London, Princes Theatre 1961
Stapled wrappers.7.25x5” 24pp.
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'King Kong' was a pioneering South African musical inspired by the life and death of the heavyweight boxing champion Ezekiel Dlamini. Billed as a 'Jazz-Opera', the production was first staged in Johannesburg, opening on February 2nd 1959 and went on to take South Africa by storm. Nelson Mandela attended the opening night and is on record as highlighting the show as his favorite musical. 'King Kong' subsequently opened at London's Princes Theatre on February 23rd 1961 and ran for 201 performances.
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With an all-black cast, the play portrayed the life and times of a heavyweight boxer, Ezekiel Dlamini, known as "King Kong". Born in 1921, after a meteoric boxing rise, his life degenerated into drunkenness and gang violence. He knifed his girlfriend, asked for the death sentence during his trial and instead was sentenced to 14 years' hard labor. He was found drowned in 1957 and it was believed his death was suicide. Only two copies of this program in domestic [US] holdings: Smithsonian and Temple Univ, within one copy held in London. ??#####
Good+; interior clean and bright; covers lightly dimpled; a tiny nick lower front edge; light 1/2” stain lower spine.
Title: Program for English Premiere of South African production of King Kong: A Jazz Musical
Edition: 1st ed
Location Published: London, African Music and Drama Trust: 1961
Binding: Stapled wrappers
Book Condition: Good
Size: 5x7.25"
Type: Theatre program
Categories: Ephemera, Music & Dance, Games & Sports, Film, Movies, Television, Theater, Africa
Seller ID: k210403a
Keywords: ephemera, jazz, music, musicals, opera, performing arts, plays, south africa, theatre