The Merry Widow

The Merry Widow (German: Die Lustige Witwe) [1] is a 1905 operetta by composer Franz Lehár (1870-1948) and librettists, Viktor Léon [2] and Leo Stein [3].

The original text

The story is based on an 1861 French comedy play, L'attaché d'ambassade ("The Embassy Attaché") by Henri Meilhac [4].

Performance history in South Africa

1959: Staged by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society

1973: Staged by CAPAB in the Nico Malan Opera House.

1978: Staged by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society

1979: PACT. Conducted by Edgar Cree. Producer and costume designer: Neels Hansen. Choreographer: Geoffrey Sutherland. PACT Orchestra. Cast inclue Mimi Coerste; Emile Belcourt; Dawie Couzyn; Elize Botha; Stephen Tudor; David Sherwood; Ian Donald; George Kok; Bruce Anderson; Olive King; Clive Roffey; Margaret Beerstecher; De Wet van Rooyen; Clair Robins. Performed at the Aula, Pretoria; Civic Theatre, Johannesburg.

1983: Produced by PACT directed by Neels Hansen, and starring Roberta Palmer and Gé Korsten at the Pretoria State Theatre.

1989: Staged by CAPAB in the Nico Malan Opera House, directed by Angelo Gobbato, conducted by Leo Quayle and choreographed by Pamela Chrimes. The cast included: Andrea Catzel (Hanna Glawari, the widow), Gé Korsten (Count Danilo), John Eager (Baron Mirko Zeta), Aviva Pelham (his wife), Edmondo Rahme (Camille), De Wet van Rooyen (Vicomte Cascade), David Dennis (Njegus) and others. Decor designed by Peter Cazalet and lighting by John T. Baker.

Sources

CAPAB theatre programme, 1989.

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