The Rivals

A comedy of manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816).

The original text

A first produced in 1775.

Performances in South Africa

First performed in South Africa by ** in 18**?.

1855: Performed by the Amateur Theatrical Society Port Elizabeth in the new Port Elizabeth Theatre in August, with The Fast Train (Anon.).

1944: Produced by the Johannesburg Repertory Society in 1944, featuring Jessie Bryant.

1967: Performed in the H.B. Thom Theatre, produced by Jocelyn de Bruyn en Ben Dehaeck, with the University Theatre of Stellenbosch in April 1967. Tine Balder as Mrs Malaprop, Mees Xteen as Acres, Piers Nicholson as Sir Lucius, Carina Fick as Lydia, John Cartwright as Jack, while Sir Anthony Absolute was played by Jocelyn de Bruyn. The rest of the cast included Leoné Schenk, Bettina Camerer, Crismont Greeff, Johan Esterhuizen and Esther Brandt. Decor and costumes by Elaine Aucamp, choreography by Gisela Taeger, lighting by Pieter de Swardt. Music arranged for the hapsichord and played by Boudewijn Scholten.

1969: Produced by PACOFS, opening on 29 January in the Civic Theatre, Bloemfontein. Directed by Roy Sargeant for PACOFS, with Joyce Bradley as Mrs Malaprop, Ralph Lawson as Captain Jack Absolute, Wilson Dunster as Bob Acres, Raymond Davies as Faulkland. Others in the cast were Maryann Johnston, Piers Nicholson, Hudson Earp, Tirzah Lowenstein, Carmen Haddad, Roy Sargeant, Ivor Levin, George Barnes, Johan Botha, Michael J. Lovegrove, Temple Hauptfleisch, Estelle Eilers. Set and costumes by Bill Smuts.

Sources

Trek, 8(24):18.

The Rivals theatre programme (UTS), 1967.

Teater SA, 1(3), 1969.

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988.

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928: pp. 509.

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