Rattle of a Simple Man

Rattle of a Simple Man is a comedy written by British playwright Charles Dyer [1]. A bet to spend the night with a prostitute shows how loneliness can drive people to opposite extremes. Set in the character Cyrenne's basement flat somewhere in London.

The original text

First produced in Nottingham, 1962, although there is proof that the play was presented in South Africa in 1961.

First published by Samuel French, 1963.

Translations and adaptations

Adapted for the screen by the author. The screen version was directed by Muriel Box in 1964 [2].

Performance history in South Africa

1961: A British production, brought to South Africa by Taubie Kushlick, with Edward Woodward, Pauline Stroud and Kerry Jordan. Directed by Valda Blumberg. Set designed by Nina Campbell-Quine. The play was performed at The Playhouse Theatre, Johannesburg.

1976: Presented by the Durban Theatre Workshop Company at the City Centre Theatre, directed by John Rogers, June 1976.

1981: Presented by Colin Law in Durban, directed by David Crichton, from 23 March 1981.

19**: Staged by Leonard Schach and David Bloomberg, directed by Robert Aden, with Erica Rogers (Cyrenne), Cobus Rossouw (Percy) and Glynn Day (Ricky).

Sources

Programme notes of 1961 production.

Tucker, 1997. 159.

AfricaWide database (e.g. a photograph of Edward Woodward in Rattle of a Simple Man at the Playhouse Theatre [8.12.1961], held by NELM).

Schach & Bloomberg theatre programme (undated).

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