La Dame aux Camélias
La Dame aux Camélias ("The lady with the camellias") is a play by Alexandre Dumas (1824-1895).
Contents
The original text
Originally written and published as a novel by Alexandre Dumas (1824-1895) in 1848, it was adapted for the stage by the author and first presented at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris, France on 2 February, 1852. The play famously formed the basis for La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi (1853).
Translations and adaptations
Numerous English translations have been made , and in the English-speaking world, it was initially translated as The Lady of the Camellias, but soon also became known simply as Camille.
An Afrikaans translation entitled Die Dame met die Kamelias was done by Wilhelmien van Zyl, and used for a 1966 production. However, according to Grütter (1987), the director - René Clermont - and three of the performers (Nerina Ferreira, Laurie van der Merwe and Berdine Grünewald) also did a lot of work on the final script.
Performance history in South Africa
While a number of productions of the opera, and many ballet versions have been produced in the country, performances of the stage play are less plentiful.
1901: Produced as Camille in Cape Town by the company of Ben Wheeler and Frank Wheeler with American actress Nance O'Neill in the leading role.
1966: Produced in the Afrikaans version by CAPAB at the Hofmeyr Theatreas part of during the fifth Republic Festival. Directed by the French director René Clermont with Berdine Grünewald, Johann Nelland André Walters in the leading roles. The rest of the cast were Fanie Bekker, Nerina Ferreira, Salomi Louw, Rieta Burgers, Fitz Morley, Martin Crous, Gertie Smith-Visser, Limpie Basson, Jannie Gildenhuys, Ernst Eloff, Johan Nell, Wilhelm de la Querra, Johan van Jaarsveld, Antoinette Terblanche, Gillian Garlick, Ken Leach, Lynette Marais, Danie Marais. The production also visited Stellenbosch, Worcester and Bellville. Designs were by Michael Clarke.
1966: Another Afrikaans production was directed by Fitz Morley in East London.
Sources
World Drama by Allardyce Nicoll, 1949
Grütter, Wilhelm, CAPAB 25 Years, 1987. Unpublished research. p 43 and 418.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady_of_the_Camellias
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Dame_aux_cam%C3%A9lias
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