''Wait a Minim!'' (1962–68) was a musical

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...

conceived by Leon Gluckman, with original songs by

Jeremy Taylor Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667) was a cleric in the Church of England who achieved fame as an author during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell. He is sometimes known as the "Shakespeare of Divines" for his poetic style of expression, and he is fr ...

, and a collection of international folk music arranged by

Andrew Tracey Andrew Tracey (born 5 May 1936, Durban, South Africa) is a South African ethnomusicologist, promoter of African music, composer, folk singer, band leader, and actor. His father, Hugh Tracey (1903–1977), pioneered the study of traditional Af ...

. Many authentic instruments were played to accompany dances and pantomimes satirizing the national characteristics and political and social eccentricities of many different countries. The only spoken words were when the cast was introduced, and in the South African scene where apartheid was ridiculed. The revue originated in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

and toured

Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia was a landlocked self-governing British Crown colony in southern Africa, established in 1923 and consisting of British South Africa Company (BSAC) territories lying south of the Zambezi River. The region was informally kno ...

(now

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...

), and London before opening on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

South African debut

The show opened in Johannesburg on January 17, 1962, at the Intimate Theatre.

London production

After more than two years in Africa, the show moved to London, where it opened at the Fortune Theatre on April 9, 1964. Devised and directed by Leon Gluckman Musical arrangements and direction by Andrew Tracey Costumes by Heather MacDonald-Rouse Choreography by Frank Staff and Kendrew Lascelles Lighting and design supervised by Klaus Holm Cast in London *

* Paul Tracey * Jeremy Taylor * Kendrew Lascelles * Michel Martel * Zelide Jeppe * Jeannette James *

Dana Valery Dana Valery Catalano (born Fausta Dana Galli; July 15, 1944, Codogno) is an Italian-born South African-reared singer, actress, and television performer who started her career in the entertainment industry at the age of 16 in Johannesburg, South ...

Broadway production

After more than two years in London, the show moved to Broadway, where it opened at the

John Golden Theatre The John Golden Theatre, formerly the Theatre Masque and Masque Theater, is a Broadway theater at 252 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1927, the Golden Theatre was ...

on 7 March 1966, and ran for 456 performances until 15 April 1967. The U.S. cast included Sarah Atkinson, Kendrew Lascelles, Michel Martel,

April Olrich April Olrich (17 July 1931 – 15 April 2014), born Edith April Oelrichs, was an English ballerina and actress, born in Zanzibar, now part of Tanzania. Early life Edith April Oelrichs was born in Zanzibar in 1931 (some sources give 1933), where h ...

Nigel Pegram Nigel Pegram (born 22 November 1940) is a South African-English actor and voice artist. He is best known for playing Eric in ''Robert's Robots'' (1973–1974), Group-Captain Ruark in ''Get Some In!'' (1977–1978), Sir Reginald in ''All Dogs Go ...

, Andrew Tracey, Paul Tracey, and

. It was directed by Leon Gluckman and choreographed by

Frank Staff Frank Staff (15 June 1918 – 10 May 1971) was a South African ballet dancer, choreographer, producer, and company director. He was a major figure in the history of European theatrical dance in South Africa. Early life Frank Cedric Staff was b ...

and Kendrew Lascelles. Scenic design was by Gluckman and Frank Rembach, costume design by Heather Macdonald-Rouse, and lighting design by Rembach and Gluckman. Guitar, drums and other instruments were played by Andrew Tracey, Paul Tracey and Nigel Pegram, and trumpet by Kendrew Lascelles. Other members of the cast played percussion instruments. Olrich and Pegram were married for 46 years after meeting in this production.

Songs on cast recordings

London recording

* This is the Land (1) (Ndinosara Nani? - Hoe Ry Die Boere - Chuzi Mama Gwabi Gwabi - Asubuhi Sana - Jikel' Emaweni) * Foyo * The Crow * Lalirette * Last Summer * Hammer Song * Black-White Calypso * Opening Knight * Table Bay * Ag Pleez Deddy * This is the Land (2) * North of the 'Popo'

Broadway recording

* Amasalela * Ndinosara Nani? * Jikele Maweni * Black-White Calypso * I Know Where I'm Going * I Gave My Love a Cherry * Chuzi Mama Gwabi Gwabi * Foyo * London Talking Blues * Ayama * The Gumboot Dance * Hammer Song * Table Bay * A Piece of Ground * Dirty Old Town * Sir Oswald Sodde * Johnny Solier * Skalo-Zwi * Amasalela

South African recording

* Hush Little Baby * I Came Home * Jo'burg Talking Blues * I Know Where I'm Going * I Gave My Love A Cherry * Black-White Calypso * Little Sir Hugh * The Cruel Youth * The Bold Logger * The Strangest Dream * Confession * The Ballad Of The Southern Suburbs * Hammer Song * Single Girl * Deutsches Weinlied...Watschplattltanz * Ayama * This Is South Africa * Amasalela

References

Citations

Sources

* * * * * * {{refend 1966 musicals Broadway musicals Revues South African musicals