Blue Devils

Blue Devils is an English farce in one act by George Colman the Younger, adapted from the comedy L'Anglais, ou Le Fou Raisonnable by Joseph Patrat (1733-1801).

See L'Anglais, ou Le Fou Raisonnable

The original text

L'Anglais, ou Le Fou Raisonnable by Joseph Patrat (1733-1801). Originally written as a revue and first performed for the royal family at La Muette on 22 September, at Versailles on 20 and 25 December 1780, and the at Théâtre Variétés Amusantes in Paris on 9 July 1781. Published in a revised form as a comedy in Paris by Brunet, 1782

Translations and adaptations

Translated and adapted as Blue Devils by George Colman the Younger. It was first performed at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, London on the 24th of April, 1798. Printed by W. Burton for J. Cawthorn and J. Cawthorn, 1808.

Performance history in South Africa

1823: Listed as performed under the title The Blue Devils by Bosman (1928, p.197) on 26 July 1823 in the African Theatre by the English Theatricals company, as an afterpiece to The Honey Moon (Tobin).

1831: Performed on 12 November, by All the World's a Stage in the African Theatre, as an between The Innkeeper of Abbeville, or The Ostler and the Robber (Fitzball) and The Two Galley Slaves (Payne).