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The French Spy

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Play by J.T. Haines
The French Spy
Original titleThe French Spy; or, The Fall of Algiers
Written byJ.T. Haines
Based onInvasion of Algiers
Date premiered1831
Place premieredLondon, England
Original languageEnglish
GenrePantomime

The French Spy; or, The Fall of Algiers is a pantomimic drama written by J.T. Haines in the 1830s.

Background

Céline Céleste as "The Wild Arab Boy" in The French Spy

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. Madame Céleste had once performed The French Spy 200 times in one year.

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.

Adaptations

During 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. Samuel French Ltd. published The French Spy; or, The Seige of Constantina: A Military Drama, in Three Acts.

French dancer Marietta Ravel's production of The French Spy occurred in 1866.

References

  1. 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.
  2. Bogar, T. A. (2017). Thomas Hamblin and the Bowery Theatre: The New York Reign of "Blood and Thunder” Melodramas. Germany: Springer International Publishing.
  3. 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.
  4. Tatler: A Daily Paper of Literature, Fine Arts, Music, and the Stage. (1831). United Kingdom: J. Onwhyn.
  5. Northcott, R. (1921). Adah Isaacs Menken: An Illustrated Biography. United Kingdom: Press Printers, Limited.
  6. Hows, J. W. S., Wemyss, F. C., Sargent, E. (1846). French's Standard Drama .... United States: S. French.
  7. The New York Public Library. (n.d.). NYPL, Vaudeville Nation. http://web-static.nypl.org/exhibitions/vaudeville/full/TW008_5.html
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