Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense

Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense as motto

This motto, derived from the full motto: Consacre a la Bienfaisance, Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense (= "Dedicated to charity, Evil to him who evil thinks"), was used often in the 19th century. Also on occasion serving as the name of certain companies.

Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense in Cape Town

Villet's company

Originally utilized as part of the motto of the first French/Dutch players in the Cape, often referred to as Het Fransche Liefhebbery Geselschap or the French Company, it was apparently taken over by C.E. Boniface's French Theatre Company from at least 1809.

The Multilingual company

With the collapse of the French company and the founding of the Dutch Company Tot Nut en Vermaak , the shortened version formally became the name of the bilingual company in 1814, when it was first used in the advertisment for the Boniface's ballet Sappho. (First official performance July 4, 1815. The ballet was a mixture of dialogue, song and dance; music by Lemmig; choreography by Peterson.) It was an extremely disciplined and influential bilingual French/Dutch company, which performed in Dutch, French, English or a combination thereof. It was nevertheless overshadowed by Tot Nut en Vermaak, especially during 1817-18. In 1819 forms part of Men Doet Wat Men Kan.

Boniface's company

In 1823 they performed as "Honi" again with Boniface as manager. Also later referred to as Het Zuid-Afrikaansche Tooneel Gezelschap or The South African Amateurs in most adverts. "Honi" became Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst in 1833 and eventually Vlyt en Kunst in 1834-1837. All in all had an enormous impact on the development of Boniface's art and on the Afrikaans theatre in particular.

The company members

According to W.G. Groom (quoted by F.C.L. Bosman, 1928, p 372) the key members of the company - besides C.E. Boniface himself - included Jannie Overbeek, Michael Wolff, Jan Smalberg, P. Auret, L.P. Biel, G. Martin, Miss Roselt, Miss de Necker, possibly L.H. Meurant. From handbills can be added the names of B. van de Sandt, D. Disant, H. Roselt, W. Brandt, F. Waldek, De la Sablonière, A. de Waal, W. Burnet, R.S. Allemann, De la Colline, J. Terhoven, A. de Kock, J. de Kock, K. de Kock, J. Herholdt, C. Brink, Mr Munnik, J.J. Piton, and Miss L.E. Meurant. In addition there were many dancers who performed for his company.

Productions

De Burger Edelman on 28 May 1825

De Vrouw met Twee Mannen (Pixérecourt) and The Liar (Foote) on 15 October 1825.

Celina, of Het Kind des Geheims (Pixérécourt) and De Dolzinnige, of De Gewaande Dolleman (Boniface) on 6 October 1823.

Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense in Grahamstown

Graham’s Town Theatrical Amateur Society [sic], which used the same motto from 1837-1839.

Sources

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928[1]

F.C.L. Bosman, 1980

Jill Fletcher, 1994;

Laidler, 1926;

P.J. du Toit, 1988

[TH, JH]

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