Thomas Hales (dramatist)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hales was a British-born
French
dramatist and librettist. He was from an Irish
expatriate family in Gloucestershire
and joined the Royal Navy
during the Seven Years' War
. He settled in Jamaica
for a short time and then in Havana
, Cuba
, before moving to Europe
to travel. He lived in Switzerland
and Italy
both before arriving in Paris
, France
, in 1770, where he was bankrupted (reportedly by pursuit of women and drunkenness).
He learned French quickly and became thoroughly fluent. He met the composer Grétry
in 1775 and began to work with him as a librettist. Their first collaboration was Les fausses apparences, ou, L'amant jaloux
. The opera was a hit, and Hales would write four more plays/librettos in the coming years. In 1777 he wrote a short fiction entitled Le roman de mon oncle. In 1778, he worked with Gréty on Le jugement de Midas
, which was based on Midas by the Irish playwright Kane O'Hara
(1762). The same year, the two produced Les fausses apparences as a comic opera
. The play was partially based on Susanna Centlivre
's The Wonder: a Woman Keeps a Secret of 1714. The third opera was Les evénements imprévus in 1779, which was inspired by an unknown Italian
original. It would inspire George Colman the Younger
's Gay Deceivers of 1804. Finally, in prose
, Hales wrote Gilles ravisseur (published in 1781).
Hales died of a chest infection in Paris. His mistress
, Madame Bianchi, an Italian actress, had left him to return to Italy, and he apparently suffered complications from a military injury.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
dramatist and librettist. He was from an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
expatriate family in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. He settled in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
for a short time and then in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, before moving to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to travel. He lived in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
both before arriving in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in 1770, where he was bankrupted (reportedly by pursuit of women and drunkenness).
He learned French quickly and became thoroughly fluent. He met the composer Grétry
Grétry
People of the surname Grétry include* André Grétry , composer of opéras comiques;* Jeanne-Marie Grandon Grétry , painter, wife of André;...
in 1775 and began to work with him as a librettist. Their first collaboration was Les fausses apparences, ou, L'amant jaloux
L'amant jaloux
L'amant jaloux, ou Les fausses apparences is a French comédie mêlée d'ariettes in three acts by André Grétry first performed at Versailles on 20 November 1778. The libretto is by the Irish playwright Thomas Hales with the verse passages provided by F.Levasseur...
. The opera was a hit, and Hales would write four more plays/librettos in the coming years. In 1777 he wrote a short fiction entitled Le roman de mon oncle. In 1778, he worked with Gréty on Le jugement de Midas
Le jugement de Midas
Le jugement de Midas is a French comédie mêlée d'ariettes , in three acts by André Grétry first performed privately at the Palais-Royal, Paris on 28 March 1778. The libretto is by the Irish playwright Thomas Hales with additional contributions by Louis Anseaume...
, which was based on Midas by the Irish playwright Kane O'Hara
Kane O'Hara
Kane O'Hara was an Irish playwright and musician.The son of a squire from Sligo, O'Hara studied at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1757 he was a founder member of the Dublin Academy of Music.His first publicly performed play was a burletta, Midas...
(1762). The same year, the two produced Les fausses apparences as a comic opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
. The play was partially based on Susanna Centlivre
Susanna Centlivre
Susanna Centlivre born Susanna Freeman, also known professionally as Susanna Carroll, was an English poet, actress and one of the premier dramatists of the 18th century. During her long career at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, she became known as the Second Woman of the English Stage after Aphra Behn...
's The Wonder: a Woman Keeps a Secret of 1714. The third opera was Les evénements imprévus in 1779, which was inspired by an unknown Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
original. It would inspire George Colman the Younger
George Colman the Younger
George Colman , known as "the Younger", English dramatist and miscellaneous writer, was the son of George Colman "the Elder".-Life:...
's Gay Deceivers of 1804. Finally, in prose
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
, Hales wrote Gilles ravisseur (published in 1781).
Hales died of a chest infection in Paris. His mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
, Madame Bianchi, an Italian actress, had left him to return to Italy, and he apparently suffered complications from a military injury.