Two Scoundrels: A Comedy in 3 Acts and a Prologue

Halifax (1842) is the result of the only known collaboration between Dumas and his younger contemporary Adolphe D'Ennery. By 1842 Dumas was an established playwright; D'Ennery though younger than Dumas by nine years had already written Casper Hauser (with Anicet-Bourgeois), and would go on to write Faust (1858) The Story of a Flag, and important Jules Verne adaptations including the astonishing Journey Through the Impossible, as well as the librettos for many operas for composers like Gounod and Massenet. D'Ennery was one of the greatest raw theatrical talents of his age, caring little for the literary side of theatre, but more for the effect on his audience.

The collaboration was a happy one in this instance. The play is unusual: the two male leads are both reprobates of sorts: Sir John Dunbar, an old rake, who was, in his youth, a companion of Charles II of England during his exile. And young Halifax his intendant, who is a reckless swordsman, and adventurer. They get on pretty well together, until Sir John wants Halifax to marry a young girl so he can more easily debauch her. Halifax balks at being a complacent cuckold. And thereby hangs this tale. The suave Sir John threatening Halifax with hanging for prior misdeeds if he refuses. Halifax is ingenious at avoiding the marriage and Sir John adept at deflecting his ruses. It really is a funny battle of wits. And despite the morals of both characters (or lack thereof) both men have considerable charm.

This was the only literary collaboration D'Ennery had with Dumas. He went on to briefly manage Dumas' ill fated Theatre Historique. This play is a credit to both playwrights and deserves to be better known.