Rattle of a Simple Man
Rattle of a Simple Man is a comedy written by British playwright Charles Dyer [1]. A bet to spend the night with a prostitute shows how loneliness can drive people to opposite extremes. Set in the character Cyrenne's basement flat somewhere in London.
Contents
The original text
First produced in Nottingham, 1962. On stage, the piece starred Edward Mulhare as the 40-year-old virgin and Tammy Grimes as the game woman who rescues him from his innocence/repression. A very young George Segal played a supporting role on stage.
First published by Samuel French, 1963.
Translations and adaptations
Adapted for the screen by the author. The screen version was directed by Muriel Box in 1964 [2].
Performance history in South Africa
A British production, brought to South Africa by Taubie Kushlick, with Edward Woodward, Pauline Stroud and Kerry Jordan in 1961. Directed by Edward Woodward. Set designed by Nina Campbell-Quine.
Presented by the Durban Theatre Workshop Company at the City Centre Theatre, directed by John Rogers, June 1976
Presented by Colin Law in Durban, directed by David Crichton, from 23 March 1981.
Sources
Programme notes of 1961 production.
AfricaWide database (e.g. a photograph of Edward Woodward in Rattle of a Simple Man at the Playhouse Theatre [8.12.1961]).
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