Difference between revisions of "Murder in the Cathedral"
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June 22, 1947: Staged by the [[Rhodes Dramatic Society]] and directed by [[Leon Gluckman]], also in the lead role, with [[Ronnie Phillips]] (decor) in the Grahamstown Cathedral in 1947. It was first presented at [[Rhodes University College]]'s [[Great Hall]] for three days preceding the cathedral staging. The presentation was not without controversy, as a letters to Grahamstown's daily newspaper, Grocott'sMail, recorded: | June 22, 1947: Staged by the [[Rhodes Dramatic Society]] and directed by [[Leon Gluckman]], also in the lead role, with [[Ronnie Phillips]] (decor) in the Grahamstown Cathedral in 1947. It was first presented at [[Rhodes University College]]'s [[Great Hall]] for three days preceding the cathedral staging. The presentation was not without controversy, as a letters to Grahamstown's daily newspaper, Grocott'sMail, recorded: | ||
| − | "Staging a play in the House of God is sacrilege," complained one letter writer. Another writer said the play in the Cathedral should "be avoided by all who object to a Christian martyr's suffering being made a Sunday evening 'box office-draw'." A supporter of the play wrote, "Well-informed people should rejoice that the Cathedral of Grahamstown . . . would provide an appropriate setting and decor for one of the finest and most spiritual dramas of the present century." | + | "Staging a play in the House of God is sacrilege," complained one letter writer. Another writer said the play in the Cathedral should "be avoided by all who object to a Christian martyr's suffering being made a Sunday evening 'box-office-draw'." A supporter of the play wrote, "Well-informed people should rejoice that the Cathedral of Grahamstown . . . would provide an appropriate setting and decor for one of the finest and most spiritual dramas of the present century." |
The Dean of Grahamstown said he was convinced the majority was not opposed to it and pointed out that ''[[Murder in the Cathedral]]'' had been presented in Canterbury Cathedral (Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury), Salisbury Cathedral, England, and Johannesburg Cathedral | The Dean of Grahamstown said he was convinced the majority was not opposed to it and pointed out that ''[[Murder in the Cathedral]]'' had been presented in Canterbury Cathedral (Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury), Salisbury Cathedral, England, and Johannesburg Cathedral | ||
Revision as of 13:19, 5 July 2021
Murder in the Cathedral, (1935) a verse play by American born T.S. Eliot (1888-1965).
Contents
The original text
First performed in the Cathedral Chapter house at the Canterbury Festival, June 1935.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1939: Presented by the Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society at the Little Theatre in January, directed by Rose Ehrlich.
1943: Presented by the Natal University College Dramatic Society in 1943. With Fiennes Prestwich [1].
1945: Presented by Bishops and Herschel Schools, Cape Town, in Bishops Chapel, produced by Rose Ehrlich, 1945. With Andrew Porter, William van der Byl, Henry Newdigate,
June 22, 1947: Staged by the Rhodes Dramatic Society and directed by Leon Gluckman, also in the lead role, with Ronnie Phillips (decor) in the Grahamstown Cathedral in 1947. It was first presented at Rhodes University College's Great Hall for three days preceding the cathedral staging. The presentation was not without controversy, as a letters to Grahamstown's daily newspaper, Grocott'sMail, recorded:
"Staging a play in the House of God is sacrilege," complained one letter writer. Another writer said the play in the Cathedral should "be avoided by all who object to a Christian martyr's suffering being made a Sunday evening 'box-office-draw'." A supporter of the play wrote, "Well-informed people should rejoice that the Cathedral of Grahamstown . . . would provide an appropriate setting and decor for one of the finest and most spiritual dramas of the present century."
The Dean of Grahamstown said he was convinced the majority was not opposed to it and pointed out that Murder in the Cathedral had been presented in Canterbury Cathedral (Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury), Salisbury Cathedral, England, and Johannesburg Cathedral
The play was moved to the University of the Witwatersrand when it's run was over.
1965: Presented by the University of Cape Town's Speech and Drama Department at the Little Theatre in June, directed by Rosalie van der Gucht.
1984: Presented by Omnitheatre, directed by Ray Tumner, with John Hussey on the National Arts Festival Fringe, 1984.
1992: Presented by the African Christian Theatre Service (ACTS) by arrangement with the Baxter Theatre , in the St George's Cathedral, Cape Town, on 29 February 1992. Direction and design by Peter Krummeck, lighting by Pip Marshall. The cast: Brenda Wood, Zoë Randall, Vanessa Reynolds, Tessa Edlmann, Land Middelkoop, Matthew Roberts, Buyani Zwane, Arnold Pegram, Pomolo Monethi, Gavin Lister, John Carson, Gordon van Rooyen, Brian Notcutt, Paul Peteren, André Jacobs.
Sources
Trek, 8(13):18, 1943; 9(22):18, 1945.
Saturday Post, June 7, 1947.
Helikon, 2(11), 1953.
Inskip, 1972. pp.124, 151.
National Arts Festival programme, 1984.
Theatre programme, 1992.
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