Le Retour de Melun

Le Retour de Melun is a drama in 5 acts and 7 tableaux by Édouard Brisebarre (1815-1871)[1] and Eugène Nus (1816-1894)[2].

Also known as Léonard and became well known in the English world as The Ticket-of-Leave Man (sometimes found as The Ticket of Leave Man)

The original text

It is adapted from the play, Le Retour de Melun by Édouard Brisebarre and Eugène Nus, published in Les Drames de la Vie in 1860, and staged as Léonard, a drama in 5 acts and 7 tableaux, at the Théâtre du boulevard du Temple on December 31 1862. The text of Léonard was edited and published by E. Dentu in 1863.

Translations and adaptations

Adapted as an English melodrama in four acts with the title The Ticket-of-Leave Man, by Tom Taylor (1817-1880)[3]. The English play was first produced at the Olympic Theatre, London, 27 March 1863 and published in the same year.

Performance history in South Africa

1873: Performed in the Oddfellows Hall, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and his company on 6 December, with Turn Him Out (Williams).

1874: Performed as The Ticket-of-Leave Man in the Mutual Hall, Cape Town, on 7 March by Disney Roebuck and his company, with The Area Belle (Brough and Halliday).

1873: Performed in the Oddfellows Hall, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and his company on 6 December, with The Ticket of Leave Man (Robertson).

1875: Performed as The Ticket-of-Leave Man in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and his company on 30 September, with Turn Him Out (Williams).

1884-5: Performed by the Henry Harper Company in the new Theatre Royal, Cape Town, as part of Henry Harper's first season as lessee and manager of the venue.

1892: Performed as The Ticket-of-Leave Man in the Vaudeville Theatre, Cape Town, by the Chambers Theatre Company, opening on 26 December. The cast consisted of Emma Chambers, Arthur Gilmore, Robert Brierly, James Dalton, Heinrich Varna, Mr Hawshaw, J.A. Rosier, Melter Ross, Albert Harsh, Mr Gibson, H.W. Sillaw, Sam Willougby, May Edwards, Vivienne Vincent, Mrs Willoughby and Joseph Ashman.