Difference between revisions of "She Stoops to Conquer"
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== Performance history in South Africa == | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| − | 1807: First performed in South Africa at the [[Garrison Theatre]] in Cape Town on the 20th of June, accompanied by what was ostensibly a one-act version of Foote's farce ''[[Taste]]''. The company included [[Captain Frazer]], [[Mr Morgan]] and [[Captain Collins]] and the production was managed by [[Mr Morgan]], who also read a [[prologue]] written for the occasion by [[Captain Frazer]], who in turn sang a song he had written (in character as Lady "Pentweazle" in ''[[Taste]]'' ), while [[Captain Collins]] read an epilogue he had written. According to [[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1928: p. 70)[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/] these pieces are the oldest extant ''remnants'' of local theatrical writing (though not, he emphasizes, the earliest piece of written text or performance text, since there are records of earlier [[indigenous performance]]s, prologues and even texts - e.g. [[Mrs Somers]]'s prologue to a performance of Foote's ''[[Taste]]'' in 1800). | + | 1807: First performed in South Africa at the [[Garrison Theatre]] in Cape Town on the 20th of June, accompanied by what was ostensibly a one-act version of Foote's farce ''[[Taste]]''. The company included [[Captain Frazer]], [[Mr Morgan]] and [[Captain Collins]] and the production was managed by [[Mr Morgan]], who also read a [[prologue]] written for the occasion by [[Captain Frazer]], who in turn sang a song he had written (in character as Lady "Pentweazle" in ''[[Taste]]'' ), while [[Captain Collins]] read an epilogue he had written. According to [[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1928: p. 70)[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/] these pieces are the oldest extant ''remnants'' of local theatrical writing (though not, he emphasizes, the earliest piece of written text or performance text, since there are records of earlier [[indigenous]] [[performance]]s, prologues and even texts - e.g. [[Mrs Somers]]'s prologue to a performance of Foote's ''[[Taste]]'' in 1800). |
1818: Done in 1818 by the [[Gentlemen Amateurs]] with the help of [[Mr Cooke]] and his company of ladies, in the [[African Theatre]], Cape Town on 16 May (with ''[[The Poor Soldier]]'' by O'Keeffe) | 1818: Done in 1818 by the [[Gentlemen Amateurs]] with the help of [[Mr Cooke]] and his company of ladies, in the [[African Theatre]], Cape Town on 16 May (with ''[[The Poor Soldier]]'' by O'Keeffe) | ||
Revision as of 06:32, 7 December 2015
She Stoops to Conquer (1773) is a comedy in two acts by Irish playwright Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774)[1].
Contents
The original text
First performed in in London at Covent Garden Theatre on 15 March 1773. Still regularly performed today.
Performance history in South Africa
1807: First performed in South Africa at the Garrison Theatre in Cape Town on the 20th of June, accompanied by what was ostensibly a one-act version of Foote's farce Taste. The company included Captain Frazer, Mr Morgan and Captain Collins and the production was managed by Mr Morgan, who also read a prologue written for the occasion by Captain Frazer, who in turn sang a song he had written (in character as Lady "Pentweazle" in Taste ), while Captain Collins read an epilogue he had written. According to F.C.L. Bosman (1928: p. 70)[2] these pieces are the oldest extant remnants of local theatrical writing (though not, he emphasizes, the earliest piece of written text or performance text, since there are records of earlier indigenous performances, prologues and even texts - e.g. Mrs Somers's prologue to a performance of Foote's Taste in 1800).
1818: Done in 1818 by the Gentlemen Amateurs with the help of Mr Cooke and his company of ladies, in the African Theatre, Cape Town on 16 May (with The Poor Soldier by O'Keeffe) Repeated 27 June 1818 (with as afterpiece now Chrononthothologus by Carey).
1933: In 1933, the play was the first production by Herbert Dhlomo's Bantu Dramatic Society, playing as opening piece in the Bantu Men's Social Centre on 28 April, 1933.
1954: Presented by the National Theatre Organisation, produced by Taubie Kushlick starring Alan Chadwick, Barry Wallman, Pieter Geldenhuys, Frank Wise, Patrick Trevor, Leonard Graham, Joyce Bradley, Pamela Murray, Stephanie Shiller, Pat Simpson, Gordon Fergusson. Decor by Frank Graves, costumes by Doreen Graves, lighting by Harry Ligoff.
1966: A PACOFS production in 1966 was directed by John Boulter, the cast including Deon Joubert and Christine Basson.
1969: Directed by Roy Sargeant for NAPAC, opening on 28 April 1969 in St John's Theatre. Décor by Bill Smuts, costumes by Lucille Cross. The cast included Mervyn Johns, Helen Braithwaite, David McKail, Gillian Lomberg, Don McCorkindale, Christopher Galloway, Judy Murton and others.
Translations and adaptations
She Stoops to Conquer - Mistakes of an African Knight, adapted and directed by Nicholas Ellenbogen at the National Arts Festival, 1985. Set in Natal on a cane farm at around 1900. The cast included Greg Melvill-Smith, Bruce Young, Annie Robinson, Sue Pearson, Stephen Gurney, Brendon Grealy, Nicholas Ellenbogen, Frances Chili, Hamilton Ncayiyana, Ali Mohammed, Judy Ditchfield.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She_Stoops_to_Conquer
F.C.L. Bosman, 1928[3]: pp. 154, .
PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988
NTO theatre programme, 1954.
Teater SA, 1(4), 1969.
National Arts Festival programme, 1985.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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