardo De Filippo (1900-1984)[1].

The original text

A comedy that tells of Peppino and Rosa, who have been married for about 30 years, and live in a large house with a sea view in the Rione Terra with their children Rocco and Giulianella, grandfather Don Antonio, and Aunt Amelia.

Written in 1959, set in Napoli, the play was first performed on 6 November of the same year in the Teatro Quirino di Roma in Rome, directed by and featuring the author.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English as Saturday, Sunday and Monday, a production of the English text (starring Laurence Olivier in the lead role), won the London drama critics' award in 1973.

Translated into Afrikaans as Saterdag, Sondag, Maandag by Louis van Niekerk.

The Italian version of the play has been adapted for TV on a number of occasions, beginning with a 1962 version directed by the author himself and including a well known TV film version starring Sophia Loren and directed by Lina Wertmüller (broadcast in two instalments, on 16 and 17 December, 1990, by Canale 5).

Performance history in South Africa

1976: Presented in English by NAPAC Drama by arrangement with the National Theatre of Great Britain at the Alhambra Theatre, Durban, from 17 March 1976, directed by Leslie French, starring Lynne White, Helen Bourne, Price Coetzee, Ronald Wallace.

1978: Saterdag, Sondag, Maandag was presented by TRUK-Toneel in 1978 at the Breytenbach Theatre and the Alexander Theatre under the direction of Louis van Niekerk starring Wilna Snyman (Donna Rosa), Amor Tredoux (Virginia), Franz Marx (Peppino), Gerben Kamper (Rocco), Etienne Puren (Federico), Louis van Niekerk (Antonio), Elise Hibbert (Giulianella]], Wilma Stockenström (Zia Meme), Christo Gerlach ((Attilio), George Ballot (Raffaele), David van der Merwe, Antoinette Kellermann (Elena), Pierre van Pletzen (Roberto), Trudie Taljaard (Maria), Don Lamprecht (Dr Cefercola), Alwyn Swart (Catiello), Stan Czerepowicz (Michele). Decor by Johan Engels, lighting by Martin Pelser, costumes by Pam Pelser and PACT Garderobe.