Les Précieuses ridicules

(Loosely translated: "The ridiculously pretentious/precious young ladies" ) is a one-act satire by Molière in prose.

The play was first produced in Paris on 18 November 1659 at the Théâtre du Petit-Bourbon.

Translations and adaptations

English translations

The Pretentious Young Ladies, by Henri Van Laun published in 1880 by R. Worthington, New York.

Dutch translations

De Belachelyke Hoofsche Juffers by Pieter de Lacroix (published by Jacob Lescailje in 1685 and by Izaak Duim, 1753)

De Belaglijke Juffers by J.S. van Esveldt Holtrop (1806).

Belachelijke Hoofsche Juffers by S.J. Bouberg Wilson (1889).

Performance history in South Africa

1809: Performed in the original French in Cape Town on 29 August, 1809 by local amateurs led by J. Riaux. Followed by something listed as a "Cantasmagorie" (possibly a misprint for "La Fantasmagorie" suggests Bosman) and a ballet by the pupils of Riaux.

1819: Performed on 7 August, 1819 in Dutch, as the afterpiece to De Speler (Iffland), by the local amateur group Men Doet Wat Men Kan, under the title De Belagchelyke Juffers. According to F.C.L. Bosman (1928, p.135) the translation/adaptation was by "Bouberg Wilson" (i.e. S.J. Bouberg Wilson), though this seems highly unlikely, the Bouberg Wilson version was only published in 1889. The most likely text used is that of J.S. van Esveldt Holtrop (1805), given his specific spelling of the title and the fact that his translations of German and French plays were often used in the Cape at the time.