ERROL JOHN
Biography
Errol John was born Dec. 20, 1924, in Port of Spain, Trinidad. John was a founding member of the Whitehall Players in Port-of-Spain. He later moved to London to pursue his acting career. Finding only minor roles to begin with, he had a major career breakthrough when cast in BBC's A Man from the Sun (1956), this followed to a lead role of Othello at the Old Vic Theatre (1962).
His play Moon on a Rainbow Shawl (1958) won him The Observer's prize for best new playwright (1957) and a Guggenheim fellowship (1958). His other plays included The Tout (1966) and Force Majeure, The Dispossessed, Hasta Luego: Three Screenplays (1967). He also wrote for television and continued acting on stage and in films such as The African Queen (1951) and Guns at Batasi (1964). (Source and Source)
Plays
MOON ON A RAINBOW SHAWL (1958)
For the teeming populace of Old Mack's cacophonous yard in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, it's a cheek by jowl existence lived out on a sweltering public stage. Snatches of calypso compete with hymn tunes, drums and street cries as neighbors drink, brawl, pass judgment, make love, look out for each other and crave a better life. But Ephraim is no dreamer and nothing, not even the seductive Rosa, is going to stop him escaping his dead-end job for a fresh start in England. (Source)
Cast Requirement: 15 (5f, 10m)
Characters: Ephraim, Ketch, Esther Adams, Mavis, Sailor, Sophia Adams, Old Mack, Rosa, Policeman, Prince, Charlie Adams, Soldier, Janette, A Boy, Taxi Driver
Publication: Moon on a Rainbow Shawl. Faber, 2003. (Link)
+ MORE INFO
Moon on a Rainbow Shawl was first produced at the Royal Court Theatre in 1958. The production was directed by Frith Banbury; set and costume design was by Loudon Sainthill. The cast for this production included:
- Ephraim - Earle Hyman
- Esther - Jacqueline Chan
- Mavis - Barbara Assoon
- An American Soldier - Robert Jackson
- Sophia - Vinnette Carroll
- Old Mack - Lionel Ngakane
- Rosa - Soraya Rafat
- Policeman - Johnny Sekka
- Janette - Berril Briggs
- Prince - Leo Carera
- Charlie - John Bouie
- An American Soldier - Leonard Davies
- Young Murray - Clifton Jones
A new, revised version of Moon on a Rainbow Shawl was presented at the East 11th Street Theatre in New York in 1962. This production was directed by George Roy Hill; the set design was by Lloyd Burlingame; the costume design was by Charles Gelatt; the lighting design was by Jules Fisher; and the sound design was by Gigi Cascio. The cast for this production included:
- Ephraim - James Earl Jones
- Ketch - Robert Hill II
- Esther - Kelly Marie Berry
- Mavis - Cicely Tyson
- Sailor - Michael Barton
- Sophia - Vinette Carroll
- Old Mack - Melvin Stewart
- Rosa - Ellen Holly
- Policeman - Ronald Mack
- Janette - Carolyn Strickland
- Prince - Bill Gunn
- Charlie - Robert Earl Jones
- Soldier - Peter Owens
- A Boy - Wayne Grice
- Taxi Driver - Warren Berry
THE TOUT (1966)
The Tout takes place in the home of Mr. Muley, a crippled old man who was formerly astonishingly strong. Muley anxiously awaits the return of his granddaughter, Annie, when he receives an unexpected and unwelcome visit from his mischievous nephew, Purcy. Purcy feigns friendliness, which Muley sees straight through, in the hopes of being given enough money to escape from some trouble he has gotten himself into. When his uncle refuses, Purcy makes it clear that Muley will pay for denying him the money. When Annie finally returns later on, she shares the newspaper story of a recent murder, which Muley instantly ties to Purcy. When a detective comes in search of the nephew, Annie naively covers for Purcy out of belief in his innocence. Upon Purcy’s return that night, he allows a seaman to take advantage of Annie in exchange for the money that he needs. In the final scene of the play, a distraught Muley murders Purcy. (Source - Classix)
Cast Requirement: 5 (1f, 4m)
Characters: Muley, Percy, Annie, A Detective, One Seaman
Publication: The Tout. Alexander Street Press, 2003. (Link)*
