The French Spy; or, The Fall of Algiers is a pantomimic drama written by J.T. Haines in the 1830s.
| The French Spy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Original title | The French Spy; or, The Fall of Algiers[1] |
| Written by | J.T. Haines |
| Based on | Invasion of Algiers |
| Date premiered | 1831 |
| Genre | Pantomime |
Background
edit
John Thomas Haines authored the pantomime titled The French Spy in the early 1830s, a military drama reflecting the French occupation of Algiers, created for Madame Céleste. Written in 1831, the script required Mme. Céleste to play a travesti role and portray multiple characters. Haines' 20-page stage direction script was notably elaborated upon by Celeste.[2] Madame Céleste had once performed The French Spy 200 times in one year.[3]
The original characters included Mathilde de Grammont, the heroine, who assumed the characters of Pierre Graziot, a cadet of the Lancers, and Omar Almorid, an Arab boy.[4]
Adaptations
editDuring the 19th century, the work saw many performances and adaptations with a variety of subtitles in various combinations.
The play was revived in 1837 as The French Spy; or, The Seige of Constantina with the same three roles: the spy, an Arab boy, and the heroine Mathilde.[5] Samuel French Ltd. published The French Spy; or, The Seige of Constantina: A Military Drama, in Three Acts.[6]
French dancer Marietta Ravel's production of The French Spy occurred in 1866.[7]
References
edit- ^ Digital Collections, The New York Public Library. "(still image) The French Spy; or The Fall of Algiers, by J. T. Haines, (1840 - 2020)". The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Bogar, T. A. (2017). Thomas Hamblin and the Bowery Theatre: The New York Reign of "Blood and Thunder” Melodramas. Germany: Springer International Publishing.
- ^ Bratton, J. (2011). The Making of the West End Stage: Marriage, Management and the Mapping of Gender in London, 1830–1870. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
- ^ Tatler: A Daily Paper of Literature, Fine Arts, Music, and the Stage. (1831). United Kingdom: J. Onwhyn.
- ^ Northcott, R. (1921). Adah Isaacs Menken: An Illustrated Biography. United Kingdom: Press Printers, Limited.
- ^ Hows, J. W. S., Wemyss, F. C., Sargent, E. (1846). French's Standard Drama .... United States: S. French.
- ^ The New York Public Library. (n.d.). NYPL, Vaudeville Nation. http://web-static.nypl.org/exhibitions/vaudeville/full/TW008_5.html