Les Fêtards

Les Fêtards ("The revellers") is a French operetta in 3 acts and 4 tableaux by Antony Mars (1862-1915)[1] and Maurice Hennequin (1863-1926)[2], with music by Victor Roger (1853-1903)[3].

Title also found as Les Fétards (e.g. in Wearing, 2013)

The original text

First performed in the Théâtre du Palais Royal, Paris, on 28 October, 1897.

Translations and adaptations

Adapted into English as a musical play called Kitty Grey by J. Smyth Pigott ()[], with lyrics by Adrian Ross ()[], and music by Edward Talbot ()[], Augustus Barratt ()[], Lional Monckton ()[] and Paul Rubens ()[]. It was first produced in Bristol on 27 August 1900 and after an extensive provincial tour, the show opened at the Apollo Theatre, London, on 7 September 1901.

Performance history in South Africa

1902: Performed in English as Kitty Grey (Bosman, 1980: p. 412) suggests the Pigott version) by an unnamed Gaiety Company in the Good Hope Theatre, Cape Town, as part of a short season there.

Sources

Robert Ignatius Letellier. 2015. Operetta: A Sourcebook (Volume I), Cambridge Scholars Publishing:p. 340, Google E-book[4]

J.P. Wearing. 2013. The London Stage 1890-1899: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. (Second, revised edition, p. 71). Scarecrow Press, Google E-book[5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_Mars

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Roger

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Hennequin

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.411-2

Go to ESAT Bibliography