La Jeunesse de Henri V

A French prose comedy in three acts by Alexandre Duval (Alexandre-Vincent Pineux Duval, 1767-1842)[1].

The original play

Performed in the Théâtre Français, on 9 June, 1806 and at St Cloud before the royal family on 22 June. Published in Paris in 1806.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Dutch by С. Vandevyver/C. vandeVyvere as De Jeugd van Hendrik den Vyfde.

Translated into English as The Two Galley Slaves, a "Melo-drama, in Two Acts" by John Howard Payne (1791-1852)[2]. The translation first performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 18** Published by T.H. Lacy, 18 **/John Cumberland, 18**

Performance history in South Africa

This play was apparently very popular in Cape Town during the mid-19th century.

1825: Produced in English by the Garrison Players in the African Theatre, Cape Town on 27 August, with as afterpiece the farce X.Y.Z. (Colman the Younger).

1829: Performed in English in Cape Town by the Cape Town Amateur Company on 20 June with The Liar (Foote) as afterpiece.

1830: Performed in English in Cape Town by All the World's a Stage on 19 June, as afterpiece to The Gambler's Fate, or A Lapse of Twenty Years (Thompson). Billed as a "Petite Comedy" on this occasion.

1831: Performed once more ("by special request") in Cape Town by All the World's a Stage on 11 June, as afterpiece to The School of Reform, or How to Rule a Husband (Th. Morton).

1831: Performed in Cape Town by All the World's a Stage on 12 November, as afterpiece to The Innkeeper of Abbeville, or The Ostler and the Robber (Fitzball) and Blue Devils (Colman the Younger).

1833: Performed in Dutch as De Jeugd van Hendrik den Vyfde on 10 August Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst in the African Theatre , with De Helleveeg (Loosjes).