Marigolds in August

Marigolds in August is a play by South Africa's Athol Fugard.

Marigolds in August
Written byAthol Fugard
CharactersDaan
Melton
Paulus
Date premiered1980

Plot

The play portrays the tension between three people (two black – one white) trying to make out a living.

The play takes place near Port Elizabeth. Daan (a resident in a nearby township where malnutrition and unemployment are rife) is walking to work at an apartheid whites-only resort where he works as a gardener. He encounters another unemployed black man – Melton – who is desperately looking for work. Daan is worried that Melton's presence will draw attention to him which is a problem as his passbook is no longer valid.

The pair struggle and argue and the appearance of a white man – Paulus (a snake catcher) – acts as a catalyst.

Daan realises that the apartheid system is often responsible for black-on-black violence. The only way to fight this is solidarity and compassion towards each other.

Film
Main article: Marigolds in August (film)

In 1980, the play was adapted into a film directed by Ross Devenish, with Melton played by John Kani, Athol Fugard as Paulus, and Winston Ntshona as Daan.

Books
  • Marigolds in August and The Guest: Two Screenplays, Athol Fugard, Theatre Communications Group Inc., 1992, ISBN 1-55936-059-3

Awards

In 1980, it won the Berlin Bear Anniversary Prize at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival.[1][2]

Notes
  1. "Berlinale 1980: Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  2. Andie Miller. "From Words into Pictures: In Conversation with Athol Fugard" (Web). Eclectica (Oct./Nov. 2006). Retrieved 2008-10-02..
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