View source for La Somnambule, ou L'arrivée d'un Nouveau Seigneur

''[[La Somnambule, ou L'arrivée d'un Nouveau Seigneur]]'' is a scenario for a ballet-pantomime by Eugène Scribe (1791-1861)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Scribe]. 

=The original text=

Produced in Paris in 1827, choreographed by Jean-Louis Aumer (1774-1833)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Louis_Aumer], with music composed by Ferdinand Hérold (1791-1833)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_H%C3%A9rold],  and quite popular, though the text of the scenario does not appear to have been published.

=Translations and adaptations=

'''''Despite being unpublished, the Scribe work  inspired a number of other theatrical works, including:'''''

==''[[La Sonnambula]]'' ("The sleepwalker") by Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincenzo_Bellini]==

Described as an "opera semiseria" in two acts, with music in the bel canto tradition, it was composed by  by Vincenzo Bellini with an Italian libretto by Felice Romani (1788-1865)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felice_Romani]. A also described as a "drama with music", it premiered in Milan on  6 March 1831, in London on 28 July 1831 at the King's Theatre and at the Park Theatre in New York on 13 November 1835.

==''[[The Somnambulist]]'' by William Thomas Moncrieff (1794-1857)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thomas_Moncrieff]== 

Called "A Dramatic Entertainment", it is a [[burlesque]] based on Scribe's scenario for the original ballet-pantomime.  of  play in two acts. (The piece is also referred to as ''[[The Somnambulist, or The Phantom of the Village]]'', ''[[La Somnambula or The Sleep-Walker]]'', or simply ''[[La Somnambula]]''.)

Moncrieff's text was published as ''[[The Somnabulist]]'' in Issue 224 of Dicks' Standard Plays. Published as ''[[The Somnambulist, or The Phantom of the Village]]'' by J. Cumberland, 1899

==''[[La Sonnambula]]'' Balanchine (1904-1983)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Balanchine]== 

A 1965 ballet, it was also based on Scribe's scenario, but choreographed by George Balanchine and set to music by Vittorio Rieti (1898-1994)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vittorio_Rieti]

= Performance history in South Africa =

'''''Listed below are recorded performances of the various versions''''' 

1857: Performed by the [[Boscawen Amateurs]] in Simonstown on 28 December, with ''[[Who Speaks First?]]'' (Dance) as a benefit evening for the Indian Sufferers Relief Fund.  

1857: What appears to have been ''[[La Somnambula or The Sleep-Walker]]'' (by Bellini and Romani) was performed by [[Sefton Parry]] and his company in the [[Harrington Street Theatre]], Cape Town, on 8 December, with ''[[The Mistress of the Mill]]'' (Moncrieff) as afterpiece.  Musical arrangement by Mr Holt and the leading roles performed by Mr and Mrs Parry.

1862: A burlesque version (probably that of  Moncrieff), performed often as ''[[La Somnambula]]'' by the [[Christy Minstrels]], during their three-month long tour of the Cape Province. The company was led by [[Mr Melvyn]], with [[Mr Norton]], [[Mr Rainford]] and [[Joe Brown]]. The director of the orchestra was [[Mr Stewart]]

1869: The [[burlesque]] version performed as ''[[La Somnambula]]'' by the [[Royal Downshire Minstrels]] in the [[Garrison Theatre]], Cape Town on 27 May, along with "songs and dances".

1869: ''[[La Sonnambula]]'', the operatic version by Romani and Bellini,  performed by the [[Miranda-Harper Company]] in the [[Mutual Hall]], Cape Town on 19 and 29 August, 21 September.

1869: Acts 2 and 3 of ''[[La Sonnambula]]'', the operatic version by Romani and Bellini, performed by the [[Miranda-Harper Company]] in the [[Mutual Hall]], Cape Town on 29 October, with act 4 of ''[[Maritana]]'' (Fitzball and Wallace) and act 4 of ''[[Il Trovatore]]'' (Verdi).

1875: The [[burlesque]] version performed as ''[[La Somnambula]]'' in the [[Bijou Theatre]], Cape Town on 22 May by [[Disney Roebuck]] and his company, with ''[[Christmas Eve, or The Duel in the Snow]]'' (Fitzball)

1875: Performed as ''[[La Somnambula]]'' in the [[Bijou Theatre]], Cape Town on 24 and 25 May by [[Disney Roebuck]] and his company, with ''[[The Waterman]]'' (by Dibdin, but seemingly ascribed to [[Charles Dickens]]) and scenes from  ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'' (Shakespeare). The evening of the 24th was a "Regatta Night" under the patronage of the Regatta & Table Bay Rowing Club.

1875: Performed as ''[[La Somnambula]]'' in the [[Bijou Theatre]], Cape Town on 27 May by [[Disney Roebuck]] and his company, with ''[[Pygmalion & Galatea]]'' (Gilbert).

1875: Performed as ''[[La Somnambula]]'' in the [[Bijou Theatre]], Cape Town on 22 June by [[Disney Roebuck]] and his company, with ''[[David Garrick]]'' (Robertson).

1875: Performed as ''[[La Somnambula]]'' in the [[Bijou Theatre]], Cape Town on 29 September by [[Disney Roebuck]] and his company, with ''[[The Steeplechase, or In the Pigskin]]'' (Morton), and a "Jockey Dance" performed by [[Maggie Duggan]].

1875: ''[[La Somnambula]]'' performed as a benefit for [[Disney Roebuck]] in the [[Bijou Theatre]], Cape Town on 2 October by his company, with ''[[David Garrick]]'' (Robertson).

1876: Performed as ''[[La Somnambula]]'' in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town on 8 July by [[Disney Roebuck]] and his company, with ''[[Rip van Winkle]]''  (Irving/Anon).

1901: ''[[The Somnabulist]]'' performed in the [[Oddfellows Hall]], Cape Town, by [[Morris Waxman]] and his [[Hebrew Artistes]]

= Sources =

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Scribe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Louis_Aumer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_H%C3%A9rold

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_somnambule,_ou_L%27arriv%C3%A9e_d%27un_nouveau_seigneur

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_sonnambula

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincenzo_Bellini

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felice_Romani

https://books.google.co.za/books/about/The_Somnambulist.html?id=DkYSHQAACAAJ&redir_esc=y

https://books.google.co.za/books/about/The_Somnambulist_Or_the_Phantom_of_the_V.html?id=jVgPMwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_sonnambula_(Balanchine)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vittorio_Rieti

[[D.C. Boonzaier]]. 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage",  in ''SA Review'', 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] 1980: pp. 374-439.)

[[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp. 59, 64, 141, 166, 324-5, 327, 330, 341, 345, 348, 408

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

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