Marda Vanne (born Margaretha van Hulsteyn;[Note 1][4] 27 September 1896 – 27 April 1970) was a South African actress who found fame in London.[2]: 48 [3]
In her childhood, she had the nickname Scrappy. She performed as Scrappy van Hulsteyn in her early stage career in South Africa, before heading to London.[7]
In 1914, Vanne met Isaac RosenberginCape Town, who was on a visit to South Africa. He took a shine to her and drew a charcoal sketch of her. He also gave her a copy of his poem "If You Are Fire, and I Am Fire" and wrote a number of passionate love-poems at the time, which seem to have been inspired by her.[9]
Vanne became a good friend of Alec Waugh, the brother of Evelyn Waugh. Alec noted in one of his books that Marda tended to be cast in supporting roles. He suggested that it was because she "lacked sex appeal on stage. ... She lacked lightness. She did not look embraceable. I pictured her in more emotional roles, as a mature woman." He wrote that although she had several affairs with men, her main interest was women.[4][6] John Gielgud became a good friend of Vanne and mentions her in his writings.[14]
In London, Vanne formed a professional and personal partnership with the actress Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies that lasted until her death in 1970.[6] The couple founded a theatre company in South Africa, at the outbreak of World War II, when most of the London theatres were dark.[15] They toured the provinces, including appearances at the Hoffmeyer Theatre in Cape Town. There they performed their production of Twelfth Night in which Marda played Maria and Gwen played Olivia. They also produced and acted in the play Quality StreetbyJames Barrie.[12] They played 44 towns in fifteen weeks and made a small profit.[16] Vanne appeared as Madame Arcati in a production of Blithe Spirit in Johannesburg,[12] and she and Ffrangcon-Davies brought their production of The Merry Wives of Windsor to the Alhambra Theatre in Cape Town in 1945.[16]
In 1950, Vanne directed an Afrikaans translation of Grumpy,[17] by Horace Hodges and T. Wigney Percyval called Oupa Brompie for the National Theatre Organisation (NTO) of South Africa.[18]
They produced The Dam by South African writer Guy Butler in 1952, which the author criticised for portraying the Coloured (mixed-race) characters as caricatures.[19][20]
Although she married a man early in life and had other relationships with men, her longest relationship was with a woman.[4] Vanne was the partner for many decades of British actress Dame Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies.[24]
^One source, a close friend, spells her name "Margueretha".
^"Miss Marda Vanne, as Mrs. Holroyd, made the transition from passivity to passion, from wife to lover, with a complete mastery of the quietest method. This was muted acting at its best ...she possesses a comparatively rare gift. Whenever she is motionless her attitudes are significant; when she is still and silent her body continues to act, and she spoke with a peremptory impulsiveness admirably suited to the part." – Desmond MacCarthy (18 Dec. 1926) The New Statesman
^"...gave a beautifuuly balanced and emotional performance as the play's tormented heroine." – H.H. (24 Dec. 1926) The Outlook p. 629
^"Miss Marda Vanne is an actress of extreme flexibility. She changes style, looks, and mood for every part she plays, and again she was brilliantly not herself." – Ivor Brown (April 1927) Saturday Review
^"...and especially Marda Vanne in the awkward part of Mrs Cedar are others whom one would like to praise at length." – Peter Fleming (November 1932) Spectator
^"...and from the power of [the performance] of Miss Marda Vanne as Mrs. O'Shea's shewd old aunt. ...and, particularly, Miss Marda Vanne in the dry precision of her wit...." – Charles Morgan (24 April 1936) The Times
^ abcGreen, Michael (2004). Around and About: Memoires of a South African Newspaperman. Cape Town: David Philip Publishers. ISBN0-86486-660-7.
^"Marda Vanne". The Encyclopaedia of South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance (ESAT). 25 January 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024. originally performing under her childhood nickname of Scrappy van Hulsteyn for Stephen Black's company
^Wilson, Jean Moorcroft (2007). Isaac Rosenberg: The Making of a Great War Poet: A New Life. Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University Press. ISBN978-0-81012-604-6.
^"Marda Vanne". The Encyclopaedia of South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance (ESAT). 25 January 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
^V&A, Theatre and Performance Special Collections, Elsie Fogerty Archive, THM/324
^ abcPhillips, Neville (2008). The Stage Struck Me!. Leicester, United Kingdom: Troubador Publishing Ltd. ISBN978-1-90651-043-5.
