The unwilling reception of the romantic drama in Brazil (1836)

Abstract

This article intends to describe how four French plays performed by the dramatic company of the Teatro Constitucional Fluminense between September and November 1836 were received in some Brazilian periodicals such as Jornal do Commercio, Diário do Rio de Janeiro, Sete d’ Abril and O Chronista: three by Alexandre Dumas (A Torre de Nesle, Catarina Howard and O enjeitado), and one by Victor Hugo (O rei se diverte). It will be shown that the public’s negative reaction to these four plays, evidenced by the publication of critical articles and, above all, journalistic correspondences, did not manifest itself immediately, but gradually, starting from a point of relative acceptance with the Torre de Nesle, performed on 2 September, until it culminated in the wave of indignation that followed the announcement of O rei se diverte and, in particular, of O enjeitado (a translation of Antony), in 11 November.