The Minstrel Scandals
The Minstrel Scandals was a cabaret style production devised by Louis Burke and Joan Brickhill for African Consolidated Theatres (ACT).
Contents
The original text
Opened at the Alhambra Theatre in Cape Town before playing at the Empire Theatre in Johannesburg in 1966. Frank Lazarus did the vocal arrangements, Boris Cohen was the musical director, and performers included Joan Brickhill, Aubrey Ellis, Lynton Burns, Olive King, Michael Fisher, Stephanie Shiller, Beryl Ellis, Jeanette James, Ronnie Grainge and Charles Stodel.
The original text
A follow up to the original Brickhill and Burke show, The Minstrel Scandals.
Translations and adaptations
In October 1970 an updated version, now called the All-New, Non-Stop Minstrel Scandals was staged at the Empire Theatre, was devised, designed, directed, choreographed and lit by Joan Brickhill and Louis Burke and Brickhill-Burke team. This was once again done for ACT at the request of the then manager Charles Stodel, who signed the Australian comedian Lucky Grills for the show, while the rest of the cast consisted of Joan Brickhill, Aubrey Ellis, Jean Dell, Barbara Thomson and Ferdie Uphof. This proved to be the closing show for the Empire Theatre'.
Performance history in South Africa
Musical Direction and Orchestrations by Boris Cohen, Decor by Roy Cooke, Costumes designed by Joan Brickhill, Vocal arrangements by Boris Cohen and Frank Lazarus. Lighting designed by Louis Burke.
Bobby Dennis, Ann Emery, Joan Brickhill, Helga Wicks, Barry Wicks, Peggy Palette, Julia Palette, Eddie Ellis, Ronnie Grainge, Aubrey Ellis and Jeanette Neale performed in it with the full company including The Scandals Lovelies and The Singing Minstrels.
Sources
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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Sources
Percy Tucker, 1979: pp. 219, 270
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays
Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
Return to South African Festivals and Competitions
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
