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 a "Melo-drama, in Two Acts" by John Howard Payne (1791-1852). 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.

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

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

Performed in Cape Town by All the World's a Stage on 19 June, 1830, 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).