Falstaff

Falstaff is play devised and written by Ian Ferguson, based on three plays by Shakespeare.

The original text

Written in 1976, the work is a combination of the Fallstaff [1] scenes from Shakespeare’s plays Henry IV (parts 1 and 2), and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Performance history in South Africa

1976: Staged by PACT at the Alexander Theatre, directed by Ken Leach, with Richard Haines (Falstaff), Ian Steadman (Bardolph), Nigel Daly (Francis), Michael Richard (Pistol), Dennis Schauffer (Chief Justice), Michael McCabe (Henry IV), Errol Ross (Prince Hal), Paul Slabolepszy (Poins), Nigel Vermaas (Nym), Don McCorkindale (Shallow), Dale Cutts (Fang), Anthony James/David Lewis (Westmoreland/Snare) and Lesley Nott/Annelisa Weiland/ Dorothy-Ann Gould (Doll Tearsheet). Costumes by Patricia Slavin, set by Ken Leach and incidental music composed and performed by David Lewis.

1984: Presented by CAPAB Drama in July with performances at the 1984 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, at the Guild Theatre in East London, the Opera House in Port Elizabeth, the H.B. Thom Theatre in Stellenbosch and on 1 August at the Nico Malan Theatre in Cape Town. The director was Ken Leach, decor, after the original design by Leach was by Peter Cazalet, costumes by Penny Simpson and lighting by Malcolm Hurrell. The cast: Ron Smerczak (Falstaff), Romano Gorlei, Mark Graham, Jakes Jacobs, David Clatworthy, David Dennis, David Alcock, Gary Carter, Russel Savadier, Roger Dwyer, André Roothman, Diane Wilson, Antoinette Kellermann, and Shirley Johnston.

Sources

PACT theatre programme, 1976.

CAPAB theatre programme, 1984.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

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