Under the Oaks

Under the Oaks is a play by Paul Slabolepszy (1948-).

The original text

One of the plays in what is referred to as the "The Corky Trilogy", made up of Under the Oaks, Tickle to Fine Leg and Life's a Pitch, it is a short comedy play about cricket-players and fans, set in the dressing rooms and on the stalls under the famous oak trees (which do not exist anymore) at the Newlands Cricket Ground. Usually performed as one part of a two-hander, Under the Oaks and Over the Hill, of which Over the Hill - a play about rugby - is the second part. Published in Mooi Street and Other Moves by Witwatersrand University Press (1994).

Performance history in South Africa

1984: First presented at the PACT Liqui-Fruit Pot Pourri Festival in September, 1984, with the following cast: James Borthwick (Corky), Graham Hopkins (Richard) and Jenny Sharp (Beatrice).

1984: Performed in December as part of the Oude Libertas Summer Festival, in Stellenbosch, it was performed with the following cast: James Borthwick, Neil McCarthy and Jenny Sharp.

1985: It began a National Tour (as part of a Double-bill with Over the Hill) at the Grahamstown Standard Bank Festival of the Arts in July, with the following cast: James Borthwick, Jonathan Rands and Kate Edwards, directed by Paul Slabolepszy and Frantz Dobrowsky.

1987: Performed by PACOFS, 1987, (as part of a Double-bill with Over the Hill), directed by Gerben Kamper with Blaise Koch, Annemarie Rauh, André-Jacques van der Merwe.

1989: Performed as a Baxter/Snap Production in association with PACT Drama in the Baxter Concert Hall, opening on 14 December. Directed by Bobby Heaney, starring James Borthwick, Christopher Wells, Shirley Johnston.

Sources

National Arts Festival programme, 1985.

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988.

Baxter Theatre pamphlet, 1989.

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