OUR American cousin — Wikipedia

Our American Cousin (French title: “Lord Dundreary. Our cousin from America.”) is a play in three acts published in 1852 by Tom Taylor. The intrigue of this burlesque comedy is based on the presentation of an American Rustaud, but sympathetic, moreover, to its aristocratic English family. The first took place at the Laura Keene theater in New York the October 15, 1858 .

The play remained famous, because it was during its representation, the April 14, 1865 , at the Ford theater in Washington, DC, that President Abraham Lincoln was murdered.

John T. Raymond, who played the role of Asa Trenchard, the cousin of America, against Edward Sothern, in 1858

The haughty and pretentious Mrs. Mountchessington seeks to marry his daughter Augusta, very pretty, but very superficial, to a rich man, even if he is not “of their world”. The “America’s cousin”, Asa Trenchard, fresh out of his New England, as evidenced by his accent and his ways, seems to present the required qualities because he would be the heir to a pretty fortune.

But Asa Trenchard then declares that he is no longer the heir to this fortune that we are talking about, because he burned the will to light his cigar, leaving all the heritage to the delicious Mary Meredith (of whom he is in love) ! But it does not matter, because – says Asa, in a sly tone – “I am sure that your charming girl wants to marry someone who loves her, not a rich heir”. The tone rises and the aftershocks, to the point that Mrs Mountchessington asks Augusta to leave the room. It was at this moment that the exchange is located during which Abraham Lincoln was murdered.

The assassin of Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth, knows the play well, and awaits the moment when, in Act III, scene 2, actor Harry Hawk (who plays the role of Asa Trenchard, Le Cousin D ‘America a little rustic, but sympathetic) will say his fact to the unbearable Mrs Mountchessington, who plays the great English haughty ladies: the outspokenness of Asa Trenchard, who is expressed with a strong popular American accent, then still unleashes The joy and hilarity of the public, to the point of covering the detonation of the weapon. When Hawk exclaims: “What, I don’t know the ways of good society?” But I think I know enough to tell you your four truths, my old man! Kind of old manipulative man’s crunchy! “, Booth rushes and shoots the president’s head. Lincoln collapses in his seat, unconscious.

The precise exchange selected by Booth is as follows:

• Mrs Mountchessington : I am aware, Mr. Trenchard, you are not used to the manners of good society, and that, alone, will excuse the impertinence of which you have been guilty .
• Asa Trenchard: Don’t know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal—you sockdologizing old man-trap. Wal, now, when I think what I’ve thrown away in hard cash to-day I’m apt to call myself some awful hard names, 400,000 dollars is a big pile for a man to light his cigar with. If that gal had only given me herself in exchange, it wouldn’t have been a bad bargain. But I dare no more ask that gal to be my wife, than I dare ask Queen Victoria to dance a Cape Cod reel .

Translation :

• Mrs Mountchessington : “I am well aware, Mr. Trenchard, that you are not used to the ways of good society, and that will be enough to make people forget the impertinence of which you have been guilty”.
• Asa Trenchard: “What, I don’t know the ways of good society?” But I think I know enough to tell you your four truths, my old man! Kind of old manipulative man’s crunchy! Well, now that I dilapidated all this good money today, I can give myself bird names: 400,000 dollars, it’s a hell of a bunch of sorrel to light her cigar with! So still this girl ^{[ first ]} had given me in exchange, it would not have been a bad deal. But now, I dare not ask for this girl to be my wife whom I dare to ask Queen Victoria to dance with me the drunk! »»

Impact of the play on American culture [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

Before the memory of the play was forever marked by the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the play had however had a cultural impact. The character of Lord Dundreary, a somewhat slow aristocrat, became much appreciated by the public for the guys guess he proposed. “Dundrearisms” ( Dundrearisms ) to which he also resorted to some success for a time. These “dualisms” were indeed aphorisms of his invention, mixing incongruously two unrelated sayings between them, such as: Birds of a feather gather no moss (“Birds of the same flour do not bring foam”).

The scene in which Dundreary reads a letter received from his brother, even slower than him, became particularly famous. Actor Edward Askew Sothern, who created the role of Dundrery in 1858, considerably developed the scene during the performances.

The play also gave rise to spin-off , including a piece dedicated to the brother of Lord Dundreary. The type of character created by Lord Dundreary, with his long ruffled favorites, was called in English dundreadries .

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