The Happiness Cage

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Happiness Cage is a 1970 play by American playwright Dennis J. Reardon (1944- ) [1].

Synopsis

Set in 1960s USA, patients in a Vietnam War veterans hospital are induced to participate in a programme of experimental brain implantation designed to achieve conformable neurological happiness. One resists, preferring the limitations with his own identity to the technologically achievable bliss. [2]

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1974: Staged by PACT, directed by Ken Leach, with Michael McCabe (Reese), Harold Orlandini (Orderly), Michael Mayer (Miles), Graham Haley (Rhodes), Kenneth Hendel (Dr Freytag), Hugh Rouse (The General), Albert Raphael (The Aide), Sheila Ferguson (Nurse), Diane Wilson (Anna Ames), Joanne Bayes (Press), Graham Rooke (Press) and Cedric Sundstrom. Sets by Richard Cook and costumes by Christa Scholtz.

Sources

PACT theatre programme, 1974.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page