Enrico IV

Enrico IV is a play by Luigi Pirandello.

The original text

An expressionist work providing a stark and moving study of madness and the solitude of self-imprisonment, a study on madness with comic and tragic sides. In the play the main character is a man who believes himself to be Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, and all about him conspire to maintain the fiction.

Written in 1921, it premiered on 24 February 1922 in the Teatro Manzoni in Milan. Published in Italian in 1922.

Translations and adaptations

It has been translated into English by Tom Stoppard and others. Sometimes titled Henry IV and also written Henri IV, possibly to avoid confusion with Shakespeare's plays.

Translated into Afrikaans, under the title of Die Keiser, from the original Italian, by Johann van Heerden, after a period of study and research in Italy during 1975.

Performance history in South Africa

1935: Presented at the Little Theatre Cape Town in 1935 as a significant milestone in that theatre's development. The cast included the impressive newcomer Wensley Pithey. **

196*: A CAPAB production of the English version, with Michael Atkinson in the title role, toured the country in 196*. (CHECK!!)

1983: Performed in Afrikaans as Die Keiser by the Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in the H.B. Thom Theatre 25 May to 1 July. Directed by Johann van Heerden, with Chris Truter (Hendrik IV), Belinda Richardson (Markiesin Matilda Spina), Nicola van der Walt (Frida), André Schwartz (Markies di Nolli), Albert Maritz (Dr Genoni), Neels Engelbrecht (Baron Tito Belcredi), Isadora Verwey (Lola), Libé Ferreira (Franca), Trudi Huskisson (Mimi), Cecile de Jager (Fina), Antoinette Pienaar (Fina), Lloyd Davies (Giovanni), Christo Crous (lakei), Freddie Aylward (lakei). Decor designed by Marjorie van Heerden, costumes designed by Elaine Aucamp.