The name "Gigi" can refer (1) to a person or (2) to a play or character in a play

South African people named "Gigi"

In South Africa there are three theatre-related people called Gigi or GiGi:

Gigi is a fond nickname given to the singer, performer and academic Gregorio Fiasconaro by his students and colleagues.

(See Gregorio Fiasconaro)

GiGi Fourie or simply Gigi, is the widely known nickname of actor, producer and theatre manager Johan J. Fourie.

(See Johan J. Fourie)

Gigi (or GiGi) is also the stage name of the South African actress and exotic dancer Perlé van Schalkwyk.

(See Perlé van Schalkwyk)

Name of a play or character in a play

Gigi is the name used for a 1949 French film, a popular 1951 Broadway play and the subsequent Hollywood musical film (1958), all based on Gigi, the 1944 novella by French writer Colette (1873-1954)[1].

The original text

The novella tells the story of a young Parisian girl and her relationship with a wealthy and cultured patron who falls in love with her and eventually marries her. Published French in 1944, and in English in 1953.

It was made into a 1949 French comedy film directed by Jacqueline Audry, with Gaby Morlay, Jean Tissier and Yvonne de Bray[2].

In 1951 an English musical stage play was written by American screenwriter, playwright and author Anita Loos (1889-1981)[3]. The play was first performed It opened at the Fulton Theatre on Broadway, produced by Gilbert Miller, directed by Raymond Rouleau, with music selected by Alexander Haas. It starred Audrey Hepburn and Michael Evans.

In 1958 the stage version was turned into a Hollywood musical, starring Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan and Maurice Chevalier, with a screenplay by Alan Jay Lerner and a score by Lerner and Frederick Loewe. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

It was subsequently often performed in an adapted musical version, using the Lerner and Loewe music[4].

Performance history in South Africa

1953: First staged on 4 November 1953 by the Johannesburg Reps, using the Loos text, to celebrate their twenty-fifth anniversary. The production starred Tessa Laubscher in the title role, with Doreen Mantle, Olive King, Melville Oxley and Shirley Wakefield also in the cast. The latter also produced.

1966: Staged in the Lerner and Loewe version by CAPAB, opening 14 December in the Hofmeyr Theatre, directed by visiting American director Stanley Waren [5], with Charlene Faktor (Gigi), Joyce Bradley (Mme. Alvarez), Paddy Canavan (Andree), Norman Coombes (Gaston Lachaille), Michael Mellinger (Victor), Yvonne Bryceland (Alicia) and Gillian Garlick (Sidonie). Set and costumes by Michael Clarke. Choreographed by Florence Waren (?*).

1967: Staged in the Lerner and Loewe version by JODS in the Zion Hall in Johannesburg, directed by Taubie Kushlick, with Mary-Ann (Gigi), Joyce Bradley (Mme. Alvarez), Mary Harrison (Andree), Ivan Berold (Gaston Lachaille), George Jackson (Victor), Sybil Barnett (Alicia) and Sylvia Goldberg (Sidonie). Decor by Nina Campbell-Quine and costumes by Edele Chaskalson.

1982: The Lerner and Loewe version was staged by CAPAB in the Nico Malan Theatre in Cape Town, directed by David Matheson, with Michael McGovern (Honore Lachailles), Marilyn Bennett (Gigi), Craig Gardner (Gaston Lachailles), Debbie Newman (Liane d'Exelmans), Désirée Talbot (Mamita), Martine Saffery (Gigi's mother), Diana Allen (Aunt Alicia), John Dennison (Charles), David van der Merwe (Manuel), David Hughes (Receptionist), Stuart Fifield (Waiter), Terry Greyvenstein (Madame Laverne) and others. Musical direction by Christopher Dowdeswell and choreography by Audrey Turner.

1984: Performed by PACOFS in the Lerner and Loewe version and taken on tour of the Free State towns(1 - 14 August). Directed by David Matheson with Cinda Eatok, Willem Vermaas, David Matheson, Marna Gey van Pittius, Barbara Veenemans. Musical direction by Edith Isaacman, décor by Deon van Dorp and costumes by James Parker.

1992: The Lerner and Loewe version was performed in the State Theatre Opera by PACT, directed by François Swart with musical direction was by Graham Scott, set and costume design by Andrew Botha, lighting by Stan Knight and choregraphy by Sandy Dyer. As the show was done twice daily on a number of occasions, two complete casts were used for the run, the first being Julie Hartley (Gigi), Philip Godawa (Gaston), John Hussey (Honore), Sandra Duncan (Aunt Alicia), Shelagh Holliday (Mamita) and a corps de ballet led by Sandy Dyer. The second cast consisted of Natasha Sutherland (Gigi), Mike Huff (Gaston), Godfrey Charles (Honore), Val Donald-Bell (Aunt Alicia), Christine le Brocq (Mamita).