Le Juif Polonais

Le Juif Polonais ("The Polish Jew") is a play in three acts by Erckmann-Chatrian

The original text

First performed in 1867

Translations and adaptations

The Erckmann-Chatrian play was adapted into an opera of the same name by Camille Erlanger, composed to a libretto by Henri Cain.

Translated into English as The Bells by Leopold Davis Lewis (1828-1890). First performed at the Lyceum Theatre, London, on November 25, 1871, starring Sir Henry Irving as "Mathias".

The play was filmed a number of times, usually as The Bells, including an Australian film in 1911, a Belgian film in 1925 (as Le Juif Polonais, an American film in 1928, a British film in 1931, and another Australian film in 1935 (this time as The Burgomeister).

Performance history in South Africa

The play is notable in South Africa as the play that launched the South African theatrical careers of two notable businessmen, who also happened to be pugelists and performers: Barney Barnato and Harry Stodel.

189*: Performed in Kimberley with Barney Barnato playing "Matthias".

1890: Performed at Rowley's Music Hall, Johannesburg, August 1890, with Harry Stodel as "Matthias".

1945: The Sonderwater Dramatic Society performed Act III of The Bells in English as their entry in the 1945 FATSSA Play Festival, directed by Captain J.M. Eloff.

Sources

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erckmann-Chatrian

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bells_(play)

Trek, 10(8):23, 1945.

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. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp.

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

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