Difference between revisions of "Les Bonnes"

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''Les Bonnes'' (''The Maids'') is a play by the French dramatist Jean Genet (1910-1986). It was first performed at the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris in a production that opened on 17 April 1947, which Louis Jouvet directed. A film adaptation of the play was released in 1974. Genet loosely based his play on the infamous Papin sisters, Lea and Christine, who brutally murdered their employer and her daughter in Le Mans, France, in 1933.
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'''''Les Bonnes''''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maids] (''The Maids'') is a 1947 play by the French dramatist [[Jean Genet]] (1910-1986) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Genet].  
  
In 197* The [[Market Theatre]] did a version directed by [[Barney Simon]] with [[Barbara Itzler]], [[Carolyn Sacks]] and [[Molly Seftel]] and with design by [[Richard Cook]] and [[Ingrid Jansen]]. (This also played at [[Space Theatre|The Space]] (Cape Town).)  In 197* [[Maralin Vanrenen]] made her directing debut with another  production at [[Space Theatre|The Space]] , done as it was written, with an all-male cast consisting of [[Bill Curry]], [[Vincent Ebrahim]], and [[Pieter-Dirk Uys]]. It only played for Club audiences. Originally to be played in drag, but finally did without props or costumes. As a result of interest in the first drag version, the final Sunday saw the original production followed by an audience participated discussion about the differences between the two plays.
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== The original text ==
  
[**??An Afrikaans version, translated by ** as **, was done at [[Think Theatre]] (Pretoria) in 198*, directed by [[Danie Burger]]. ?**] Translated into Afrikaans as ''[[Diensmeisies]]'' by [[Wim Vorster]]. In 2008 this translation was performed at [[KKNK]] and other festivals.
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It was first performed at the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris in a production that opened on 17 April 1947, which Louis Jouvet directed. A film adaptation of the play was released in 1974. Genet loosely based his play on the infamous Papin sisters, Lea and Christine, who brutally murdered their employer and her daughter in Le Mans, France, in 1933.
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==Translations and adaptations==
 +
 
 +
Translated into English in 1963 as ''[[The Maids]]'' by Bernard Frechtman.
 +
 
 +
Although the roles were written for female actors, all-male productions have successfully been staged, for example the production by [[Maralin Vanrenen]] in Cape Town in 1974 and another production in Moscow in 1992.
 +
 
 +
Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Diensmeisies]]'' by [[Wim Vorster]].
 +
 
 +
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 +
1964: [[Phoenix Players]] production, directed by [[Barney Simon]], with [[Molly Seftel]], [[Barbara Itzler]] and [[Maya Obel]] in the cast.
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 +
1964: Presented by the [[University of Cape Town]]'s Speech and Drama Department at the [[Little Theatre]] in August, directed by [[Robert Mohr]] in a double bill with ''[[Barnstable]]''.
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 +
1970: In July the [[Libertas Theatre Club]] presented ''The Maids'' in the [[Libertas Theatre]] in Stellenbosch, directed by [[Annelize van der Ryst]], with [[Marianne Roux]] (Claire), [[Sharon Montgomery]] (Solange) and [[Marie van Heerden]] (Madame).
 +
 
 +
1972: [[PACT]] Drama staged ''The Maids'' in the [[Arena]] at the [[State Theatre]], directed by [[Barney Simon]], with [[Barbara Itzler]] (Claire), [[Molly Seftel]] (Solange) and  [[Carolyn Sacks]] (credited as "Carolyne Sacks") (Madame). Designed by [[Richard Cook]] and [[Ingrid Jansen]]. This production also played at the [[Space Theatre|The Space]] in Cape Town.
 +
 
 +
1974: [[Maralin Vanrenen]] made her directing debut at the [[Space Theatre|The Space]] with the English translation, staged with an all-male cast consisting of [[Bill Curry]], [[Vincent Ebrahim]], and [[Pieter-Dirk Uys]]. It only played for Club audiences. Originally to be played in drag, but finally done without props or costumes. As a result of interest in the first drag version, the final Sunday saw the original production followed by an audience participated discussion about the differences between the two plays.
 +
 
 +
1987: Staged in the [[Windybrow Theatre]] by [[PACT]] Drama, directed by [[Bobby Heaney]], with [[Aletta Bezuidenhout]] (Solange), [[Clare Stopford]] (Claire) and [[Wilna Snyman]] (Madame).
 +
 
 +
1987: Directed by [[Embeth Davidtz]] as an Honours class production in August, [[Rhodes University Drama Department]].
 +
 
 +
1988: Presented by [[UCT]] Drama at the UCT Arena, 16-26 November, designed and directed by [[Geoffrey Hyland]], starring [[Damon Galgut]] (Claire), [[Barry Berk]] (Solange) and [[John Caviggia]] (Madame).
 +
 
 +
198* [**?? An [[Afrikaans]] version, translated by ** as **, was done at [[Think Theatre]] (Pretoria) in 198*, directed by [[Danie Burger]]. ?**]
 +
 
 +
1991: The [[Afrikaans]] translation by [[Wim Vorster]], ''Die Diensmeisies'' was presented by [[PACOFS]] at the [[National Arts Festival]] (opening 30 June) and at the [[André Huguenet Theatre]], Bloemfontein (opening 9 July), under the direction of [[Wim Vorster|Vorster]] with an all-male cast, viz. [[Hendrik Baird]], [[Christo Compion]] and [[Ernst Eloff]]. Decor design by [[Johnny Boerstoel]].
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1993: Staged at [[Upstairs at the Market]], 3 June - 10 July, starring [[Matthew Krouse]], [[Robert Whitehead]] and [[Robert Colman]]. Lighting designer [[Melanie Keartland]].
 +
 
 +
2008: The [[Afrikaans]] translation was performed at [[KKNK]] and other festivals.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maids
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''Wikipedia'' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maids].
 +
 
 +
Photographs held by [[NELM]] ([[Phoenix Players]], 1964 production).
 +
 
 +
Theatre programme held by [[NELM]] (Phoenix Players): [Collection: SIMON, Barney]: 1995. 11. 19. 144.
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 +
[[PACT]] Drama theatre programme, 1972.
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[[ESAT Bibliography Ar-Az|Astbury]] 1979.
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[[PACT]] Drama theatre programme, 1987.
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''[[PACOFS]] News'', 17(3), 1991.
 +
 
 +
[[Petru Wessels|Petru]] & [[Carel Trichardt]] theatre programme collection.
 +
 
 +
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
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== Return to ==
  
 +
Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
  
 +
Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
  
 +
Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 B|B]] in Plays 1 Original SA Plays
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Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 2 B|B]] in Plays 2 Foreign Plays
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Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
  
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Revision as of 17:43, 8 February 2019

Les Bonnes [1] (The Maids) is a 1947 play by the French dramatist Jean Genet (1910-1986) [2].

The original text

It was first performed at the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris in a production that opened on 17 April 1947, which Louis Jouvet directed. A film adaptation of the play was released in 1974. Genet loosely based his play on the infamous Papin sisters, Lea and Christine, who brutally murdered their employer and her daughter in Le Mans, France, in 1933.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English in 1963 as The Maids by Bernard Frechtman.

Although the roles were written for female actors, all-male productions have successfully been staged, for example the production by Maralin Vanrenen in Cape Town in 1974 and another production in Moscow in 1992.

Translated into Afrikaans as Diensmeisies by Wim Vorster.

Performance history in South Africa

1964: Phoenix Players production, directed by Barney Simon, with Molly Seftel, Barbara Itzler and Maya Obel in the cast.

1964: Presented by the University of Cape Town's Speech and Drama Department at the Little Theatre in August, directed by Robert Mohr in a double bill with Barnstable.

1970: In July the Libertas Theatre Club presented The Maids in the Libertas Theatre in Stellenbosch, directed by Annelize van der Ryst, with Marianne Roux (Claire), Sharon Montgomery (Solange) and Marie van Heerden (Madame).

1972: PACT Drama staged The Maids in the Arena at the State Theatre, directed by Barney Simon, with Barbara Itzler (Claire), Molly Seftel (Solange) and Carolyn Sacks (credited as "Carolyne Sacks") (Madame). Designed by Richard Cook and Ingrid Jansen. This production also played at the The Space in Cape Town.

1974: Maralin Vanrenen made her directing debut at the The Space with the English translation, staged with an all-male cast consisting of Bill Curry, Vincent Ebrahim, and Pieter-Dirk Uys. It only played for Club audiences. Originally to be played in drag, but finally done without props or costumes. As a result of interest in the first drag version, the final Sunday saw the original production followed by an audience participated discussion about the differences between the two plays.

1987: Staged in the Windybrow Theatre by PACT Drama, directed by Bobby Heaney, with Aletta Bezuidenhout (Solange), Clare Stopford (Claire) and Wilna Snyman (Madame).

1987: Directed by Embeth Davidtz as an Honours class production in August, Rhodes University Drama Department.

1988: Presented by UCT Drama at the UCT Arena, 16-26 November, designed and directed by Geoffrey Hyland, starring Damon Galgut (Claire), Barry Berk (Solange) and John Caviggia (Madame).

198* [**?? An Afrikaans version, translated by ** as **, was done at Think Theatre (Pretoria) in 198*, directed by Danie Burger. ?**]

1991: The Afrikaans translation by Wim Vorster, Die Diensmeisies was presented by PACOFS at the National Arts Festival (opening 30 June) and at the André Huguenet Theatre, Bloemfontein (opening 9 July), under the direction of Vorster with an all-male cast, viz. Hendrik Baird, Christo Compion and Ernst Eloff. Decor design by Johnny Boerstoel.

1993: Staged at Upstairs at the Market, 3 June - 10 July, starring Matthew Krouse, Robert Whitehead and Robert Colman. Lighting designer Melanie Keartland.

2008: The Afrikaans translation was performed at KKNK and other festivals.

Sources

Wikipedia [3].

Photographs held by NELM (Phoenix Players, 1964 production).

Theatre programme held by NELM (Phoenix Players): [Collection: SIMON, Barney]: 1995. 11. 19. 144.

PACT Drama theatre programme, 1972.

Astbury 1979.

PACT Drama theatre programme, 1987.

PACOFS News, 17(3), 1991.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

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