I Am a Camera

I Am a Camera is a play by English playwright and theatre director John van Druten (1901-1957)[1]

The original text

Based on the novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood. In the original Broadway production in 1951 the leading role of Sally Bowles was taken by Julie Harris, who also played her in the 1955 film version opposite Laurence Harvey. The film was directed by South African-born Henry Cornelius.

In the 1954 London stage production the role of Sally Bowles was played by Dorothy Tutin.

Translations and adaptations

The stage and film musical Cabaret was based on this play (For more information on the musical and SA productions, see the entry on Cabaret. )

Performance history in South Africa

1955: Ruth Oppenheim staged this play at the Windmill Theatre in Johannesburg. It opened on 12 October 1955 and featured Tessa Laubscher as Sally Bowles. Others in the cast were Stanley Coghan, Ziona Bonell, Jacinta Roseira, Jeanne Pratt, Hans Kann (Hans Kaniuk) and George Dilley. The decor was designed by Saxon Lucas. Subsequently the play went on tour to Pretoria and Vereeniging before returning to the Windmill Theatre.

19??: Produced by the Brian Brooke Company, date and venue unknown.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_a_Camera

Tucker, 1997. 79.

Photocopies of programmes for productions by the Brian Brooke Company, held by NELM: [Collection: ASCH, Valda]: 2005. 65. 7. 11.

A photocopy of the published text found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department's theatre archives and now held in the ESAT repository at the Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation, with offices at Pieter Okkers House, 7 Joubert Street, Stellenbosch, South Africa.