Liolà

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Liolà is a Sicilian comedy by Luigi Pirandello (1867–1936)[1]

The original text

Set in 19th century Sicily, it tells of the life of Liolà, a middle-aged free spirit, father of three boys, each by a different mother, who wanders from town to town, seeking to engage with nature.

It was Pirandello's first play and premiered on November 4, 1916, in the Teatro Argentina, Rome.

Translations and adaptations

This was probably the play that was translated into English as The Idler by Con de Villiers in the mid 1920s and performed with his students at the University of Stellenbosch, featuring, inter alia, Hélène Botha.

Performance history in South Africa

1925/6?: A play called The Idler, ascribed to Pirandello, performed by a student company at the University of Stellenbosch, directed by Con de Villiers in the mid 1920s featuring, inter alia, Hélène Botha. This was most probably an English version of Liolà .

Sources

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liol%C3%A0

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