The Divorce Question

The Divorce Question is a play in three acts by William Anthony McGuire (1881-1940) [1].

The original play

A play in three acts dealing with the Roman Catholic attitude to divorce, it was first published in the USA in 1915. Also published by Samuel French in 1943.

Translations and adaptations

Evidence suggests that the work was translated into Afrikaans as Die by Friedrich Gunther for production by the Hanekom Company.

Productions in South Africa

1930: The Afrikaans version was produced by the Hanekom Company and has over a hundred performances. Starred Wena Naudé, Willem van Zyl and James Norval. According to the programme this was by Friedrich Gunther, though Binge (1969) suggests it is by all evidence a translation of The Divorce Question. Binge's view corresponds with a list of productions by the Hanekom Company compiled by André Huguenet (published in Filma (Kultuur) in January 1946) listing the author of Uur van Vergelding rather quaintly as "MacQuire" (sic).

Sources

Ludwig Wilhelm Berthold Binge. 1969. Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1832-1950). Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik.

List of productions by the Hanekom Company compiled by André Huguenet, published in Filma (Kultuur) in January 1946.

Go to ESAT Bibliography