The Unexpected Guest
The Unexpected Guest [1] (1958) is a two-act play by Agatha Christie (1890-1976) [2]. The first production opened in the Duchess Theatre in London in 1958.
Translations and adaptations
Translated into Afrikaans under the title Die Onverwagte Besoeker by Louis van Niekerk.
Performance history in South Africa
1980: The Afrikaans translation Die Onverwagte Besoeker was staged by PACT, directed by Bobby Heaney, with Ben de Koen (Richard Weyers), Rika Sennett (Laura Weyers), Pierre van Pletzen (Michael Strauss), Riana Wilkens (Swanie), Gerben Kamper (Jan Weyers), Tilana Hanekom (Mev Weyers),
1981: In South Africa it was directed by Charles Hickman for Pieter Toerien Productions and staged at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town in December. The cast consisted of Bert Wyllie (Richard Warwick), Yvonne Banning (Laura Warwick), Eckard Rabe (Michael Starkwedder) , Bess Finney (Miss Bennett), Gavin van den Berg (Jan Warwick), Joyce Bradley (Mrs. Warwick), Dennis Folbigge (Henry Angell), Jonathan Rands (Sergeant Cadwallader), Norman Coombes (Inspector Thomas) and Tim Plewman (Julian Farrar). The set was designed and lit by Jannie Swanepoel and the costumes were by Noreen Sterling.
2007: Directed by Malcolm Terrey at he Montecasino Theatre starring himself, James Alexander, Christine le Brocq, Tessa Jubber, Paddy Canavan, Jan Ellis, Darryl Evans and others. This production was seen in Cape Town in late 2006.
Sources
PACT theatre programme, 1980.
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987).
Beeld 23 January 2007.
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