Ali Baba or The Forty Thieves
The original text
1878: Performed by Disney Roebuck as Ali Baba and The Forty Thieves, or The Fairy Brilliantina and Harlequin and the Magic Donkey (Taddei and Bottesini), in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town on January. Apparently it was a local adaptation under management of Mr Vane, scenery by Mr Cooper. Performed as a pantomime in December, 1877 and January 1878 at the Theatre Royal, Cape Town to huge success. An interesting "local" facet is that the curtain opened on a scene in Kreli's kraal, with the chief and his warriors taunting "Sir Castle Brere" and his British Flag.
1944: Presented by the pupils of the Ashley Street Primary School in Cape Town's City Hall, 1944, decor by Sydney McKie. Carl van der Rheede as Ali Baba, Edna Young as his wife, Eric Titus as the Forest Enchanter.
Another pantomime version by De Wet Laubscher.**
Sources
Bosman, F.C.L., Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. 1980: pp. 353, 364-6.
Trek, 9(9):20, 1944.
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
