The Mystery of the Blue Diamond
Tintin in India or The Mystery of the Blue Diamond | |
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Written by | Hergé and Jacques Van Melkebeke |
Directed by | Paul Riga |
Date premiered | 1941 |
Place premiered | Théâtre Royal des Galeries, Brussels |
Original language | French |
Subject | Tintin attempts to rescue a stolen blue diamond |
Genre | Adventure |
Setting | India and Syldavia |
Tintin in India or The Mystery of the Blue Diamond, is a 1941 Belgian theatre piece in three acts written by Hergé and Jacques Van Melkebeke. It features Hergé's famous character, Tintin, and covers much of the second half of Cigars of the Pharaoh as Tintin attempts to rescue a stolen blue diamond. The events of the story occur within the chronology of Tintin stories, between The Crab with the Golden Claws and The Shooting Star.
History
Van Melkebeke wrote the first and third act, with Hergé writing the second act. This was the first time that Hergé worked so closely with another author to write one of his works. The play was performed at the Théâtre Royal des Galeries in Brussels, directed by Paul Riga, and found success with the public. The script of the play is considered to be lost.[1]
It is possible that the inspiration for the diamond comes from the story about Hope Diamond ("le bleu de france").
List of characters and cast
In order of appearance:
- Prime Minister Badapour: Reginald Dourka Romane
- Durant and Durand: Marcel André — the two detectives commonly known (in English) as Thomson and Thompson. Here they are introduced by name for the first time — as "Durant and Durand", although they were later renamed "Dupont and Dupond".[2]
- Dr. Mickey Nickolson: Georges Keppens
- Ms. Nickolson: Nelly Corbusier
- The Maharajah of Padakhore: Franz Joubert
- Mr. Chippendale (archaeologist): Paul Riga
- Madame Chippendale: Christiane Wéry
- Viscount Koulanky, Ambassador of Ruritania: Paul Saussus
- Tintin : Jeanne Rubens
- Fakir Caudebathimouva Thoubva: Dara Gee
- Maharaja's servant: Jean Dusart
- Rampura Lieutenant: Dara Gee
Synopsis
Act one
Pedakhore Palace, India. The Maharaja and the invited persons enter: The Ambassador to Syldavie Count Koulansky, Doctor Nicholson and his wife, and the nearly deaf archaeologist Chippendale accompanied by his wife. A telegram announces the arrival of Tintin. Count Koulansky is delighted. Since the affairs surrounding The Sceptre of Ottokar, Tintin is popularly considered a hero in Syldavia. A young reporter arrives and the soirée commences. Caudebathimouva Thoubva is to demonstrate hypnotism, followed by a large Indian ballet. At the end of the soirée, the Maharaja has prepared a presentation for those invited on the celebrated blue diamond. However, it is revealed that the diamond has disappeared. Tintin concludes that the thief is amongst the invited. Durant and Durand investigate, but without success. Tintin suggests that those to be questioned continue with him on the voyage to Syldavia aboard the Rampura.
Act two
Aboard the Rampura, Tintin questions those who were at the events of the night before, but one of the servants of the Maharaja has departed. Tintin decides to send a telegram before the boat arrives in Syldavia.
Act three
In the medieval hall of the Chateau of Syldavia, Tintin, with the use of his telegram, catches the thief.
References
Notes
- ^ Sadoul 1975, p. 143; Thompson 1991, pp. 132–133, 142; Lofficier & Lofficier 2002, pp. 148–149.
- ^ Thompson 1991, p. 52; Lofficier & Lofficier 2002, p. 31; Assouline & Ruas 2009, p. 42; Peeters 2012, p. 65.
Sources consulted
- Tintinologist.com Archived 2013-12-15 at the Wayback Machine
- Assouline, Pierre; Ruas, Charles (2009). Hergé: The Man Who Created Tintin. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-983727-4. p. 218.
- Lofficier, Jean-Marc; Lofficier, Randy (2002). The Pocket Essential Tintin. Harpenden, Hertfordshire: Pocket Essentials. ISBN 978-1-84243-226-6.
- Peeters, Benoît (2012) [2002]. Hergé: Son of Tintin. Translated by Tina A. Kover. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-0454-7.
- Sadoul, Numa (1975). Tintin et moi: entretiens avec Hergé [Tintin and I: Interviews with Hergé] (in French). Casterman. ISBN 978-2-08-080052-7.
- Thompson, Harry (1991). Tintin: Hergé and His Creation. London: John Murray Publishers Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84854-672-1.
- v
- t
- e
of Tintin
- Tintin in the Land of the Soviets (1930)
- Tintin in the Congo (1931)
- Tintin in America (1932)
- Cigars of the Pharaoh (1934)
- The Blue Lotus (1936)
- The Broken Ear (1937)
- The Black Island (1938)
- King Ottokar's Sceptre (1939)
- The Crab with the Golden Claws (1941)
- The Shooting Star (1942)
- The Secret of the Unicorn (1943)
- Red Rackham's Treasure (1944)
- The Seven Crystal Balls (1948)
- Prisoners of the Sun (1949)
- Land of Black Gold (1950)
- Destination Moon (1953)
- Explorers on the Moon (1954)
- The Calculus Affair (1956)
- The Red Sea Sharks (1958)
- Tintin in Tibet (1960)
- The Castafiore Emerald (1963)
- Flight 714 to Sydney (1968)
- Tintin and the Picaros (1976)
- Tintin and Alph-Art (1986, unfinished)
- Le Thermozéro (unfinished, unpublished)
- Tintin
- Snowy
- Captain Haddock
- Professor Calculus
- Thomson and Thompson
- Rastapopoulos
- Bianca Castafiore
- Chang Chong-Chen
- Abdullah
- Nestor
- Jolyon Wagg
- Borduria
- Marlinspike Hall
- Syldavia
- The Unicorn
- Other settings
Animated |
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Live-action |
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- Hergé's Adventures of Tintin (1962–66)
- The Adventures of Tintin (1991–92)
- I, Tintin (1976)
- Tintin and I (2003)
- The Mystery of the Blue Diamond (1941)
- Mr. Boullock's Disappearance (1941)
- Kuifje – De Zonnetempel (De Musical) (2001)
- Tintin – Le Temple du Soleil – Le Spectacle Musical (2002)
- Tintin on the Moon (1987)
- Tintin in Tibet (1996)
- Prisoners of the Sun (1997)
- Tintin: Destination Adventure (2001)
- The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011)
and memorabilia
of Hergé
- Studios Hergé
- Bob de Moor
- Edgar P. Jacobs
- Jacques Martin
- Greg
- Roger Leloup
- Josette Baujot
- Jacques Van Melkebeke
- Zhang Chongren
Category