Louis XI

Louis XI (1832) is a French verse tragedy in 5 acts by Casimir Delavigne (1793–1843)[1]

The original text

First performed in Paris at the Le Théatre Français by the Comédiens Ordinaires du Roi on 11 February 1832, and published there by Barba in the same year.

Translations and adaptations

Translated and adapted into Dutch as Lodewijk XI (Louis XI) by Hendrik Jan Schimmel (1823-1906)[2]

Translated and adapted into English as Louis XI, "an historical drama in three acts" by W.R.S. (William Robert S.) Markwell (fl. mid 19th century), first performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on 14 February, 1853 and published by T.H. Lacy in the same year.

Translated and adapted into English as Louis XI by Dion Boucicault (1820–1890)[3], produced by him at London's Princess's Theatre on 13 January 1855 and published privately by John K. Chapman (London, 1855).

Performance history in South Africa

1867: Segments from the tragedy were performed in Cape Town by Aurora II in Dutch as Lodewijk XI on 3 October.

1876: Performed in English as Louis XI by Disney Roebuck and his company in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, on 17 June. Bosman (1980: p.340) suggests that the text may have been any of one the two English versions.