La Mascotte

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La Mascotte (The Mascot) is an opéra comique composed by Edmond Audran (1840-1901)[1] with a French libretto by Alfred Duru (1829-1889)[2] and Henri Chivot (1830-1897)[3].

The original text

It tells of a farm girl who is believed to bring good luck to whoever possesses her, so long as she remains a virgin. The title as translated into English initiated the use of the word mascot in the English language to mean an animal, human, or thing which brings luck.

First performed at the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens in Paris on 29 December 1880.

Translations and adaptations

It was translated into English and staged at Abbey's Park Theatre in New York City on 5 May 1881, and in Brighton, England on 19 September the same year.

Performance history in South Africa

1893(?): Performed as La Mascotte on tour in South Africa by the Royal Lyric Company

1903: Performed as La Mascotte on tour in South Africa by the Royal Australian Opera Company under the management of the Wheeler Company from May to October. Among the performers were Dan O'Connor and Gertie Campion. The itinerary included the Good Hope Theatre, Cape Town (in May) and His Majesty's Theatre, Johannesburg (from 11 July to some time in October)

Sources

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

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

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

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

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 1923. (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: p. 414.

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