Gigi
The name "Gigi" can refer (1) to a person or (2) to a play or character in a play
Contents
People named "Gigi"
In South Africa there are two theatre-related people by this name:
GiGi Fourie is the widely known nickname of theatre manager Johan J. Fourie.
(See Johan J. Fourie)
Gigi is also the stage name of the South African actress and exotic dancer Perlé van Schalkwyk.
(See Perlé van Schalkwyk)
Name of a play or character in a play
Gigi is the name of a popular 1951 Broadway play by American screenwriter, playwright and author Anita Loos (1889-1981) [1]. The play is based on the French novella of the same name by Colette.
The original text
A number of stage, stage musical and film adaptations have been based on Gigi [2] the 1944 novella by French novelist Colette (Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, 1873–1954) [3].
Performance history in South Africa
1953: First produced in South Africa when the Johannesburg Reps celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary. The production starred Tessa Laubscher.
1966: Staged by CAPAB, opening 14 December in the Hofmeyr Theatre, directed by visiting American director Stanley Waren [4], with Charlene Faktor (Gigi), Joyce Bradley (Mme. Alvarez), Paddy Canavan (Andree), Norman Coombes (Gaston Lachaille), Michael Mellinger (Victor), Yvonne Bryceland (Alicia) and Gillian Garlick (Sidonie). Set and costumes by Michael Clarke.
1967: Staged by JODS in the Zion Hall in Johannesburg, directed by Taubie Kushlick, with Mary-Ann (Gigi), Joyce Bradley (Mme. Alvarez), Mary Harrison (Andree), Ivan Berold (Gaston Lachaille), George Jackson (Victor), Sybil Barnett (Alicia) and Sylvia Goldberg (Sidonie). Decor by Nina Campbell-Quine and costumes by Edele Chaskalson.
Sources
CAPAB theatre programme (undated).
JODS theatre programme, 1967.
Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.
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