Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday is a play by Marc Camoletti (1923-2003)[1],

The original text

Originally written in French, the play tells of Bernard, who has foolishly asked his mistress, Brigit, to his home on her birthday despite the fact that his wife Jacqueline is present. He has also invited his oldest friend, Robert and asks him to pretend Brigit is his mistress. Robert refuses as he is having an affair with Jacqueline.

First performed as Happy Birthday in French at the Théâtre Michel in Paris, on 2 September, 1976.

Translations and adaptations

Translated and adapted into English as Happy Birthday by Beverley Cross. First performed at Theatre Royal, Brighton in 1979 and published by Samuel French in 1980.

Another adaptation, one by Robin Hawdon, is entitled Don't Dress for Dinner, also premiered at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, in 1991.[2]

Translated into Afrikaans as Kat in die Donker ("Cat in the dark") by Pieter-Paul Fourie.

Performance history in South Africa

1980: Kat in die Donker directed for PACOFS in 1980 by Sandra Kotzé, starring Kotzé and Nico Liebenberg.

1980: Happy Birthday was presented by Pieter Toerien and Shirley Firth at the Baxter Theatre, directed by Joan Kemp-Welch, 1980 starring, among others, Clive Scott.

1980: Kat in die Donker presented by KRUIK Toneel, directed by Johan Esterhuizen touring the Cape Province in August and September 1980. The cast: Selma van der Vyver (Jacqueline), Eben Cruywagen (Bernard), Schalk Schoombie (Robert), Bobby Smith (Bibi I), Michele Burgers (Bibi II). Stage manager Bee Berman. Decor by Penny Simpson, costumes Vivien Young, lighting Brian Kennedy.

1981: Kat in die Donker directed for SWAPAC by George Ballot, starring Margaret Fölscher, Dawid Minnaar, Dirk Vermeulen, Terry Greyvenstein and Roelien Spruÿt. Set design by George Ballot and Hans Reinhardt, costumes by Roelien Spruÿt, lighting by Hans Reinhardt,

Sources

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3250228-happy-birthday

http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/969/happy-birthday-camoletti-cross-adapt.

Programme (Baxter production) held by NELM: [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 16. 22.

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988

Kat in die Donker theatre programme (KRUIK), 1980.

Copies of the Programme, and various other articles and reviews on the 1981 Windhoek production of Kat in die Donker. (Contained in the George Ballot scrapbooks, donated to the PARC research collection at the Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation, Stellenbosch, by Prof Muller Ballot[3].)

Return to

Return to H in Plays II Foreign Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page