Difference between revisions of "Becket ou l'Honneur de Dieu"

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''[[Becket ou l'Honneur de Dieu]]'' ("Becket, or The Honour of God") is a French play by [[Jean Anouilh]] (1910-1987)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Anouilh].  
 
''[[Becket ou l'Honneur de Dieu]]'' ("Becket, or The Honour of God") is a French play by [[Jean Anouilh]] (1910-1987)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Anouilh].  
  
''It is often simply referred to as '''''[[Becket]]''''', but should not to be confused with Alfred Lord Tennyson's play by that name.''
+
''It is often simply referred to as '''''[[Becket]]''''', but should not to be confused with Alfred Lord Tennyson's cabinet drama by that name.''
  
  
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==Translations and adaptations==
 
==Translations and adaptations==
  
Translated into English by Lucienne Hill as ''[[Becket, or The Honour of God]]'',  performed in London 1961, published in New York by New American Library in 1960. A new English translation by Frederic Raphael and Stephen Raphael was done in London in October 1991.
+
Translated into English by Lucienne Hill as ''[[Becket, or The Honour of God]]'',  performed in London 1961, published in New York by New American Library in 1960.  
  
Translated into [[Afrikaans]] from the original French by [[Bartho Smit]] as ''[[Becket of Die Eer van God]]'', and published in the collection ''[[Bartho Smit-vertalings]]'' No 4 by [[HAUM|HAUM-Literêr]], 1984.
+
Translated into [[Afrikaans]] from the original French by [[Bartho Smit]] as ''[[Becket of Die Eer van God]]'', and published in the collection ''[[Bartho Smit-vertalings]]'' No 4 by [[HAUM|HAUM-Literêr]], 1984 (along with ''[[Die Burgemeester]]'' and ''[[Montserrat]]'')
 +
 
 +
A new English translation by Frederic Raphael and Stephen Raphael was done in London in October 1991.
 +
 
 +
The play was filmed in 1964 by Peter Glenville with Richard Burton as the Archbishop and Peter O'Toole as King Henry II.
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
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1963: Performed in English as ''[[Becket]]'', it was the first play produced by the newly established [[CAPAB]] in the [[Hofmeyr Theatre]], Cape Town, opening on 6 November 1963. Directed by [[Laurie van der Merwe]], with [[Pietro Nolte]] in the title role and [[Alec Bell]] as Henry II. Others in the large cast were [[Frank Wise]], [[Michael Drin]], [[Harold Lake]], [[Robert del Kyrke]], [[Alan Prior]], [[Gordon Rennie]] and [[Fitz Morley]]. Among the women were [[Joyce Bradley]], [[Val Donald]] and [[Susan Blake]]. Sets and costumes were by [[Eleanor Esmonde-White]]. Incidental music composed by [[Arnold van Wyk]] and recorded by the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra under his conductorship.
 
1963: Performed in English as ''[[Becket]]'', it was the first play produced by the newly established [[CAPAB]] in the [[Hofmeyr Theatre]], Cape Town, opening on 6 November 1963. Directed by [[Laurie van der Merwe]], with [[Pietro Nolte]] in the title role and [[Alec Bell]] as Henry II. Others in the large cast were [[Frank Wise]], [[Michael Drin]], [[Harold Lake]], [[Robert del Kyrke]], [[Alan Prior]], [[Gordon Rennie]] and [[Fitz Morley]]. Among the women were [[Joyce Bradley]], [[Val Donald]] and [[Susan Blake]]. Sets and costumes were by [[Eleanor Esmonde-White]]. Incidental music composed by [[Arnold van Wyk]] and recorded by the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra under his conductorship.
  
1970/71: Performed in a workshop version by [[PACOFS]] in the [[Presidency Theatre]],  Directed by [[Jannie Gildenhuys]] using only six actors to portray the thirty five characters. The cast consisted of [[William Egan]], [[Errol Ross]],  
+
1970/71: Performed in a workshop version by [[PACOFS]] in the [[Presidency Theatre]],  Directed by [[Jannie Gildenhuys]] using only six actors to portray the thirty-five characters. The cast consisted of [[William Egan]], [[Errol Ross]],  
  
 
1974: Produced by [[David Schalkwyk]] for the [[USAT|University of Stellenbosch Amateur Theatre]] at the [[Libertas Theatre]] from 1 to 4 May, starring [[Marthinus Basson]] as Henry II and [[Steffen Zoutendijk]] as Thomas Becket.
 
1974: Produced by [[David Schalkwyk]] for the [[USAT|University of Stellenbosch Amateur Theatre]] at the [[Libertas Theatre]] from 1 to 4 May, starring [[Marthinus Basson]] as Henry II and [[Steffen Zoutendijk]] as Thomas Becket.
  
198*: [[Bartho Smit]]'s [[Afrikaans]] version was performed by [[PACT]] in the [[State Theatre]], featuring [[Marius Weyers]] and [[Frans Marx]].
+
1979: [[Bartho Smit]]'s [[Afrikaans]] version was performed by [[PACT]] in the [[State Theatre]], directed by [[Francois Swart]]/[[Louis van Niekerk]](?) with [[Marius Weyers]], [[Frans Marx]], [[Errol Ross]], [[Wilna Snyman]], [[Chris Potgieter]], [[Don Lamprecht]], [[Ben Kruger]], [[Dawid van der Merwe]], [[Amor Tredoux]], [[Gerben Kamper]], [[Elise Hibbert]], [[Rika Sennet]], [[Etienne Puren]], [[Pierre van Pletzen]], [[George Ballot]], [[Eric Nobbs]], [[Johan Blignaut]], [[Mieder Olivier]], [[Jacques Malan]], [[Rudi van Loggerenberg]], [[Jean Louis Joubert]], [[Sean Glenn]] and [[Stevie Delport]].
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becket
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becket
 +
 +
http://ericnobbs.com/theater/becket/
  
 
''Becket'' theatre programme, CAPAB 1963.
 
''Becket'' theatre programme, CAPAB 1963.
  
 
[[Wilhelm Grütter| Grütter, Wilhelm]], [[CAPAB]] 25 Years, 1987. Unpublished research.
 
[[Wilhelm Grütter| Grütter, Wilhelm]], [[CAPAB]] 25 Years, 1987. Unpublished research.
 +
 +
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 B|B]] in Plays 2 Foreign Plays
+
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_Theatre/Plays]]
+
Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
  
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 09:21, 20 January 2023

Becket ou l'Honneur de Dieu ("Becket, or The Honour of God") is a French play by Jean Anouilh (1910-1987)[1].

It is often simply referred to as Becket, but should not to be confused with Alfred Lord Tennyson's cabinet drama by that name.


The original text

The play was first performed at the Théâtre Montparnasse Gaston Baty in Paris on 8 October 1959 and on Broadway in 1960. Published in Paris by Table Ronde in 1959.

It is part of what is referred to as his Pièces Costumées along with L'Alouette (1952) and La Foire d'empoigne (1962).

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English by Lucienne Hill as Becket, or The Honour of God, performed in London 1961, published in New York by New American Library in 1960.

Translated into Afrikaans from the original French by Bartho Smit as Becket of Die Eer van God, and published in the collection Bartho Smit-vertalings No 4 by HAUM-Literêr, 1984 (along with Die Burgemeester and Montserrat)

A new English translation by Frederic Raphael and Stephen Raphael was done in London in October 1991.

The play was filmed in 1964 by Peter Glenville with Richard Burton as the Archbishop and Peter O'Toole as King Henry II.

Performance history in South Africa

1963: Performed in English as Becket, it was the first play produced by the newly established CAPAB in the Hofmeyr Theatre, Cape Town, opening on 6 November 1963. Directed by Laurie van der Merwe, with Pietro Nolte in the title role and Alec Bell as Henry II. Others in the large cast were Frank Wise, Michael Drin, Harold Lake, Robert del Kyrke, Alan Prior, Gordon Rennie and Fitz Morley. Among the women were Joyce Bradley, Val Donald and Susan Blake. Sets and costumes were by Eleanor Esmonde-White. Incidental music composed by Arnold van Wyk and recorded by the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra under his conductorship.

1970/71: Performed in a workshop version by PACOFS in the Presidency Theatre, Directed by Jannie Gildenhuys using only six actors to portray the thirty-five characters. The cast consisted of William Egan, Errol Ross,

1974: Produced by David Schalkwyk for the University of Stellenbosch Amateur Theatre at the Libertas Theatre from 1 to 4 May, starring Marthinus Basson as Henry II and Steffen Zoutendijk as Thomas Becket.

1979: Bartho Smit's Afrikaans version was performed by PACT in the State Theatre, directed by Francois Swart/Louis van Niekerk(?) with Marius Weyers, Frans Marx, Errol Ross, Wilna Snyman, Chris Potgieter, Don Lamprecht, Ben Kruger, Dawid van der Merwe, Amor Tredoux, Gerben Kamper, Elise Hibbert, Rika Sennet, Etienne Puren, Pierre van Pletzen, George Ballot, Eric Nobbs, Johan Blignaut, Mieder Olivier, Jacques Malan, Rudi van Loggerenberg, Jean Louis Joubert, Sean Glenn and Stevie Delport.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Anouilh

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becket

http://ericnobbs.com/theater/becket/

Becket theatre programme, CAPAB 1963.

Grütter, Wilhelm, CAPAB 25 Years, 1987. Unpublished research.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

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 The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page