Saturday Night at the Palace
Saturday Night at the Palace [1] is a 1982 play by Paul Slabolepszy [2]. A play about two white working-class young men – Vince and Forsie - who arrive at a lonely suburban roadhouse. Vince, embittered with his life, attacks his friend, then turns on, abuses and finally kills the black roadhouse attendant. Published by Ad Donker Publishers in 1985.
Performance history in South Africa
1982-1983: Reshaped in rehearsal by director Bobby Heaney, first performed with Paul Slabolepszy, Bill Flynn and Fats Dibeco, at the Market Theatre in 1982 and the Baxter Theatre in 1983. The play was an enormous hit and toured the country. Designed by Norman Coates.
1984: Mannie Manim visited London with the play in 1984.
2004: Staged in January 2004 at the Baxter Theatre, produced by Mannie Manim and Bobby Heaney and directed by Heaney, with Neil Sandilands (Vince), Grant Swanby (Forcie) and Sizwe Msutu (September). Design by Norman Coates and lighting by Manim.
Translations and adaptations
A film version was made by Robert Davies and shown at the Montreal Film Festival in 1987.
Sources
Market Theatre programme notes
The Cape Times, 14 January 2004.
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