Janot, ou Les Battus Paient l'Amende

Janot, ou Les Battus Paient l'Amende ("Janot, or the beaten pay the fine") is a "proverbe-comédie-parade" ("a proverb-comedy-parade") by Dorvigny (Louis-François Archambault, 1742-1812)[1].

The original text

First performed at the Théâtre des Variétés Amusantes, Paris , 6 June 1779. The original title, as published in 1779 by L. Jorry, was simply Les Battus Paient l'Amende ("the beaten pay the fine"), and the work was described as a one act "proverbe-comédie-parade" or "ce que l'on voudra" ("what you will"). In later editions (e.g. by Alphonse Berenguier in 1800), the name of the lead character became the main title for the work, so it was published and performed as Janot, ou Les Battus Paient l'Amende ("Janot, or the beaten pay the fine"), the more familiar title today.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1805: Performed as Les Battus Paient l'Amende by the French Amateur Company in French on 17 June, in the African Theatre, Cape Town, with Les Soldiers Mordorés, ou La Cordonnière Allemande (Marquis de Ferrières). It featured Mr Delémery as main performer, and was apparently done using an early version of the text, for it was announced as Les Battus Paient l'Amende and described as a "comedie parade".