The French Spy

The French Spy is the shortened title found for performances of a number of military dramas in the 19th century, often part of an equestrian act, military extravaganza, or circus performance.

The original text

The title of the works occur in a variety of combinations in various sources over the years, often without an author being listed.

For example, Allardyce Nicoll (1930) lists a work called The Arab of the Desert, or The French Spy, listed as a melodrama and a performance date of 2/1/1831) and The French Spy - now referred to as a "spectacle" and performed at the Queen's Theatre on 4/4/1831 (according to The Tatler of Wednesday, 27 April, 1831[], it was by a "Mr Haines and billed as a “Grand Melo-dramatic Military Spectacle”). F.C.L. Bosman (1980: p. 203) in turn cites William Groom (1899-1900), who mentions a performance of a work entitled The French Spy, or The Wild Arab of the Desert (a "great historical military drama" by an author called "Aubert").

The most concrete information however comes from Daphne Brooks who refers to The French Spy by J.T. Haynes, a title confirmed by the text published by Samuel French as The French Spy, or The Siege of Constantina by Haynes in New York in 1861. The play was in part a transformation play, with the leading lady playing three male roles as part of the action.

It seems most likely that the play performed in South Africa was not the British work, listed by Nicoll, but the later Haynes version, which in the mid 19th century had become a stock play for actresses specializing in roles involving male impersonation and transformation acts.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1866: Performed as The French Spy, or The Wild Arab of the Desert, a "great historical military drama" (said to be by "Aubert"), in Cape Town by the Le Roy and Duret Company on 9 and 11 April, with Madame Duret portraying three characters, as well as six in the accompanying play, The Actress Of All Work, or My Country Cousin (Oxberry).

1867: Performed as The French Spy the Theatre Royal in Cape Town by the "Le Roy's Original Company" on 8 April, with Betsy Baker (Morton)

1867: Performed as The French Spy the Theatre Royal in Cape Town by the "Le Roy's Original Company" on 10 April, with Ireland as It Is (Amherst?)

Sources

Facsimile version of the 1861 version of The French Spy, or The Siege of Constantina, Google E-book[1]

Facsimile version of the "Handslist of plays produced between 1800 and 1850" from Allardyce Nicoll. A History of Early Nineteenth Century Drama (Vol II 1800-1850): Internet Archive[2]

Facsimile version of the "Handslist of plays produced between 1800 and 1850" from Allardyce Nicoll. A History of Early Nineteenth Century Drama (Vol II 1800-1850): Internet Archive[3]

Daphne Brooks. 2006. Bodies in Dissent: Spectacular Performances of Race and Freedom, 1850-1910. Duke University Press: pp. 183-194[4]

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 203-9, 221-2, 294.

Go to ESAT Bibliography