Mame

A musical with a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. First produced on Broadway at the Winter Garden on 24 May 1966 with Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur. [1]

The first London production was on 20 February 1969 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, with Ginger Rogers and Margaret Courtenay.

The original text

Originally titled My Best Girl, it is based on the 1955 novel Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis and a 1956 Broadway play by Lawrence and Lee.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1982-1983: First produced in South Africa by Brickhill-Burke, with Joan Brickhill in the lead.

1989-1990: Staged by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society in 1990. (Scenaria reviews David Matheson's 1989 PACOFS (Performing Arts Council of the Orange Free State) production of Mame, remoulded for CAPAB (Cape Performing Arts Board) stagings at smaller theatres in Port Elizabeth and East London which arrived at Cape Town's Nico Malan Theatre).

1994: Presented by CAPAB Musicals, first performed at the Nico Malan Theatre on 25 August 1994. Directed by David Matheson, musical director Charl-Johan Lingenfelder, choreographer Alfred Hinkel, set design by Johan Badenhorst, lighting design by John T. Baker, sound design by Robin Shuttleworth. The cast: Judy Page as Mame, also starring Diane Wilson, Glenn Swart, Steven Stead, Celeste Litkie and a large cast.