Eraste, ou L'Enfant Proscrit de Son Père

Eraste, ou L'Enfant Proscrit de Son Père ("Eraste, or the child rejected/exiled by his father") is the title of a French one-act bucolic play by an anonymous author. Could also have been written more correctly as Eraste, ou L'Enfant Proscrit par Son Père

The original text
Nothing of substance is known about this text, except for the name "Eraste" (or "Éraste" in French) which, though also a registered French first name, is - possibly more tellingly - a classical allusion referring to an adult man engaged in a pederastic relationship with a boy).

Translations and adaptations
F.C.L. Bosman (1928: p. 91) suggests that Monsieur Delémery did an adaptation of this work for performance on his tour and more specifically in Cape Town.

Performance history in South Africa
1805: Performed in French in Cape Town on 12 August by the French Amateur Company, with Monsieur Delémery in the lead. Also presented were Arlequin Protégé par Belphégor (a work devised by Delémery?) and Le Paysan, Soldat Malgré Lui (also adapted from an unknown source by Delémery?)

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