The Bald Prima Donna
La Cantatrice Chauve (Cântăreața Cheală in Romanian) — translated from French as The Bald Soprano or The Bald Prima Donna — is the first play written by French-Romanian playwright Eugène Ionesco (1909-1994) [1].
Contents
The original text
Nicolas Bataille directed the premiere on 11 May 1950 at the Théâtre des Noctambules, Paris. Since 1957 it has been in permanent showing at the Théâtre de la Huchette.
Translations and adaptations
Translated into Afrikaans as Die Kaalkop Primadonna by Johan Joubert.
An adaptation into Afrikaans is entitled Ballerina Sonder Borste.
Performance history in South Africa
Die Kaalkop Primadonna directed by Joan Helen Roux in the H.B. Thom Theatre in September 19** for examination purposes.
1958: The Bald Prima Donna was presented by the University of Cape Town's University Dramatic Society in June, directed by A. Chiat and Percy Sieff.
1964: Die Kaalkop Prima Donna was presented as part of a double bill entitled 2+2=5 with Tweede Viool by KRUIK in 1964 under the direction of Jannie Gildenhuys, starring Limpie Basson (Mnr Smith), Wilma Stockenström (Mev Smith), Marie Pentz (Mary), Ernst Eloff (Mnr Martin), Cynthia Dekker (Mev Martin) and Pieter Bredenkamp (Kaptein van die Brandweer).
1981: Ballerina Sonder Borste was directed by Chris Pretorius at the Baxter Studio in January.
1987: Die Kaalkop Prima Donna was presented as part of a double bill with Ek is Herman at the UCT Arena Theatre by the University of Cape Town Drama Department under the direction of Shirley Ellis, opening 28 August 1987, with Michelle Scott, Dickie Geldenhuys, Deirdre Wolhuter, Nan Hamilton, James van Helsdingen and Nico de Beer. Stage managers Cheryl Braaf, Irit Knobel and Vanessa Levenstein, lighting design by Kevin Yates.
Sources
Wikipedia [2].
Supplement to The Argus, 2 December 1980. (re Baxter production 1981).
Theatre programme, 1987.
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