L'Avare ("The miser") is a five-act comedy in prose by French playwright Molière (1622–1673)[1].

The original text

Originally entitled L'Avare, ou l'École du Mensonge (), Molière's play was inspired by Plautus's classic Latin comedy Aulularia (usually translated as "La Marmite" in French and "The Pot of Gold" in English)[2]. It was first performed on September 9, 1668, in the theatre of the Palais-Royal in Paris. Published in 1669.

Translations

There have been numerous translations and adaptations of the work into various languages.

First translated and adapted into English as The Miser by Thomas Shadwell in 1672 (who added eight new characters). Another version, with the same title and based on both Plautus and Molière, was produced by Henry Fielding in 1732.

One of the earliest Dutch adaptations appears to have been a one act play also called De Vrek by J. Pluimer in 1685. Also found are 19th century versions by J.S. van Estveldt Holtrop (1806), Taco de Beer (1863), J. Schuitemaker (1869), and of course many 20th century adaptations. There is also a Dutch version entitled Harpagon, of De Vrek.

Translated and adapted into Afrikaans as Die Vrek by A.F.H. van Dijk.

Translated and adapted into Afrikaans as Die Vrek by Pieter-Paul Fourie.

Production history in South Africa

In the original French

1945: Presented in Cape Town by a company visiting the country under the auspices of the Argentinian association Cercle des Amis de la Langue Francaise [3], with Maurice Pinson as "Herpagon". Décor by André Salesse.

In Dutch

1869: What F.C.L. Bosman (1980: p. 445) - though surely erroneously? - calls a one act version was produced in Dutch as De Vrek by Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst in the Mutual Hall, Cape Town, on 15 September, with De Kluizenaar op Formentera (Von Kotzebue).

In English

1825: There is an indication that the amateur company Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense planned a production of the play in English in April 1825, though no specific information is available about the production. (A copy of the play was lent to the society by an unknown donor in that year.)

1964: Produced by PACT, directed by Joan Brickhill, with Siegfried Mynhardt, Louis Burke, Fiona Fraser, Phillip Boucher, Shirley Firth, Arthur Hall, Percy Steven, Angus Neill, Dawson Manning, Ronald Jameson, Ian Lawrence, Ronald Wallace and Trevor Wayne. Presented at the Alexander Theatre, National Theatre, Pretoria and then taken on tour in Transvaal and Natal, playing for twenty weeks by which time Pieter Geldenhuys had taken over the role of Master simon from Dawson Manning. Decor by Clarence Wilson, costumes by Joan Brickhill.