New Verse Drama Translation by Richard Wilbur

When I was writing my verse drama, Valentino, I read a lot of classical verse plays, including several French plays by Moliere and Racine translated by Richard Wilbur. I've always found his translations clear, clever, and compelling.

Richard Wilbur has now published a new translation of Corneille's Theatre of Illusion (L'Illusion Comique). The New York Sun has a review:

"The Theatre of Illusion" lacks the heroic sweep of Corneille's best work, such as "Le Cid." Yet Mr. Wilbur lavishes wit on his translation, as in this couplet spoken by a maidservant who ridicules a cowardly soldier: "In terms less diplomatic / I'd say you fled in terror to the attic." Concise, pithy rendering of difficult French verse is Mr. Wilbur's trademark, as in the maidservant's further reflection: "Women gain nothing by a jealous scene; / It only makes a man more libertine." Sometimes Mr. Wilbur adds improvements, as when the braggart soldier is told, "Hush, blatherskite." The literal French original is rather plain "Not a sound" ("Point de bruit"). Sometimes Mr. Wilbur's couplets seem to be more forceful than the original, as in the following praise of the wizard: "Mysterious forces drive this old man's heart, / And all his steps are miracles of art." The original, less exact French rhyme reads: "des ressorts inconnus agitent le vieillard, / et font de tous ses pas des miracles de l'art."

As with Wilbur's previous translations of French verse dramas, his Theatre of Illusion is likely to lead to a series of new stage productions of this venerable comedy.

Tony Kushner (Angels in America) wrote his own adaptation of the play, which was staged by BareBones Theatre Group in 2002.