Le Retour de Melun

Le Retour de Melun is a drama in 5 acts and 7 tableaux by Édouard Brisebarre (1815-1871) and Eugène Nus (1816-1894).

Also known as Léonard and became well known in the English world as The Ticket-of-Leave Man.

The original text
It is adapted from the play, Le Retour de Melun by Édouard Brisebarre and Eugène Nus, published in Les Drames de la Vie in 1860, and staged as Léonard, a drama in 5 acts and 7 tableaux,  at the Théâtre du boulevard du Temple on December 31 1862. The text of Léonard was edited and published by E. Dentu in 1863.

Translations and adaptations
Adapted as an English melodrama in four acts with the title The Ticket-of-Leave Man, by Tom Taylor (1817-1880). The English play was first produced at the Olympic Theatre, London, 27 March 1863 and published in the same year.

Performance history in South Africa
1874: Performed as The Ticket-of-Leave Man in the Mutual Hall, Cape Town, on 7 March by Disney Roebuck and his company, with The Area Belle (Brough and Halliday).

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