Anastasia

Anastasia is a full length play by French playwright Marcelle Maurette (1903-1972)[1]

The original text

A play about the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia (1901-1918)[2], purported to be the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, the last sovereign of Imperial Russia, and his wife, Tsarina Alexandra Fyodorovna. First performed and published in French in 1952.

Translations and adaptations

Adapted into English by Guy Bolton from the French play. First published in English by Samuel French, 1952. First performed in English at the St James Theatre, London, opening 5 August 1953. Filmed in 1956 starring Ingrid Bergman as Anya.

The Bolton adaptation was adapted and translated into Afrikaans by Petrovna Metelerkamp.

Performance history in South Africa

1950s: According to a list of productions published in the Oedipus Rex theatre programme of 1956, André Huguenet was in a production of this play for the Arts Theatre in Cape Town. Probably the Bolton English version. The exact year is not mentioned, nor is it referred to in his autobiography.

1977: The Afrikaans adaptation by Metelerkamp staged by PACT, directed by Francois Swart, with David van der Merwe (Tsjernow), Harriet Pienaar (Warja), Don Lamprecht (Petrowski), Louis van Niekerk (Prins Bounine), Evert Snyman (Sergei), Sandra Prinsloo (Anna), Phillip Swart (Drivinitz), Jan Prinsloo (Sleedrywer), Trudie Taljaard (Skropvrou), John Harley (Oblenski), Wilna Snyman (Oud-Keiserin), Elise Hibbert (Livenbaum), and Etienne Puren (Prins Paul). Decor and costumes by Chris van den Berg.