The Visit
The Visit (1956), a tragicomedy by Swiss dramatist Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Original German title: Der Besuch Der Alten Dame. A classic play about revenge, telling of a woman who returns to the village after the war to seek recompense?* . First performed **. The original 1956 play by Friedrich Dürrenmatt was adapted for American audiences by Maurice Valency. Its first Broadway theatre production, in 1958, was directed by Peter Brook and starred Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.
Performance history in South Africa
1983: Produced by Albert Thomas for the Peninsula Dramatic Society at the Labia Theatre from 11 to 16 February 1963.
1966: Presented by CAPAB, opening 13 October 1966 at the Hofmeyr Theatre directed by the New York director Stanley Waren [1] starring Babs Laker, Johann Nell, Phillip Boucher, visiting British actor Michael Mellinger, Alan Prior, Michael Newell, Eric Brundl, Yvonne Bryceland, Glynn Day, Norman Ettlinger, Pietro Nolte, Norman Coombes and others. Decor and costumes by Michael Clarke.
1994: The Visit (Magnet Theatre, 1994), ?????
Translations and adaptations
Translated into Afrikaans as Die Besoek van die Ou Dame by Bartho Smit and presented by Die Johannesburgse Afrikaanse Toneelkomitee at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre in 1962, with Anna Neethling-Pohl in the lead, directed by Fred Engelen.
Sources
Wikipedia [2].
Flyer for the Johannesburg Civic Theatre inaugural festival in 1962.
Material collected by Gladys and Albert Thomas held by NELM: [Collection: FLETCHER, Jill]: 2005. 75. 21. 9 and The Argus 13 February 1963. (Labia production).
Die Loodswaaiers programme, 1966.
The Visit theatre programme, 1966.
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