The Merry Widow

The Merry Widow (German: Die Lustige Witwe) [1] is a 1905 operetta by composer Franz Lehár (1870-1948) and librettists, Viktor Léon [2] and Leo Stein [3].

The original text

The story is based on an 1861 French comedy play, L'attaché d'ambassade ("The Embassy Attaché") by Henri Meilhac [4].

Performance history in South Africa

1959: Staged by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society

1973: Staged by CAPAB in the Nico Malan Opera House.

1978: Staged by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society

1983: Produced by PACT directed by Neels Hansen, and starring Roberta Palmer and Gé Korsten at the Pretoria State Theatre.

1990: Staged by CAPAB in the Nico Malan Opera House, directed by Angelo Gobbato, conducted by Leo Quayle and choreographed by Pamela Chrimes.

Decor designed by Peter Cazalet and lighting by John T. Baker.

Sources

CAPAB theatre programme, 1990.

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