Les Pauvres de Paris

Les Pauvres de Paris ("The poor of Paris") is a drama in seven acts by Edouard-Louis-Alexandre Brisbarre (1815-1871)[1] and Eugène Nus (1816-1894)[2].

The original text

First performed in Paris at the Théatre de l'Ambigu-Comique on 5 September, 1856.

Translations and adaptations

In dire need of money while in the USA Dion Boucicault (1820-1890)[3] collaborated with three journalists - Seymour, Goodrich, and Warden - to adapt the French play into English as The Poor of New York.

First performed at Wallack's Theatre, New York, in 1857, and published there by Samuel French in the same year as The Poor of New York. The play had a poor critical response, but was very popular with audiences, and was soon adapted to other cities where it was performed, usually billed under an appropriate name, including The Streets of New York, The Streets of Philadelphia, The Poor of the London Streets, The Poor of Liverpool , The Streets of Islington, The Streets of London, The Streets of Dublin, etc.

In the British colonies the play is perhaps best remembered as The Streets of London.

Filmed as The Streets of London in 1934 by F. W. Thring for Efftee Film Productions, Australia.[4]

Performance history in South Africa

1875: Performed in English as The Streets of London by the Disney Roebuck company in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, on 14 July, with Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady (Planché). As a benefit for Tom Paulton.

1875: Performed in English as The Streets of London by the Disney Roebuck company in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, on 21 July, with The Irish Lion (Buckstone).

1875: Performed in English as The Streets of London by the Disney Roebuck company in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, on 31 July, with A Kiss in the Dark (Buckstone). As a benefit for the South African Volunteers First Brigade.

1876: Performed in English as The Streets of London by the Disney Roebuck company (managed by C. Wilstone) in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, on 29 August, with The Laughing Hyena (Webster).

1876: Performed in English as The Streets of London by the Disney Roebuck company (managed by C. Wilstone) in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, on 1 September, as a benefit for the Volunteer Fire Brigade.

1877: Performed in English as The Streets of London by the Disney Roebuck company in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, on 10 November, "a member of the Volunteer Fire Brigade" appearing in the first scene. Also offered was Temptation, or The Moral Brand (Townsend) and a ballad by Gertrude Wynne.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89douard_Brisebarre

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Nus

Richard Fawkes. 2011. Dion Boucicault Ardent Media[5] By

The Streets of London, University of Kent Special Collections and Archives[6]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Streets_of_London_(1934_film)

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