Along Came a Spider

There are records of two plays by this name in South Africa. (1) A thriller by Geraldine Aron (1978) and (2) a playtext by Mary Hick (1999).

A thriller by Geraldine Aron (1978)

The original text

A play about an avenging Irish girl, the daughter of a domestic servant who had died during her terms of employment.

Translations and adaptations

In 1985 the text was shortened and adapted to South African circumstances by the author herself, and renamed simply Spider. This version was produced in 1985 by the Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society in Somerset West, Cape. This version was published in 1985. (See Spider)

Performance history in South Africa

1978: Presented by CAPAB Drama in 1978 directed by Roger Dwyer starring Merle Lifson (Annabel), Johan Esterhuizen (Basil), Simon Swindell (Archie), Clare Stopford (Norah). Set design Martin Crous. Stage manager Skip Wright. The play opened in Hermanus on 23 November 1978 and toured to various Eastern Cape venues until it was staged in Port Elizabeth 7-9 Decxember 1978 and at the Little Theatre Cape town 12-23 December 1978.

1979: Presented by the Durban Theatre Workshop Company, directed by Malcolm Woolfson in November 1979.

1980: Directed by Sandra Kotzé for PACOFS, opening 10 May 1980 at the Observatory Theatre, Bloemfontein and on 7 June 1980 at the Kimberley Theatre with Antoinette Kellermann (Norah), Mitzi Booysen {Annabel), George Barnes (Arche), and Anton Welman (Basil). Decor by Cyril Londt, costumes by Sandra Kotzé, stage manager and lighting and sound Jacques Mulder.

The plays was also filmed (directed by Ralph Mogridge) and, after having been banned for a while, finally broadcast by SABC TV

Sources

Along Came a Spider theatre programmes 1978, 1980.

A playtext by Mary Hick (1999)

A play text by this name was entered for the National Playwriting Competition. Playscript held by NELM[Collection: NATIONAL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION]: 1999. 38. 29

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