Molly Seftel

Molly Seftel (19**-). Actress.

Biography

Career

A member of what Loren Kruger calls “the Jewish bohemia associated with Sophiatown”, she began her career as an amateur working for the East Rand Theatre Club. Started out at the East Rand Theatre Club. Later worked for the Johannesburg REPS (in The House of Bernarda Alba, 1952), the Phoenix Players (playing “Hester” opposite the author in Fugard’s Hello and Goodbye in 1965) and **.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Other roles in The Maids (a touring production by The Company?* **, 1975/6?*) SEFTEL, Starred in The Lady’s Not For Burning by Christopher Fry which was staged by the University Players in 1951. Also starring Margaret Inglis and Philip Birkinshaw. Starred in Lorca’s Spanish drama The House of Bernarda Alba for the Reps in September 1952. It was directed by Leonard Schach and the cast included Muriel Alexander and Mary Mitchell. She starred in Ferenc Molnar’s Liliom opposite Leon Gluckman in May 1953. It was directed by Cecil Williams. She starred in Ian Bernhardt’s production of Athol Fugard’s Hello and Goodbye, together with Fugard, at the Library in 1965. She starred in Jean Genet’s The Maids with Barbara Itzler and Maya Obel. Barney Simon directed this play for PACT at the Arena around 1971. She starred in Charles Marowitz’s A Macbeth which was staged at the Alexander in 1973. It also starred Siegfried Mynhardt, Billy Matthews and Ken Leach. Together with McCorkindale she starred in Charles Marowitz’s The Shrew, directed by Dawn Lindberg at the Chelsea Theatre in 1975. She won best actress for her portrayal of Kate at the 1976 DALRO Awards. She was also mayoress of Johannesburg at this stage. She starred in Henry Rootenberg’s Zeyda together with Nicholas Ellenbogen and Frantz Dobrowsky at the Laager and the Alexander in 1981. She starred in Susan Pam-Grant and D.J. Grant’s Take the Floor at the Laager in 1994.

Also performed in The Maids and as “Lady Macbeth” in A Macbeth. (SACD 1973)

Awards, etc

1976 DALRO Award best actress in English for Kate in The Shrew (Tucker 315)

Gallery Club Award winner in 1966 for Hello and Goodbye, and in 1976 for The Shrew.

Sources

Tucker, 1997.

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