L'Avare

L'Avare ("The Miser") is a five-act comedy in prose by French playwright Molière (1622–1673)[1]. It was first performed on September 9, 1668, in the theatre of the Palais-Royal in Paris. Published in 1669.

Molière's play was inspired by Plautus's classic Latin comedy Aulularia (usually translated as "The Pot of Gold")[2].

Translations

First translated and adapted into English as The Miser by Thomas Shadwell in 1672 (who added eight new characters). Another version, with the same title and based on both Plautus and Molière, was produced by Henry Fielding in 1732.

Translated into Afrikaans as Die Vrek by A.F.H. van Dijk.

Translated into Afrikaans as Die Vrek by Pieter-Paul Fourie.

Production history in South Africa

In the original French

1945: Presented in Cape Town by a company visiting the country under the auspices of the Argentinian association Cercle des Amis de la Langue Francaise[3], with Maurice Pinson as "Herpagon". Décor by André Salesse.

In English

1825: There is an indication that the amateur company Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense planned a production of the play in English in April 1825, though no specific information is available about the production. (A copy of the play was lent to the society by an unknown donor in that year.)

1964: Produced by PACT, directed by Joan Brickhill, with Siegfried Mynhardt, Louis Burke, Fiona Fraser, Phillip Boucher, Shirley Firth, Arthur Hall, Percy Steven, Angus Neill, Dawson Manning, Ronald Jameson, Ian Lawrence, Ronald Wallace and Trevor Wayne. Presented at the Alexander Theatre, National Theatre, Pretoria and then taken on tour in Transvaal and Natal, playing for twenty weeks by which time Pieter Geldenhuys had taken over the role of Master simon from Dawson Manning. Decor by Clarence Wilson, costumes by Joan Brickhill.

2012-13: Presented as part of the France – South-Africa Seasons 2012-2013, by The Baxter Theatre Centre and Fortune Cookie Theatre Company, in association with the Market Theatre, and with the support of IFAS and Alliance Française du Cap. Directed by Sylvaine Strike, with Lionel Newton Patricia Boyer, Atandwa Kani, Mpho Osei Tutu, Jason Kennett, Kate Liquorish, William Harding,and Motlatji Ditodi. Designs by Sarah Roberts. Opening in Johannesburg at the Market Theatre (25 October- 9 December 2012), then in Cape Town at the Baxter Theatre (8 to 25 May 2013). The production won Best Production of a Play, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Patricia Boyer; Best Costume Design for Sarah Roberts and Best Director for Sylvaine Strike at the 10th annual Naledi Theatre Awards.

In Afrikaans

1951: Performed in the A.F.H. van Dijk Afrikaans translation as Die Vrek by National Theatre Organisation, directed by Suzanne van Wyk, with Siegfried Mynhardt in the lead role and Anna Cloete as Frosine, playing for 206 nights. The cast also included Michal Grobbelaar, Gert van den Berg and Dulsie Smit. Isabel Pienaar, Enone van den Bergh, Emgee Pretorius, Jacques Loots, Anna Cloete, James Norval, Tromp Terre'Blanche, Dan Welman. Decor and costumes Ronnie Philip.

1976: The Pieter-Paul Fourie Afrikaans translation was staged as Die Vrek by PACT, directed by Francois Swart, with Franz Marx (Harpagon), Etienne Puren (Cleante), Elise Hibbert (Elise), Harriet Pienaar (Marianne), Gerben Kamper (Valere), Johan Malherbe (Anselme), Louise Mollett-Prinsloo (Frosine), Jan Prinsloo (Heer Simon & Magistraat), David van der Merwe (Jacques), John Harley (La Fleche), Annette Engelbrecht (Mev Claude), Trudie Taljaard (Brindavoine), Woutrine Theron ('n Klerk) and Gesina Roos ('n Hondjie). Decor by Richard Cook and costumes by Johan Engels and Frances Michaletos.

19**: Done in Windhoek by SWAPAC.

Sources

"The Miser" in Wikipedia[4]

F.C.L. Bosman. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [5]: pp. 297-8;

Trek, 10(10):18, 1945.

NTO programme for Die Vrek, 1951.

Lantern, 1(3):150-151. June 1951 and 1(5):520-523.

The Miser on the the Market Theatre website[6]

PACT theatre programmes, 1964 and 1976.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

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