Difference between revisions of "Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap"
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| − | [[Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap]] ("The [[French Amateur Company]]") is the [[Dutch]] name for a French amateur theatre company | + | [[Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap]] ("The [[French Amateur Company]]") is the [[Dutch]] name for a French amateur theatre company which was active in Cape Town between 1803 and 1809. |
| + | When doing French plays, the company (like other companies doing French plays before and after) was referred to variously as [[Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap]] in [[Dutch]] (or in some cases as [[Een Fransch Gezelschap van Liefhebbers van het Theater]], een [[Fransch Blyspel Gezelschap]]; die [[Franse Geselskap]] or die [[Franse Amateurs]] in [[Afrikaans]] publications (e.g. Bosman); and in English as the [[French-Dutch Amateurs]], the [[French Amateur Company]], the [[French Theatre Company]] or [[The French Company]]. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
| − | |||
| − | + | === Founding by Villet (1803-1805)=== | |
| − | + | ||
| + | Originally founded in Cape Town in 1803 by [[Charles Mathurin Villet]], who had gathered a group of French and [[Dutch]] actors around him to present selections of both classical and Boulevard fare over the course of the next two years, performing under the French motto "[[Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense]]" (though the amateur company apparently never used the motto as name, this came later with [[C.E. Boniface]] in his later period). | ||
| + | |||
| + | The company performed in the [[African Theatre]] and other venues, supported and run by French and [[Dutch]] citizens. In the earlier period (1803-1805) [[Charles Mathurin Villet]] appears to have been the leading figure, | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | === Middle period under Delémery (1805-1808)=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | while [[Mr Delémery]] (possibly a passing professional actor on his way to Mauritius) was a leading figure from 1805 onwards. On at least occasion (23 December, 1805) the company was at this stage referred to as "[[Les Amateurs de l'Isle de France]]", possibly because of the presence of a number of sailors from the ships ''Atalanta'' and ''Napoleon'' which had stranded in Table Bay and Hout Bay respectively in this time. Later the names of [[Mr Nelson]] and [[Mr Martin]] are also given as directors. This particular French company declined after 1806 and announced its end by November 1808. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''See also [[Charles Mathurin Villet]]''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Brief revival under Boniface (1808-9) === | ||
| + | |||
| + | There was a brief revival in 1808-9, when a group of amateur and professional players, possibly remnants of the original company, with the young [[Charles Etienne Boniface]] very prominent, and referred to as the "[[French Theatrical Company]]" or "[[French Theatre Company]]" , where they produced a number of French works, including ''[[Les Plaideurs]]'' (Racine), ''[[Le Petit Matelot, ou Le Mariage Impromptu]]'' (Pigault Lebrun), | ||
By the end of 1809 this group appears to have amalgamated with Boniface's trilingual Dutch/French/English company performing under the motto [[Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense]] in the [[African Theatre]]. | By the end of 1809 this group appears to have amalgamated with Boniface's trilingual Dutch/French/English company performing under the motto [[Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense]] in the [[African Theatre]]. | ||
| − | '''See also | + | '''See also [[Charles Etienne Boniface]]''' |
== Performances == | == Performances == | ||
| − | [[Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap]] performed a large number of French plays in the original language, including: | + | Playing under one of the various names, [[Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap]] performed a large number of French plays in the original language, including: |
In 1803: ''[[Les Prisonniers de Guerre]]'' (Rousseau), ''[[Arlequin Afficheur]]'' (Desfontaines and Barré), ''[[Les Deux Jumeaux de Bergame]]'' (De Florian), ''[[Le Revanche Forcé]]'', ''[[Toinon et Toinette]]'' (Desboulmiers), ''[[Le Tableau Parlant]]'' (Anseaume), ''[[Le Tonnelier]]'' (Audinot), ''[[Pygmalion]]'' (Rousseau), ''[[Le Directeur de la Comedie]]'' | In 1803: ''[[Les Prisonniers de Guerre]]'' (Rousseau), ''[[Arlequin Afficheur]]'' (Desfontaines and Barré), ''[[Les Deux Jumeaux de Bergame]]'' (De Florian), ''[[Le Revanche Forcé]]'', ''[[Toinon et Toinette]]'' (Desboulmiers), ''[[Le Tableau Parlant]]'' (Anseaume), ''[[Le Tonnelier]]'' (Audinot), ''[[Pygmalion]]'' (Rousseau), ''[[Le Directeur de la Comedie]]'' | ||
Revision as of 06:34, 6 August 2016
Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap ("The French Amateur Company") is the Dutch name for a French amateur theatre company which was active in Cape Town between 1803 and 1809.
When doing French plays, the company (like other companies doing French plays before and after) was referred to variously as Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap in Dutch (or in some cases as Een Fransch Gezelschap van Liefhebbers van het Theater, een Fransch Blyspel Gezelschap; die Franse Geselskap or die Franse Amateurs in Afrikaans publications (e.g. Bosman); and in English as the French-Dutch Amateurs, the French Amateur Company, the French Theatre Company or The French Company.
Contents
History
Founding by Villet (1803-1805)
Originally founded in Cape Town in 1803 by Charles Mathurin Villet, who had gathered a group of French and Dutch actors around him to present selections of both classical and Boulevard fare over the course of the next two years, performing under the French motto "Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense" (though the amateur company apparently never used the motto as name, this came later with C.E. Boniface in his later period).
The company performed in the African Theatre and other venues, supported and run by French and Dutch citizens. In the earlier period (1803-1805) Charles Mathurin Villet appears to have been the leading figure,
Middle period under Delémery (1805-1808)
while Mr Delémery (possibly a passing professional actor on his way to Mauritius) was a leading figure from 1805 onwards. On at least occasion (23 December, 1805) the company was at this stage referred to as "Les Amateurs de l'Isle de France", possibly because of the presence of a number of sailors from the ships Atalanta and Napoleon which had stranded in Table Bay and Hout Bay respectively in this time. Later the names of Mr Nelson and Mr Martin are also given as directors. This particular French company declined after 1806 and announced its end by November 1808.
See also Charles Mathurin Villet
Brief revival under Boniface (1808-9)
There was a brief revival in 1808-9, when a group of amateur and professional players, possibly remnants of the original company, with the young Charles Etienne Boniface very prominent, and referred to as the "French Theatrical Company" or "French Theatre Company" , where they produced a number of French works, including Les Plaideurs (Racine), Le Petit Matelot, ou Le Mariage Impromptu (Pigault Lebrun),
By the end of 1809 this group appears to have amalgamated with Boniface's trilingual Dutch/French/English company performing under the motto Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense in the African Theatre.
See also Charles Etienne Boniface
Performances
Playing under one of the various names, Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap performed a large number of French plays in the original language, including:
In 1803: Les Prisonniers de Guerre (Rousseau), Arlequin Afficheur (Desfontaines and Barré), Les Deux Jumeaux de Bergame (De Florian), Le Revanche Forcé, Toinon et Toinette (Desboulmiers), Le Tableau Parlant (Anseaume), Le Tonnelier (Audinot), Pygmalion (Rousseau), Le Directeur de la Comedie
In 1804: Barnabas (Holberg),
Sources
F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp. 83-92; 116-7; 174;
Du Toit, 1988
Fletcher, 1994;
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