The name Belphegor is found as the name of a character and as the name of (or part of the name of ) many plays.

Belphegor the character

According to Wikipedia [1] “Belphegor (or Beelphegor, Hebrew: בַּעַל-פְּעוֹר‎ baʿal-pəʿōr - Lord of the Gap) is a demon, and one of the seven princes of Hell, who helps people make discoveries. He seduces people by suggesting to them ingenious inventions that will make them rich”.

A large number of works have been written using this name in the title, or the character.

Plays featuring Belphegor

There have been numerous plays over the years featuring this character, many using the name as a title. Among them are the following. Those texts that have been performed - or may possibly have been performed - in South Africa are provided with links to the relevant entries. Click on the link for more information on the particular text.

A classic text, featuring the character, and used by a number of English authors, is the French play Paillasse (or also found as La Paillasse) by Adolphe d' Ennery and Marc Fournier (1818-1879), in which the lead character is named "Belphegor". A drama in five acts, it was first performed in Paris at the Théâtre de la Gaité, on 9 November 1850.

Paillasse : Drame en 5 actes. Par MM. d'Ennery et Marc-Fournier [Marc Fournier] Représenté pour la 1. fois, à Paris, sur le Théâtre de la Gaité, le 9 novembre 1850

A number of English versions were produced in the 1850's

Belphegor the Mountebank, or Woman's Constancy by C. Webb, Performed in the 1850s. Translation and adaptation of La Paillasse of Adolphe d' Ennery and Marc Fournier; . First performed at the Royal Lyceum and Arch Street theatres. Based on the novel Paillasse, les épreuves de Belphégor by Adolphe d'Ennery (Auteur) Belphegor the Mountebank is a 1921 British silent film directed by Bert Wynne and starring Milton Rosmer, Kathleen Vaughan and Warwick Ward. It is based on the play Belphegor, the mountebank : or, Woman's constancy from the 1850s by Charles Webb. Webb's own play was a translation and adaptation of Adolphe d'Ennery's and Marc Fournier's Paillasse.

Belphegor, or The Mountebank and His Wife a romantic and domestic drama in three acts by Thomas Higgie, based on La Paillasse of Adolphe d' Ennery and Marc Fournier; published in London by T.H. Lacy, 1851.

Belphegor the Mountebank, or Pride of Bath by Benjamin Nottingham Webster (1797-1882). This was Webster's own English version of La Paillasse , first performed by Webster in the Adelphi Theatre, London, during January 1851.

Belphegor by L. S. Buckingham, An extravaganza in one act

Belphegor, or The Marriage of the Devil by John Wilson (1627-c1696), a tragi-comedy, the play was produced in 1690.

Belphegor by Wilton Jones, a musical comedy by Wilton Jones (libretto) and Alfred Christensen (music), opened in South Shields T.R. on October 20. 1889.