Why Strelitzias Cannot Fly

Why Strelitzias Cannot Fly is a musical for children by Geraldine Aron (1941-) and Debbie Lan.

Often written Why Strelitzias Can't Fly and was later also known as Why Birds of Paradise Cannot Fly.

The original text

The piece is based on Aron's own children's book Why strelitzias cannot fly: a South African folk tale which was published by Tafelberg Publishers in 1982, with illustrations by Cherylle Hayden.

Translations and adaptations

The original novel was translated into Afrikaans as Waarom Strelitzias Nie Kan Vlieg Nie (published by Tafelberg Publishers, Cape Town, in 1982) and into seven other languages, including Tswana (as Go reng ditereletsia di sa kgone go fofa, published by Via Afrika, Cape Town, in 1985).

The novel was adapted as a stage musical by by Geraldine Aron and Debbie Lan, and first performed by CAPAB in 1983. According to WGM Atlantic[1], the was play later also billed as Why Birds of Paradise Cannot Fly.

Translated into an Afrikaans version called Waarom Strelitzias Nie Kan Vlieg Nie by Johan Esterhuizen and first performed by the Stellenbosch Drama Department in 2001. The text is unpublished, but the performance text is held by DALRO.

Performance history in South Africa

1983: First performed by CAPAB in the Nico Malan Arena in December 1983, directed by Johan Esterhuizen, with Marthinus Basson, Lynita Crofford, Margaretha Fischer, Terry Greyvenstein, Greg Latter, André Roothman, Diane Wilson, Marlene Winberg. Decor and costumes Penny Simpson, lighting Malcolm Hurrell.

2001: Performed in Afrikaans in the H.B. Thom Theatre by students of the University of Stellenbosch from 27 March to 6 April, directed by Johan Esterhuizen, assisted by Gilliam Johan Winckler. The cast consisted of Liani Marè, Anneke Senekal, Liselle Jones, Bea Claasen, Natalie Hoffman, Trudy Gunther, Liana Jansen, Ilse-Marie Stols, Hester van der Merwe, Cindy Swanepoel, Bernadette van Wyk, Jaco Olivier, Niel Rademan, Welma Winter, Yanou Ceulaers and Stefan Blignaut. The production team included Su Gustafson (production manager), Barnie Mans (stage manager), Larien Truter (production manager), Maritha Visagie (design) and Francois van Wyk (design).

Sources

Sydney Paul Gosher. 1988. A Historical and Critical Survey of the South African One-act Play Written in English. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Pretoria: University of South Africa.

https://www.wgmtalent.com/screen-writers/geraldine-aron/

Material held by NELM.

Stage manager's prompt copy of the Stellenbosch production in 2001, found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department's archives in 2022.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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The original text

Based on Aron's own children's book Why Strelitzias Cannot Fly: a South African folk tale, which was published by Tafelberg Publishers in 1982 (with illustrations by Cherylle Hayden), the musical was written by .

1983: First performed as Why Strelitzias Cannot Fly in the Nico Malan Theatre, Cape Town, by CAPAB in 1983.

The play was translated into Afrikaans as Waarom strelitzias nie kan vlieg nie

See Why Strelitzias Can't Fly