Frou-Frou is an English adaptation of a

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

comedic play of the same name written by

Henri Meilhac Henri Meilhac (; 23 February 1830 – 6 July 1897) was a prolific French playwright and opera librettist, known for his collaborations with Ludovic Halévy on comic operas with music by Jacques Offenbach. He also wrote occasionally for serious w ...

and

Ludovic Halévy Ludovic Halévy (1 January 1834 – 7 May 1908) was a French people, French author and playwright, known for his collaborations with Henri Meilhac on the libretto, libretti for Georges Bizet's ''Carmen'' and comic operas by Jacques Offenbach, inc ...

. The title role has been played by many actors, notably

Sarah Bernhardt Sarah Bernhardt (; born Henriette-Rosine Bernard; 22 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage actress who starred in some of the most popular French plays of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including by Alexandre Dumas fils, ...

, Madame Modjeska, and

Ellen Terry Dame Alice Ellen Terry (27 February 184721 July 1928) was a leading English actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into a family of actors, Terry began performing as a child, acting in Shakespeare plays in London, and toured ...

. The

expression ''frou-frou'' refers to the rustle of silk, perhaps

onomatopoeic Onomatopoeia (or rarely echoism) is a type of word, or the process of creating a word, that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. Common onomatopoeias in English include animal noises such as ''oink'', '' ...

, hence a fondness for fine clothing.

History

The original play, often spelled Froufrou, was written in five acts by

and

in 1869, exclusively for Mlle Aimée Desclée (1836–1874), opening at the Gymnase Dramatique, Paris, on 31 October of that same year.

The story

M. de Sartorys, a shy and dignified diplomat, is in love with Gilberte Brigard, the beautiful but self-absorbed "Frou-Frou" of the title. Gilberte's sister, Louise, rather fancies Sartorys herself, but selflessly plays matchmaker and the two get married. Four years later Gilberte, who has had a child, falls for the charming rake De Valreas, a friend and accomplice of her libertine father. The two depart for Venice, leaving the child in the care of Louise who has been managing the household. Sartorys and Louise are happy in each other's company, and Gilberte, returning briefly, is jealous: "My husband and child – you have taken them from me — well you can have them!" In the last scene Gilberte's money is finished and De Valreas gone. Sartorys finds him and kills him in a duel. Gilberte begs forgiveness but it is too late, she is dying, babbling incoherently about roses and ballgowns.

Adaptations

An English translation by Sutherland Edwards of the

Pall Mall Gazette ''The Pall Mall Gazette'' was an evening newspaper founded in London on 7 February 1865 by George Murray Smith; its first editor was Frederick Greenwood. In 1921, '' The Globe'' merged into ''The Pall Mall Gazette'', which itself was absorbed i ...

, was produced at the

Olympic Theatre Olympic Theater or Olympic Theatre may refer to: * Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Australia, formerly Coppin's Olympic Theatre * National Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, converted to and renamed Olympic Theater in 1873 * Olympic Theatre (London), En ...

, London. It was brought to Australia by

Daniel E. Bandmann Daniel Edward Bandmann (November 1, 1837 – November 23, 1905) was an internationally known German-born American Shakespearean actor who after retiring from the stage became a noted Montana rancher and pomologist. In 1885, Bandmann published ' ...

. It opened at the

Prince of Wales Opera House, Sydney The Prince of Wales was a theatre in Castlereagh Street, Sydney, New South Wales. It was destroyed by fire and rebuilt twice; the second time as the Theatre Royal, Sydney, Theatre Royal. History The theatre, near the corner of King Street, Sydney ...

on 26 September 1870 with Mrs Bandmann in the role of Gilberte Brigard.

Mary Gladstane Mary Gladstane (born in the 19th-century) was an Irish-American actress of the 19th-century who had a considerable career in Australia, along with her husband and manager, L. M. Bayless. History According to one researcher, Gladstane was born Mar ...

had been playing a different variation of the same play in Melbourne. Her variation of the play opened that same night at the Victoria Theatre in Sydney. One folded after four nights and the other barely lasted a week. Neither production made money. Critics considered the play unworthy of either actress. A later adaptation, by

J. Comyns Carr Joseph William Comyns Carr (1 March 1849 – 12 December 1916), often referred to as J. Comyns Carr, was an English drama and art critic, gallery director, author, poet, playwright and theatre manager. Beginning his career as an art critic, Car ...

, opened in Glasgow in September 1879, with Miss Ellen Terry in the title role. In 1881, Modjeska appeared at the

Princess's Theatre, London The Princess's Theatre or Princess Theatre was a theatre in Oxford Street, London. The building opened in 1828 as the "Queen's Bazaar" and housed a diorama by Clarkson Stanfield and David Roberts. It was converted into a theatre and opened in 18 ...

in a revised version also by Carr. This adaptation is believed to be the one presented in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

on 26 July 1890 at the

Criterion Theatre The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre at Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has a seating capacity of 588. Building the theatre In 1870, the caterers Spiers and Pond began developmen ...

when

Janet Achurch Janet Achurch (17 January 1863 – 11 September 1916) was an English stage actress and actor-manager. She made her London debut in 1883. She played many Shakespearean roles, but is best known as a pioneer of major roles in the works of Ibsen a ...

played Gilberte and

Charles Charrington Charles Charrington Martin (1854 – 1926), often known as Charles Charrington, but at times as Charles Martin, was a British actor and barrister. Charrington studied law at the University of Cambridge, and became a barrister. He also worked ...

(in real life husband of Janet Achurch) took the part of Monsieur Brigard.

References

French plays 1860s plays Collaborative plays {{1860s-play-stub