Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman
A play by Dario Fo (Italian title: Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata). [1] In the original production the playwright himself played Queen Elizabeth I, while Dame Grosslady was played by Fo's wife Franca Rame.
Contents
Subject
The play takes place in the boudoir of Elizabeth I of England. In the midst of political upheaval aging Elizabeth is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her lover, the Earl of Essex, who is involved in an attempted coup d'etat against the queen. In order to prepare for this tryst, she has summoned her beautician, Dame Grosslady, who speaks primarily in grammelot. (Wikipedia [2])
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1997: Staged for CAPAB at the Grahamstown Festival in 1997, directed by Christopher Weare, with Robyn Scott (Elizabeth), Anthea Thompson (Martha), Neels Coetzee (Grosslady}, Nicholas Dallas (Egerton), Terence Bridgett (Young man), David Isaacs and Russell Boast (soldiers).
Sources
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