Difference between revisions of "Zaïre"
(Created page with "''Zaïre'' is a French play by Voltaire (1694-1778)[. (The play's name sometimes occurs as ''Zaire''.) == The original text == Written in 1732, this is consider...") |
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| − | ''[[Zaïre]]'' is a French | + | ''[[Zaïre]]'' is a five-act French tragedy in verse by Voltaire (1694-1778)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaire]. |
| − | |||
| + | The play's name sometimes occurs as ''[[Zaire]]''. | ||
== The original text == | == The original text == | ||
| − | + | Written in the space of three weeks in 1732, it was given its first public performance on 13 August 1732 by the Comédie française at the Théâtre de la rue des Fossés Saint-Germain in Paris. Considered his best play, often performed, it owes something to ''[[Othello]]'' in its plot. | |
| − | Written in 1732, | ||
| − | |||
== Translations and adaptations == | == Translations and adaptations == | ||
| − | + | Translated into English by Aaron Hill (1685–1750)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Hill_(writer)] as '''''[[Zara]]''''', and performed at London's Drury Lane Theatre in 1736, becoming the most frequently staged English adaptation of a Voltaire play. | |
| + | The play inspired at least thirteen operas over the years. | ||
== South African productions == | == South African productions == | ||
| − | 1803: A performance of this popular work is advertised for the new theatre (the [[African Theatre]]) in the [[Kaapsche Stadts Courant]] of 29 January 1803. However great uncertainty about the company that presented the play. [[Jill Fletcher|Fletcher]] (1994) argues that it may have been a touring British production, rather than a local one by the [[English Theatrical Company]] or by a [[Dutch]] company, while [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]][http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/] (1928: footnote on pp. 81-2) by a process of elimination concludes that it is most likely the first advertised [[Dutch]] production at the Cape, most probably by the [[amateur]] company [[Het Hollandsch Liefhebbery Genootschap]], bearing the [[motto]] [[Tot Leering en Vermaak]]. | + | 1803: A performance of this popular work is advertised for the new theatre (the [[African Theatre]]) in the [[Kaapsche Stadts Courant]] of 29 January 1803. However great uncertainty about the company that presented the play. [[Jill Fletcher|Fletcher]] (1994) argues that it may have been a touring British production, rather than a local one by the [[English Theatrical Company]] or by a [[Dutch]] company, while [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]][http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/] (1928: footnote on pp. 81-2) by a process of elimination concludes that it is most likely the first advertised [[Dutch]] production at the Cape, most probably by the [[amateur]] company [[Het Hollandsch Liefhebbery Genootschap]], bearing the [[motto]] [[Tot Leering en Vermaak]]. As the title given in the advert is the French title, not the English one, Bosman's argument seems sound enough. |
| + | == Sources == | ||
| − | + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaire | |
| − | [[F.C.L. Bosman]], | + | [[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1928. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika'', Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: [[J.H. de Bussy]]. [http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/]: p. 81, 90, 110-111. |
| − | [[Jill Fletcher]] | + | [[Jill Fletcher]]. 1994. ''The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930''. Cape Town: Vlaeberg. |
Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]] | Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
== Return to == | == Return to == | ||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]] | ||
| − | Return to [[ | + | Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]] |
| − | Return to [[ | + | Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]] |
| − | Return to [[ | + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] |
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Latest revision as of 07:11, 28 July 2017
Zaïre is a five-act French tragedy in verse by Voltaire (1694-1778)[1].
The play's name sometimes occurs as Zaire.
Contents
The original text
Written in the space of three weeks in 1732, it was given its first public performance on 13 August 1732 by the Comédie française at the Théâtre de la rue des Fossés Saint-Germain in Paris. Considered his best play, often performed, it owes something to Othello in its plot.
Translations and adaptations
Translated into English by Aaron Hill (1685–1750)[2] as Zara, and performed at London's Drury Lane Theatre in 1736, becoming the most frequently staged English adaptation of a Voltaire play.
The play inspired at least thirteen operas over the years.
South African productions
1803: A performance of this popular work is advertised for the new theatre (the African Theatre) in the Kaapsche Stadts Courant of 29 January 1803. However great uncertainty about the company that presented the play. Fletcher (1994) argues that it may have been a touring British production, rather than a local one by the English Theatrical Company or by a Dutch company, while Bosman[3] (1928: footnote on pp. 81-2) by a process of elimination concludes that it is most likely the first advertised Dutch production at the Cape, most probably by the amateur company Het Hollandsch Liefhebbery Genootschap, bearing the motto Tot Leering en Vermaak. As the title given in the advert is the French title, not the English one, Bosman's argument seems sound enough.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaire
F.C.L. Bosman. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [4]: p. 81, 90, 110-111.
Jill Fletcher. 1994. The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930. Cape Town: Vlaeberg.
Go to the ESAT Bibliography
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
