J.B.

J.B. [1] is a 1958 play written in free verse by American playwright and poet Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982) [2].

The original text

J.B. is a modern retelling of the story of the biblical figure Job — hence the title: J.B./Job. The play went through several incarnations before it was finally published. MacLeish began the work in 1953 as a one-act production but within three years had expanded it to a full three-act manuscript. There are two versions of J.B. available: the original book, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 1958, and the script which MacLeish revised substantially for Broadway, published by Samuel French Inc.

Performances in South Africa

1964/5?: Performed in the Little Theatre, starring ** and William Currie.

Curry received the Three Leaf Arts Award for best supporting actor for his role as "Nickles".

Sources

Teater SA, 1(3), 1969).

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