Difference between revisions of "Zaïre"
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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]]''.) |
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== 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. ''[[Zara]]'' became 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 == | == Sources == | ||
Revision as of 06:37, 22 December 2015
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. Zara became 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[4]
Jill Fletcher, 1994
Go to the ESAT Bibliography
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Return to Z in Plays 1 Original SA Plays
Return to Z in Plays 2 Foreign Plays
Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays
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