Richelieu, or The Conspiracy

Richelieu, or The Conspiracy is a play in five acts by E. Bulwer-Lytton (1803–1873)[1]

Often found simply as Richelieu.

The original text

First performed in 1839. Became a standard of Edwardian theatre and is perhaps best known for its line "The pen is mightier than the sword", spoken by the Cardinal in Act II, Scene II.

Made into a film generally called Cardinal Richelieu, with George Arliss in 1935.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1850: First performed in Cape Town by the Garrison Players (a company known as Captain Hall's Company) on 24 April, with H.V. Morton's The Original.

1850: Performed again in Cape Town by Captain Hall's Company on 8 May, this time with My New Wife and My Old Umbrella by Peake.

1858-9: Said by William Groom to have been performed by the newly founded Cape Town Dramatic Club under his directorship in the Harrington Street Theatre, but F.C.L. Bosman (1980, p 143-04, footnote 533) disputes this claim, not listing it under the plays he records. Groom may have been referring to the productions by Charles Fraser, listed below, possibly done in association with the C.T.D.C..

1859: A scene from the play was performed by Charles Fraser and his company in the Cape Town Theatre on 4 August, as an afterpiece to The Misanthrope (Moliere) and accompanied by a song sung by F. Vernon. The evening was a benefit for Fraser.

1859: An act from the play was performed by Charles Fraser and his company in the Cape Town Theatre on 26 September, as an afterpiece to The Momentous Question (Fitzball) and accompanied by the farce The Croaker, or The Miseries of Human Life (Anon.) and songs sung by F. Vernon and Miss Yates.

1876: Performed as Richelieu by Disney Roebuck and his company in the Theatre Royal, Burg Street, Cape Town, on 22 May, accompanied by Perfection (Bayly) and a performance by the brass band of the 24th Regiment. The evening a benefit for Sutton Vane.

1876: Performed again by Disney Roebuck and his company in the Theatre Royal, Burg Street, Cape Town, on 26 May, "by request".

1876: Performed by Disney Roebuck and his company in the Theatre Royal, Burg Street, Cape Town, on 15 June, with a ballet. s

Sources

http://cather.unl.edu/j00046.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bulwer-Lytton

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. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [2]: p. 398,

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.125, 143, 339-344

Go to ESAT Bibliography