("The Doctor in spite of Himself") A comedy by Molière. Written in 1666 and first performed at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal on 6th August, 1666 by La Troupe du Roi.

In 1858 turned into an opéra comique in three acts by Charles Gounod, to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré after Molière's play.

Sources

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_M%C3%A9decin_malgr%C3%A9_lui

http://www.site-moliere.com/pieces/medecin.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_m%C3%A9decin_malgr%C3%A9_lui_(opera)

Performance history in South Africa

In the original

1804: Performed by the French Amateur Company led by Ch. M. Villet in the original French (listed as Le Médecin Malgré-lui "by J.B.P. de Molière", in the announcement)in the African Theatre on 23 June 1804. Also played was Les trois Africaines.

Translations and adaptations

Adapted into English by Henry Fielding as The Mock Doctor, into a Dutch version entitled De Bespotlyke Docter and into Afrikaans as Dokter teen Wil en Dank by Uys Krige

The Mock Doctor by Henry Fielding (English)

Adapted into English by Henry Fielding The Mock Doctor, or The Dumb Lady Cur'd. First produced on 23 June 1732 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Often referred to simply as The Mock Doctor

Performance history in South Africa

1809: Performed by the Officers of the Garrison on Saturday 29 April, 1809 in the African Theatre, along with Katharine and Petruchio (Shakespeare). (The titles are given in free Dutch translation as De Bespotlyke Docter and Katharina en Petruchio in the newspaper quoted by F.C.L. Bosman)

1823: The English Theatricals company did the play in the African Theatre Cape Town on 15 November 1823 , as afterpiece to Rob Roy Macgregor, or Auld Lang Syne (Pocock).

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mock_Doctor

Bosman, 1928: 78, 197,

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

Dokter teen Wil en Dank by Uys Krige (Afrikaans)

Translated and adapted into Afrikaans as Dokter teen-wil-en-dank by Uys Krige in 1966, to mark the play's tricentenary.