Encore des Ménechmes

Encore des Ménechmes ("once more the Menaechmi") is a French play in three acts by Louis-Benoît Picard (1769-1828)[1].

The original text

Deriving from the ancient theme of the "Menaechmi" (identical twins) popular from the days of Menander and Plautus and appreaing often in the works of Shakespeare, Regnard, and so on, Picard's play features an uncle and his nephew, who resemble each other. It was first performed at the Théâtre de Monsieur, Paris, on 9 June, 1791, playing there and at the Théâtre Feydeau none times (9 June to 11 August 1791). It was next seen at the Théâtre de Louvois on 8 May, 1802 and published in the same year by Huet, Paris.

Translations and adaptations

Adapted into German from the French by Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805)[2] as Der Neffe als Onkel ("The nephew as uncle")

Translated from the German into Afrikaans by D.G. Conradie as Di Neef als Oom ("The cousin as uncle") in 1909.

Performance history in South Africa

Sources

Facsimile version of the 1802 published edition of Encore des Ménechmes , Google E-book[3]

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis-Beno%C3%AEt_Picard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Schiller

"Encore des Ménechmes" in Le Théâtre français de la Révolution à l'Empire[4]

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.203-205

Go to ESAT Bibliography