George Washington in the French theater

The character of George Washington was reproduced on several occasions on the French scene. These compositions generally date from the time of the French revolution.

Thomas Balch indicates that they hardly deserve to be read, and if they could be listened with some interest on a theater, it can be only thanks to the sympathy which the American hero and the cause inspired that it had made triumph.

Washington or the freedom of the New-World , tragedy in four acts, by Mr. of Sauvigny, represented for the first time the July 13rd 1791 on the Theater of the Nation, Paris.
Asgill or the Orphan of Pennsylvania , melodrama in an act and prose, interfered ariettas by Benoit-Joseph Marsollier of Vivetières, music of Nicolas Dalayrac, represented on the Theater of the Op3era Comique, Thursday May 2nd 1790.
Asgill or the English Prisoner , drama in five acts and worms, by Benoit Michel de Comberousse, representing of the people and member of the college of Arts, year IV (1795). This part, in which certain Washington wire plays a ridiculous part, was represented on no theater.
Washington or the Orphan one of Pennsylvania , melodrama in three acts, with spectacle, by Mr. of Aubigny, one of the authors of the Black and white robber , with music and ballets, represented for the first time, in Paris, on the Theater of Ambiguous-Comic the, the July 13rd 1815.
Asgill , drama in five acts, prose, dedicated to Mrs. Asgill, by the Barber the Young person, with London and Paris, 1785. The author shows Washington afflicted with the cruel need to which its duty obliges it. He even makes him take Asgill in his arms and they are embraced with a comico-dramatic enthusiasm. (Act 5, scene II.). The part of Wazington was played by Mr. Saint-Price. Lincoln and Macdal was general lieutenants. The English envoy Johnson is transformed into Joston . Mr. Ferguson is put in scene, like Mrs. Nelson, widow of a relative of Wazington , the Congress, the new legislature, the ministers of religion and other many people. In this drama, the son of Wazington does not have a role, but there is its shade. The most curious scene is the first of the act IV, where one sees in the field of the federation the furnace bridge of the fatherland, on which is the treaty of alliance concluded with the French. Butler, which was indeed a partisan, ordering refugees, a true brigand, in addition to his real crimes, commits in the drama the odious crime of the captain Lippincott, who made hang the American captain Huddy, crime which forced the Americans to threaten to use of reprisals. In the drama, one makes of Huddy an English officer. Seymour is saved and Butler Pendu.
Washington , historical drama in five acts and worms, by J. Lesguillon, 1866. Not represented. Here the history is treated with an exaggerated bluntness. The scene occurs at West-point, at the time of the treason of Arnold, and the author starts by believing that West-point is the point of the west of the island of New York; that this last city is with the capacity of the Americans and that the purpose of Arnold is to deliver it to the English. Washington is made prisoner. Major André is shot; it is known that it was hung. Arnold is delivered, which it did not do. Arrive finally at a kind of apotheosis, Fayette, Rochambeau, of Fatty, of Estaing, Bougainville, Duportail and others.

Thomas Balch adds that one knows that Washington did not have a child and that colonel Washington, born in the North Carolina and who was honourably used for the head of a Body of cavalry during the war of independence, was the relative far away from the general-in-chief, born itself in Virginia.

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