Difference between revisions of "The Glass Menagerie"
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A four-character play by [[Tennessee Williams]] (1911-1983) which premiered in Chicago 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on Williams himself, his histrionic mother, and his mentally fragile sister Rose. In writing the play, Williams drew on an earlier short story, as well as a screenplay he had written under the title of ''The Gentleman Caller''. | A four-character play by [[Tennessee Williams]] (1911-1983) which premiered in Chicago 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on Williams himself, his histrionic mother, and his mentally fragile sister Rose. In writing the play, Williams drew on an earlier short story, as well as a screenplay he had written under the title of ''The Gentleman Caller''. | ||
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| + | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
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| + | Hugely popular with student companies, it has also been translated into Afrikaans as ''[[Speelgoed van Glas]]'' by W.K. Grobler (W.H. Grobler?) and was produced by [[PACT]]?* in 19** with **. [[PACOFS]] 1984, directed by [[Schalk Jacobsz]] with [[Joey de Koker]] and [[Christo Potgieter]]. | ||
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== Performance history in South Africa == | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
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1949: Six months later [[Leonard Schach|Schach]] produced the same play on a National tour under the [[NTO]] banner, using [[Nita Economides]], [[Anna Romain Hoffman]], [[Will Jamieson]], [[Frank Wise]]. Decor by [[Cecil Pym]]. | 1949: Six months later [[Leonard Schach|Schach]] produced the same play on a National tour under the [[NTO]] banner, using [[Nita Economides]], [[Anna Romain Hoffman]], [[Will Jamieson]], [[Frank Wise]]. Decor by [[Cecil Pym]]. | ||
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| + | 1966: In November the [[Bellvillese Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging]] ([[B.A.T.]]) staged a production of the [[Afrikaans]] translation ''Speelgoed van Glas'' on the occasion of the society's 15th anniversary, in the Civic Centre in Bellville, directed by [[Iris Roux]], with [[Mees Xteen]] (Tom), [[Marie van Heerden]] (Amanda), [[Sariana Augustyn]] (Laura) and [[Casper Venter]] (Jim). | ||
Many great productions over the years, often done by University drama departments. | Many great productions over the years, often done by University drama departments. | ||
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1989: Presented by the [[Baxter Theatre]],opening at the Baxter Sudio 22 September, revived 20 December 1989, starring [[Brenda Wood]], [[Stephen Jennings]], [[Michelle Scott]] and [[Geoffrey Hyland]]. Directed by [[Fred Abrahamse]], design by [[Brian Collins]]. | 1989: Presented by the [[Baxter Theatre]],opening at the Baxter Sudio 22 September, revived 20 December 1989, starring [[Brenda Wood]], [[Stephen Jennings]], [[Michelle Scott]] and [[Geoffrey Hyland]]. Directed by [[Fred Abrahamse]], design by [[Brian Collins]]. | ||
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== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
Revision as of 06:55, 10 August 2015
A four-character play by Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) which premiered in Chicago 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on Williams himself, his histrionic mother, and his mentally fragile sister Rose. In writing the play, Williams drew on an earlier short story, as well as a screenplay he had written under the title of The Gentleman Caller.
Translations and adaptations
Hugely popular with student companies, it has also been translated into Afrikaans as Speelgoed van Glas by W.K. Grobler (W.H. Grobler?) and was produced by PACT?* in 19** with **. PACOFS 1984, directed by Schalk Jacobsz with Joey de Koker and Christo Potgieter.
Performance history in South Africa
1949: First produced in South Africa at the Little Theatre by Leonard Schach, featuring Rosalie van der Gucht, Jobie Stewart, Rosemary Kirkcaldy, and Colin Romoff. Nigel Hawthorne was the stage manager.
1949: Six months later Schach produced the same play on a National tour under the NTO banner, using Nita Economides, Anna Romain Hoffman, Will Jamieson, Frank Wise. Decor by Cecil Pym.
1966: In November the Bellvillese Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging (B.A.T.) staged a production of the Afrikaans translation Speelgoed van Glas on the occasion of the society's 15th anniversary, in the Civic Centre in Bellville, directed by Iris Roux, with Mees Xteen (Tom), Marie van Heerden (Amanda), Sariana Augustyn (Laura) and Casper Venter (Jim).
Many great productions over the years, often done by University drama departments.
197*: The Space (Cape Town) (197*, directed by Bill Tanner, with i.a. Yvonne Bryceland, Wilson Dunster, Bill Flynn), ***.
1981: Directed by Lucille Gillwald at Upstairs at the Market in 1981 starring Lesley Nott and Shelagh Holliday.
1989: Presented by the Baxter Theatre,opening at the Baxter Sudio 22 September, revived 20 December 1989, starring Brenda Wood, Stephen Jennings, Michelle Scott and Geoffrey Hyland. Directed by Fred Abrahamse, design by Brian Collins.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Glass_Menagerie
Inskip, 1977. p 119,
Behrens, 1978.
PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988
Baxter Theatre pamphlet, October-November 1989.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to G in Plays II Foreign Plays
Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays
Return to The ESAT Entries
