Zuleika

Zuleika may refer to:

See also

Zuleika (musical)

Zuleika is a musical with music by Peter Tranchell and book and lyrics by James Ferman. The musical is based on the 1911 novel, Zuleika Dobson, by Max Beerbohm.

History

The show was first staged at an undergraduate club at Cambridge in 1954, two years before Beerbohm's death. The impresario Donald Albery acquired the rights to stage it in the West End, and engaged Osbert Lancaster as designer and Alfred Rodrigues as director. The production opened at the Saville Theatre on 11 April 1957. Beerbohm had died the year before, but his widow, Elisabeth interested herself in the production, and attended the first night.

The plot of the novel was generally followed, except for the conclusion, which was changed to provide a happy ending. Beerbohm had insisted that the name of the heroine should be pronounced "Zuleeka", but for the musical the pronunciation was changed to "Zulika", which was thought easier to sing.

The actress originally cast as Zuleika, Diane Cilento, won excellent critical comment when the show previewed in Manchester, but was taken ill before the show opened in London. She was unable to appear, and the part was taken by Mildred Mayne, a performer best known at the time as a model, appearing on posters in the London Underground advertising underwear.

Zuleika (given name)

Zuleika is a given name for females. Variants include Zulaica and Zuleica.

The name is of Arabic origin, meaning "fair; brilliant and lovely".

According to medieval legends this was the name of Potiphar's wife in the Bible. She has been the subject of many poems and tales.

It was made famous as Max Beerbohm's comic heroine in his novel "Zuleika Dobson".

Zuleika is an uncommon first name for women and an equally uncommon last name for both men and women. Zuleikha is also feminine given name in Middle East and South Asia.

Notes