Difference between revisions of "Thêàtre de L'Union"
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Their first performance was on Friday March 31, 1848 in the [[Garrison Theatre]] and included ''[[Les Ressources de Jonathas]]'' (wrongly credited to Scribe), a "Great Intermezzo with Song and Dance" and the "tragic scene" of ''[[The Last Night of André Chenier ]]'' (Victor Hugo). | Their first performance was on Friday March 31, 1848 in the [[Garrison Theatre]] and included ''[[Les Ressources de Jonathas]]'' (wrongly credited to Scribe), a "Great Intermezzo with Song and Dance" and the "tragic scene" of ''[[The Last Night of André Chenier ]]'' (Victor Hugo). | ||
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| + | This was followed by a performance in the [[Garrison Theatre]] on 26 April (no plays named, but several local children performed a dance). | ||
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| + | On 22 June they opened in their new [[Thêàtre de L'Union]] and did their six performances creditably according to the local critic [[Treble Violl]] (cit in [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]], 1928: p 439). However, the palys performed appear to have been mainly repetitions of work done under Dalle Case, Apparently Suasso de Lima was the prompt on this production. | ||
Revision as of 06:55, 7 May 2015
Name of a French company briefly active in Cape Town in 1848, and the name given to their chosen venue.
Contents
The company: Thêàtre de L'Union
It was founded by disillusioned professional French performers from the Dalle Case Company, to provide them with work in Cape Town when Case's company failed. Feeling that Dalle Case had not been able to secure suitable venues for their performances and, in some instances, had not paid them, Messrs L. Victor, C. Crosset and X. Hus, announced the formation of a new theatrical company on 25 March 1848, under the motto "L'Union". It hence became known as the Thêàtre de L'Union (written Theatre de L'Union by Bosman).
The company occasionally used local amateurs for their performance (e.g. Mr Gale) and programmes consisted of musical plays, vaudeville, song and dance.
The venue: The Thêàtre de L'Union
They had formerly performed in the Hope Street Theatre and the Garrison Theatre with Dalle Case, but having found these incongenial, the company finally settled into the Drury Lane Theatre which they refurbished and intended to use under the name Thêàtre de L'Union for a run of six successful performances. However, it was soon referred to as the Drury Lane Theatre again.
Performances
Their first performance was on Friday March 31, 1848 in the Garrison Theatre and included Les Ressources de Jonathas (wrongly credited to Scribe), a "Great Intermezzo with Song and Dance" and the "tragic scene" of The Last Night of André Chenier (Victor Hugo).
This was followed by a performance in the Garrison Theatre on 26 April (no plays named, but several local children performed a dance).
On 22 June they opened in their new Thêàtre de L'Union and did their six performances creditably according to the local critic Treble Violl (cit in Bosman, 1928: p 439). However, the palys performed appear to have been mainly repetitions of work done under Dalle Case, Apparently Suasso de Lima was the prompt on this production.
The company's last performance was on September 25, 1848 in the Commercial Exchange, before ill-health and their lack of variety saw them fading into oblivion early in 1849.
Sources
F.C.L. Bosman, 1928: pp.437-9;
Laidler, 1926
[TH, JH]
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