Divorçons!

Divorçons! ("Let's get a divorce!") is a French comedy in three acts by Victorien Sardou (1831-1908) and Émile de Najac (1828-1889).

The original text
First performed in Paris, at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, on 6 December, 1880. Published in Paris by Calmann-Lévy, 1880.

Translations and adaptations
A German version, based on Sardou's play, called Die Geschiedene Frau ("The divorcée") was adapted as an operetta in three acts by Leo Fall with a libretto by Victor Léon. It opened at the Carltheater in Vienna on 23 December 1908.

It was translated into Italian and opened at the Teatro Lirico Internationale in Milan as La divorziata on 16 August 1909, then translated into English as The Girl in the Train by George Edwardes, with lyrics by Adrian Ross, and performed in two acts at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, from 4 June 1910. A new translation with the same title, by Harry B. Smith (1860-1936), was performed at the Globe Theatre, New York, from 3 October to 5 November 1910.

Translated in a variety of other titles over the years, including Divorcons, or Let's Get a Divorce (by an anonymous translator, published by The Dramatic Publishing Company, Chicago, 1909), Divorce, of course! (by Robert Goldsby, Lee Pockriss and Hal Hackady, also known as Let's Getta Divorce, produced 1987, unpublished), Cyprienne (translated and adapted by David Nicholson, performed at The Village Playhouse in Toronto in 2009)

Performance history in South Africa
1911: The Girl in the Train performed by the Wheeler Company in the Opera House, Cape Town.

2013: Cyprienne performed by the Constantiaberg Theatre Players at the Masque Theatre, Muizenberg, from Friday 24 May  until Saturday 1 June.

Return to
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page