Le Misanthrope
Le Misanthrope, ou l'Atrabilaire amoureux ("The Misanthrope, or the Cantankerous Lover") is a comedy in five acts by Molière (Jean Baptiste Poquelin de Molière, 1622-1673) [1],
Best known under its shorter title of Le Misanthrope
Contents
The original text
Regarded by many critics as Moliere's greatest play, it presents us with a study of the conflict between the human being's his own individuality and his needs as a social animal.
The play opened on 4 June 1666 in the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris, presented by the King's Players.
Translations and adaptations
In 1986 Henri Van Laun (1820-1896)[2] translated the play into English.
The first Broadway production took place on April 10–15, 1905 at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Translated into English verse by Richard Wilbur, entitled The Misanthrope. This translation was first produced at the Poet's Theatre, Cambridge, Mass. on 25 October 1955.
Performance history in South Africa
1977: Presented by CAPAB Drama at the Nico Malan Theatre, opening 18 March, directed by Robin Lake and starring Keith Grenville (Alceste}, John Whiteley (Philinte), Roger Dwyer (Oronte}, Rika Sennett (Célimène), Lois Butlin (Eliante), Helen Bourne (Arsinoé), Philip Godawa (Acaste), Peter Cartwright (Clitandre), Pippa Dyer (Basque), Peter Krummeck (A messenger), David Crichton (Alceste's valet) and Neville Thomas (Célimène's manservant). Designers Peter Krummeck (set), Jennifer Craig (costumes), John T. Baker (lighting). The performance was preceded by Love's the Best Doctor.
Sources
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Misanthrope
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Misanthrope
World Drama by Allardyce Nicoll. Harrap, 1949. 327-328.
The Misanthrope theatre programme, CAPAB 1977.
Photograph by Paul Alberts (1977 production), NELM.
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