A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire [1] is a 1947 play by American playwright Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) [2]. Opened on Broadway December 1947 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, starring Jessica Tandy as Blanche and Marlon Brando as Stanley. Won the Pulitzer Prize in 1948. Published by New American Library, 1947.
The 1951 film with Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando made it world famous.
Contents
The original text
Translations and adaptations
Die Trem se Naam: Begeerte, an Afrikaans translation of Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire
An Africanised version set in Soweto, devised by Lara Foot-Newton in 2002.
Performance history in South Africa
1951: A West End production of the play, starring Bette Ann Davis (??**) and William Sylvester, visited South Africa. The first South African production was **
1975: Presented by Pieter Toerien and Shirley Firth opening 12 August at the Intimate Theatre in Johannesburg, directed by James Roose-Evans, with Gillian Garlick (Stella Kowalski), Sheila Ferguson (Eunice Hubbell), Michael McGovern (Stanley Kowalski), Anthony Fridjhon (Harold Mitchell), Anne Rogers (Blanche Dubois), Gordon Steel (Steve Hubbell), Renier van Wyk (Pablo Gonzales), Michael Wolfaard (A Young Collector), Don Fuller (A Strange Man) and Millie Johnston (A Strange Woman). Decor by Richard Cook and costumes by Christa Scholtz.
1985: Bobby Heaney directed the Afrikaans translation Die Trem se Naam: Begeerte, starring Marius Weyers, Brümilda van Rensburg, Elize Cawood for PACT in May 1985.
2002: The Africanised version set in Soweto was staged at the Grahamstown Festival, directed by Lara Foot-Newton with Moshidi Motshegwa (Blanche DuBois), Vusi Kunene (Stanley Kowalski), Lindiwe Chibi (Stella Kowalski), Sello Sebotsane, Coco Merckel, Dudu Yende, Ramolao Makhene and Michelle Maxwell on the piano. The same production was subsequently staged in the Wits Theatre Complex.
2014: Performed by Carnivals of the Heart in the Arena Theatre at Artscape, 10 to 18 January, directed by Darryl Spijkers, with choreography by Verne Osmand, sets by Zanodean Cassiem, costumes by Noel Pitout and lighting by Ramsay Lotter.
Sources
Pieter Toerien and Shirley Firth theatre programme (undated).
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