La Dame aux Camélias

La Dame aux Camélias ("The lady with the camellias") is a play in five acts entitled by Alexandre Dumas, fils[1] (1824-1895).

The original text

Based on an incident from his own life, it was originally written and published as a novel by Dumas in 1848, and was adapted for the stage by the author and presented at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris, France on 2 February, 1852. The play famously formed the basis for La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi (1853).

Translations and adaptations

Numerous English translations have been made , and in the English-speaking world, it was initially translated as The Lady of the Camellias, but soon also became known simply as Camille.

Freely adapted from the French of Dumas as The Lady of the Camellias, a tragic drama in four acts, Published in London by T.H. Lacy [1852?]

Translated from the French as Camille by the actress Matilda Heron (1830-1877), and performed in St Louis, opening at Bateman's Theatre, with Heron in the leading role; then went on to Cincinnati and New Orleans . First published in 1856 by Wrightson & Co. and also Samuel French (initially without attribution, but this is later corrected).

An Afrikaans translation entitled Die Dame met die Kamelias was done by Wilhelmien van Zyl, and used for a 1966 production. However, according to Grütter (1987), the director - René Clermont - and three of the performers (Nerina Ferreira, Laurie van der Merwe and Berdine Grünewald) also did a lot of work on the final script.

Performance history in South Africa

While there have been a number of productions of La Traviata, and many ballet versions have been produced in the country, performances of the stage play are less plentiful.

1901: Produced as Camille in Cape Town by the company of Ben Wheeler and Frank Wheeler with American actress Nance O'Neill in the leading role.

1966: Produced in the Afrikaans version by CAPAB at the Hofmeyr Theatre as part of the fifth Republic Festival. Directed by the French director René Clermont with Berdine Grünewald, Johann Nell and André Walters in the leading roles. The rest of the cast were Fanie Bekker, Nerina Ferreira, Salomi Louw, Rieta Burgers, Fitz Morley, Martin Crous, Gertie Smith-Visser, Limpie Basson, Jannie Gildenhuys, Ernst Eloff, Johan Nell, Wilhelm de la Querra, Johan van Jaarsveld, Antoinette Terblanche, Gillian Garlick, Ken Leach, Lynette Marais, Danie Marais. The production also visited Stellenbosch, Worcester, Hopefield, George, Oudtshoorn, Goodwood and Bellville. Designs were by Michael Clarke.