L'homme au Masque de Fer

L'homme au Masque de Fer ("The man in the iron mask"), a drama in 5 acts and in prose, by Narcisse Fournier (1803–1880) and Auguste Arnouldt (1803–1854)

The original text
Based on the novel Le Vicomte de Bragelonne (1847) by Alexander Dumas, the play was first performed in the Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe, Paris, on 3 August 1831 and the text published in Paris by Barba in the same year.

Translations and adaptations
Adapted from the French by W.J. Lucas, it was first performed in English at the Royal Pavilion Theatre, London, on 30 January, 1832, with the title The Man with the Iron Mask, or The Royal Twins (no author named). Published by T.H. Lacy as The Man with the Iron Mask: in Four Epochs in 1850 (and Samuel French, 1864), now now ascribed to Lucas and containing the description "Each epoch containing a distinct and thrilling phase in this most extraordinary man's life, until his murder in the Bastile [sic], sternly corroborated by facts and documents seized during its demolition by the infuriated people."

The translation is often referred to simply as The Man with the Iron Mask.

Another English translation, with the same title, was done by Frank J Morlock and published in Natick, MA by Rogue Publishers in 2001.

A German version of the basic tale, Die Eiserne Larve ("The iron mask"), was written by Heinrich Szchokke (1771-1848) in 1808.

Performance history in South Africa
1877: Performed as The Man with the Iron Mask (and ascribed to Lucas) in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 15 December, with Black-Eyed Susan (Jerrold).

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