Two Old Men
Two Old Men can refer to a Два старика (1885), a Russian short story by Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)[1], or to a number of stage , radio and other adaptations of the tale. Below are some versions performed in South Africa.
Contents
The original Russian short story
Written and first published in 1885, it tells the story of Efim and Elisha, two neighbors who decide to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem before dying.
The story was translated to English by Leo Wiener in 1904 and by Louise and Aylmer Maude in 1906[2]. Widely anthologised over the years.
Dramatised adaptations and translations of the tale
The story was freely adapted as a radio play by Gilbert Phelps (1915-1993)[3]and presented by him in The Way of Life on the BBC Home Service Basic, produced by Victor Menzies and broadcast on 3 May, 1959.
The Phelps play was translated into Afrikaans as Twee Ou Manne by Marie van der Merwe in 1962 and was recorded on `14 March, directed by Monica Breedt.
Performance history in South Africa
1962: Twee Ou Manne by Marie van der Merwe broadcast on the programme Radioteater on the Afrikaans Service of the SABC on 20 April.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Old_Men_(story)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Tolstoy
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Twenty-three_Tales/Two_Old_Men
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Phelps
Copy for typed SABC script by Marie van der Merwe, found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022. Now held in the ESAT repository held at the Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation, with offices at Pieter Okkers House, 7 Joubert Street, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to South_African_Films
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays
Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
Return to South African Festivals and Competitions
Return to South African Radio Plays and Serials
Return to South African Television Plays and Series
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
