Die Memoiren des Teufels, ca. 1878.

ArchivalResource

Schneider, L. (Louis), 1805-1878. Die Memoiren des Teufels, ca. 1878.

Die Memoiren des Teufels, ca. 1878.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/155866376

The German play is a translation (or adaptation) of a French work, presumably the play Les Mémoires du diable, by Etienne Arago and Eugène Guinot (also known as Paul Vermond). The items are handwritten role books (actors' scripts) for the following parts: Marquis von Lormias; Chevalier de la Rapinière; Graf Cerny; Jean Gauthier; Valentin, Diener; Baronin von Ronquerolles; Marie; Gräfin von Cerny; and Giraud, Pächterin. (The role of Samuel appears to be the only one missing, as the play was performed.) The title of the play is given as it appears on the role books. No subtitle is given, and the author's name is not indicated. In the context of the Learned Collection it is fairly certain that the items belonged to the theater lending library of Theodor Bloch, who was active in German-language theater in Philadelphia from 1873 until at least the mid 1890s, first as an actor and later as a prompter, and who also ran a theater lending library. The title appears in Bloch's catalog for his library, dated 1886 (see box 34), where it is listed as a 3-act Lustspiel (comedy) by Schneider with 10 male and 3 female roles. That description correlates well with the extant role books. The identification of the author is also confirmed by the information given in a theater newspaper dated 4 Oct. 1878, relating to performances of the play in Philadelphia (see folder 703). The play was performed under the title "Der Maurer von Ronquerolles, oder: Die Memoiren des Teufels." Names of several actors and one actress written on the front of some of the role books reflect that same cast of 1878.

9 items.

University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library