Minette (actress)
Encyclopedia
Minette et Lise was a sister couple of two Haiti
an actresses, singers and dancers, two of the most popular in the French colony of Saint Domingue in Pre-revolutionary Haiti. They were consistent of Minette (Port-au-Prince
1767–1789) and Lise (1769–1789); they often performed together, and came thereby to be commonly known as Minette et Lise (Minette and Lise).
. Their father was white, and their mother an affranchie of African origin. The sisters was discovered by Madame Acquarie, an actress and singer of the Port-au-Prince Theatre, who offered them lessons in acting, which they accepted. In 1780, they debuted in the ballet
la Danse sur le Volcan. Minette in particular showed talent for singing, and in 25 December 1780, they were contracted at the theatre by François Saint-Martin. In 13 February 1781, Minette performed in the part of Isabelle in the Opera Isabelle et Gertrude.
Though Saint Domingue was a slave society, it was not forbidden for non-whites to work on the stage, and Minette in particular was to be very popular; she rivaled Jeanne-Marie Marsan la Blanche
, the prima donna
of Cap-Haïtien
, though Saint-Martin was criticized by some to "degradate art" by hiring coloured actors. Her career also attracted envy and slander; some was also provoked by her luxurious costumes. Minette and Lise sang in numerous concert
s and operas during the 1780s, among them Sylvain, Zémire et Azor, Aucassin et Nicolette, L’Amant jaloux and La caravane du Caire.
Lise was not to be as successful as Minette, but also had a good career touring the theatres of Port-au-Prince, Léogâne
, Cayes and Saint-Marc
after a break through performance in Cayes in 1784.
The sisters are mentioned as the perhaps most popular non-white actors before the revolution. They were also among the first non-white actors on stage.
Minette et Lise were both killed in 1789 under racial riot
s during the first revolt in Haiti before the Haitian revolution of 1791.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an actresses, singers and dancers, two of the most popular in the French colony of Saint Domingue in Pre-revolutionary Haiti. They were consistent of Minette (Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
1767–1789) and Lise (1769–1789); they often performed together, and came thereby to be commonly known as Minette et Lise (Minette and Lise).
Biography
Minette and Lise was born in Port-au-Prince in Saint Domingue in the affranchiAffranchi
"Affranchi" is a former French legal term denoting a freedman or emancipated slave. It is used in English to describe the class of freedmen in Saint-Domingue and other slave-holding French territories, who held legal rights intermediate between those of free whites and enslaved people of color...
. Their father was white, and their mother an affranchie of African origin. The sisters was discovered by Madame Acquarie, an actress and singer of the Port-au-Prince Theatre, who offered them lessons in acting, which they accepted. In 1780, they debuted in the ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
la Danse sur le Volcan. Minette in particular showed talent for singing, and in 25 December 1780, they were contracted at the theatre by François Saint-Martin. In 13 February 1781, Minette performed in the part of Isabelle in the Opera Isabelle et Gertrude.
Though Saint Domingue was a slave society, it was not forbidden for non-whites to work on the stage, and Minette in particular was to be very popular; she rivaled Jeanne-Marie Marsan la Blanche
Jeanne-Marie Marsan
Jeanne-Marie Marsan was a French dramatic actress and an opera singer, active in France and Germany in Europe, and in the French West Indies and Louisiana...
, the prima donna
Prima donna
Originally used in opera or Commedia dell'arte companies, "prima donna" is Italian for "first lady." The term was used to designate the leading female singer in the opera company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano...
of Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien is a city of about 190,000 people on the north coast of Haiti and capital of the Department of Nord...
, though Saint-Martin was criticized by some to "degradate art" by hiring coloured actors. Her career also attracted envy and slander; some was also provoked by her luxurious costumes. Minette and Lise sang in numerous concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s and operas during the 1780s, among them Sylvain, Zémire et Azor, Aucassin et Nicolette, L’Amant jaloux and La caravane du Caire.
Lise was not to be as successful as Minette, but also had a good career touring the theatres of Port-au-Prince, Léogâne
Léogane
Léogâne is a seaside town in Ouest Department, Haïti. It is located in the eponymous arrondissement, the Léogâne Arrondissement. The port town is located about West of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The town was at the epicenter of the 12 January 2010 earthquake, and was catastrophically...
, Cayes and Saint-Marc
Saint-Marc
Saint-Marc is a coastal port town in western Haiti in the Artibonite Department. Its geographic coordinates are . At the 2003 Census the municipality had 160,181 inhabitants....
after a break through performance in Cayes in 1784.
The sisters are mentioned as the perhaps most popular non-white actors before the revolution. They were also among the first non-white actors on stage.
Minette et Lise were both killed in 1789 under racial riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
s during the first revolt in Haiti before the Haitian revolution of 1791.