The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs
Written bySimone Benmussa
Barbara Wright (translator)
Date premieredNovember 1977
Place premieredParis, France
Original languageFrench

The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs (French: La Vie singulière d'Albert Nobbs) is a play by French author Simone Benmussa. Based on a novella by George Moore, the drama tells the story of a 19th-century woman who disguises herself as a man to avoid poverty. The role of Albert Nobbs was originated by French actress Juliet Berto. The drama premiered in November 1977 at the Théâtre d'Orsay in Paris.[1]

Synopsis

Having spent much of his life disguised as a man, Dublin hotel butler Albert Nobbs is shocked when he meets a female painter, Hubert Page, who is also living as a man. Upon seeing Hubert's happy domestic situation, Albert resolves to set up a similar arrangement for himself.

Cast History

Character 1978 British Cast New End Theatre Original 1982 Off-Broadway cast 2011 Film cast
Albert Nobbs Susannah York Glenn Close
Hubert Page Stephanie Beacham Lucinda Childs Janet McTeer
Helen Dawes Julia Foster Pippa Pearthree Mia Wasikowska
Madge Baker Nan Munro Patricia O'Connell Pauline Collins

Performance history

The play's English-language version premiered on 27 June 1978 at London's New End Theatre with Susannah York in the lead.[2] Translated by Barbara Wright,[3] it was subsequently staged in Rome with Maddalena Cripa and in Ireland with Jane Brennan.

In 1982, Albert Nobbs premiered Off-Broadway at New York City's Manhattan Theater Club with Glenn Close in the main role. She won an Obie Award for Best Actress for her performance as Nobbs.[4] A version starring Judy Braha ran at Boston's New Ehrlich Theatre in 1984.[5]

The original French production was revived in Paris in 1988 with Aurore Clément in the title role. She won a Révélation Théâtrale prize from the Syndicat de la Critique Dramatique for her performance.

Adaptations

In 2011 the play was made into a film directed by Rodrigo García and starring Glenn Close.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Cixous, Hélène (1979). Benmussa directs: Portrait of Dora. J. Calder. p. 76. ISBN 0714537640.
  2. ↑ Benmussa, Simone (2012). The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs. Richmond Alma Books Limited. p. 2. ISBN 9781847495532.
  3. ↑ Simon, John (28 June 1982). "Two Down, One to Go To". New York Magazine. p. 49.
  4. ↑ Page, Janice (22 January 2012). "Glenn Close is woman behind the man in 'Albert Nobbs'". Boston Globe.
  5. ↑ Foster, Catherine (22 March 1984). "'The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs'". The Christian Science Monitor.
  6. ↑ Vankin, Deborah (22 December 2011). "Glenn Close's ardent commitment to 'Albert Nobbs'". Los Angeles Times.
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