Difference between revisions of "Charles Etienne Boniface"
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| − | (Dates uncertain: 1787-1853/1788-1854): Dramatist, theatre director, dancing instructor, linguist, language teacher, fencing teacher, composer and guitarist, music teacher. An enormously talented, intelligent and abrasive French immigrant (born in Paris ), who arrived in Cape Town on 10 February 1806, after his father’s family had fled France in 1793 after helping Sir Sydney Smith escape the clutches of the Revolution. Founder of the [[French Theatre Company]] and leading figure in the French/Dutch company [[Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense]], he played an enormous role in the development of theatre, and [[Dutch]] and [[ Afrikaans]] theatre in particular, in his [[Cape Town]] period (from 1807 to 1840), before moving to [[Natal]]. Besides being a fiery journalist who was the first writer to use [[Afrikaans]] when he edited [[De Zuid-Afrikaan]], he translated and wrote a number of plays in [[Dutch]], [[Afrikaans]] and even [[English]], which he also produced. Also noted for his uncomprimising and vicious feud with a number of Capetonians, most notably his former friend [[J. Suasso de Lima]]. In 1844 he fled to Pietermaritzburg, to help start the first newspaper in Natal (the [[Natalier]]) and practise as an advocate at law, although it is not known of he was involved in theatre whilst resident there. Never really financially successful, he committed suicide in 1853. He produced a number of “firsts”, including the first ballet in South Africa (''[[Sappho]]''), which was staged in the Cape, the first South African play in English: ''[[Kockincoz, or The Pettifogging Lawyers Plot]]'' | + | (Dates uncertain: 1787-1853/1788-1854): Dramatist, theatre director, dancing instructor, linguist, language teacher, fencing teacher, composer and guitarist, music teacher. An enormously talented, intelligent and abrasive French immigrant (born in Paris ), who arrived in Cape Town on 10 February 1806, after his father’s family had fled France in 1793 after helping Sir Sydney Smith escape the clutches of the Revolution. Founder of the [[French Theatre Company]] and leading figure in the French/Dutch company [[Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense]], he played an enormous role in the development of theatre, and [[Dutch]] and [[ Afrikaans]] theatre in particular, in his [[Cape Town]] period (from 1807 to 1840), before moving to [[Natal]]. Besides being a fiery journalist who was the first writer to use [[Afrikaans]] when he edited [[De Zuid-Afrikaan]], he translated and wrote a number of plays in [[Dutch]], [[Afrikaans]] and even [[English]], which he also produced. Also noted for his uncomprimising and vicious feud with a number of Capetonians, most notably his former friend [[J. Suasso de Lima]]. In 1844 he fled to Pietermaritzburg, to help start the first newspaper in Natal (the [[Natalier]]) and practise as an advocate at law, although it is not known of he was involved in theatre whilst resident there. Never really financially successful, he committed suicide in 1853. He produced a number of “firsts”, including the first ballet in South Africa (''[[Sappho]]''), which was staged in the Cape, the first South African play in English: ''[[Kockincoz]]'' (full title ''[[Kockincoz, or The Pettifogging Lawyers Plot]]'' - 1843) and ''[[De Nieuwe Ridderorde of De Temperantisten]]'' (also known as ''[[De Nieuwe Ridderorde]]'' or ''[[De Temperantisten]]'' - 1832), said to be the first play in Afrikaans-Dutch and possibly his best work. Other works include poetry and the plays ''[[The Blamed Reputation]]'', ''[[Het Beleg van Troyen]]'', ''[[l’Enragé]]'', ''[[Clasius stupidibus bavianus of Het proces om een komedielootjie]]'' (or simply ''[[Clasius]]'' -1834), the stories ''Bluettes franco-nataliennes'' and ''Le Latanier''. [TH, JH] |
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
Revision as of 07:55, 25 July 2012
(Dates uncertain: 1787-1853/1788-1854): Dramatist, theatre director, dancing instructor, linguist, language teacher, fencing teacher, composer and guitarist, music teacher. An enormously talented, intelligent and abrasive French immigrant (born in Paris ), who arrived in Cape Town on 10 February 1806, after his father’s family had fled France in 1793 after helping Sir Sydney Smith escape the clutches of the Revolution. Founder of the French Theatre Company and leading figure in the French/Dutch company Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense, he played an enormous role in the development of theatre, and Dutch and Afrikaans theatre in particular, in his Cape Town period (from 1807 to 1840), before moving to Natal. Besides being a fiery journalist who was the first writer to use Afrikaans when he edited De Zuid-Afrikaan, he translated and wrote a number of plays in Dutch, Afrikaans and even English, which he also produced. Also noted for his uncomprimising and vicious feud with a number of Capetonians, most notably his former friend J. Suasso de Lima. In 1844 he fled to Pietermaritzburg, to help start the first newspaper in Natal (the Natalier) and practise as an advocate at law, although it is not known of he was involved in theatre whilst resident there. Never really financially successful, he committed suicide in 1853. He produced a number of “firsts”, including the first ballet in South Africa (Sappho), which was staged in the Cape, the first South African play in English: Kockincoz (full title Kockincoz, or The Pettifogging Lawyers Plot - 1843) and De Nieuwe Ridderorde of De Temperantisten (also known as De Nieuwe Ridderorde or De Temperantisten - 1832), said to be the first play in Afrikaans-Dutch and possibly his best work. Other works include poetry and the plays The Blamed Reputation, Het Beleg van Troyen, l’Enragé, Clasius stupidibus bavianus of Het proces om een komedielootjie (or simply Clasius -1834), the stories Bluettes franco-nataliennes and Le Latanier. [TH, JH]
Sources
Bosman, 1928; De Beer, 1995; Fletcher, 1994; Kannemeyer, 1978; Du Toit, 1988)
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