Feu Toupinel

Feu Toupinel (lit. "Toupinel fire") is a French comedy in three acts by Alexandre Bisson (1848-1912)[1].

The original text

First performed on 27 February, 1890, at the Thêatre Vaudeville, Paris and published in Paris by Tresse in 1890 (a new edition by Callmann-Lévy, Paris, appearing in 1907).

Translations and adaptations

Adapted into English as a three act comedy called Mr. Wilkinson's Widows by William Gillette (William Hooker Gillette, 1853-1937)[2]. First performed in this version on 30 March 1891 at Proctor's Theatre, New York.

Another English adaptation, titled The Late Lamented, was done by Frederick William "Fred" Horner (1854-?)[3] and was first performed at Court Theatre, London, 6 May, 1891 and transferred to The Strand Theatre, London, on 1 August 1891.

Filmed in French by Roger Capellani (1934)[4].

Performance history in South Africa

1892: Performed in the Vaudeville Theatre, Cape Town, by the visiting Emilie Bevan Comedy Company as part of a three-and-a-half month season of 20 plays which began on 8 August. It is uncertain which text was used in this case.

Sources

Facsimile version of the 1907 edition by Callmann-Lévy, The Internet Archive [5] https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feu_Toupinel

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Bisson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gillette

Howard, Cecil. 1891. The Theatre: a monthly review of the drama, music and the fine arts, Jan. 1880-June 1894; London Vol. 18, (Sep 1891): pp. 137-138.[6]

J.P. Wearing. 2014. The London Stage 1890-1899: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel, Scarecrow Press: pp.65-6[]

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.394-5

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