Mr Paljas
Mr Paljas is a musical by Harry Bloom with lyrics by Beryl Bloom and music by Stanley Glasser.
According to Chris Albertyn's post on the blogspot ElectricJive[1], the piece tells the "musical story of dwindling fish stocks, lonely wives, and ‘bergies’ (tramps) being appointed to run the Village Management Board. The tramps start levying outrageous taxes on the villagers so they can build a ‘lighthouse in the sky’".[2]
1962: The musical had its first stage performance under the auspices of Union Artists, opening at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town on 12 January with an "all-coloured" cast of 30, directed by Fred Engelen. Among the cast members were Danny Joseph ("Mr Paljas"), Maud Damons, Thandie Klaasen, Gerry Arendse and Colenso Mama.[3]
In the same year, the sound track was recorded by Gallotone (GALP 1207) on Vinyl as an LP album at Manley van Niekerk Studios, Cape Town and printed by Record Pac. Directed by Stanley Glasser and designby David Marais, with an orchestra that included musicians Dudu Pukwana, Nick Peterson, Cornelius Kumalo, Joe Mal, Columbus Joya, Chris McGregor, Blyth Mbityana and Dennis Mpali.
https://www.discogs.com/release/7868638-Various-Mr-Paljas
http://electricjive.blogspot.com/2009/10/blue-notes-1962-go-musical-mr-paljas.html
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