L'Isle des Esclaves

L'Isle des Esclaves (also written L'Île des Esclaves) (1729) by Marivaux is a one act comedy [1]. Iphicrate and his slave Arlequin find themselves shipwrecked on Slave Island, a place where masters become slaves and slaves become masters. Trivelin, the governor of the island, makes Arlequin and Iphicrate, as well as Euphrosine and her slave Cléanthis, change roles, clothes, and names.

The original text

Published in Théâtre complet / Marivaux. Paris : Garnier Frer̀es, 1980-1981.

Translations and adaptations

Its title is usually translated into English as The Island of Slaves or Slave Island.

A translation into English published in Plays / Pierre Marivaux. London : Methuen Paperback, 1988. Plays included are: The Double inconstancy -- The false servant -- The game of love and chance -- Careless vows -- The feigned inconstancy -- Harlequins lesson in love --Slave Island -- The will -- A matter of dispute -- Constant players.

Performance history in South Africa

The Island of Slaves as translated by Mitzi Booysen and Raimond Schoop was presented by Minotaurus at The People's Space in January 1982 directed by Dieter Reible starring Chris Galloway (Iphicrates), Blaise Koch (Fool), Trix Pienaar (Euphrosine), Mitzi Booysen (Cleanthis) and Marthinus Basson (Instructor).

Sources

The Island of Slaves theatre programme, 1982.

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