Transit of Venus (play)

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Transit of Venus is a play by Canadian playwright Maureen Hunter. It was first produced at the Manitoba Theatre Centre in November 1992.

The play is based on the life of Guillaume Le Gentil (1725–1792), a gentleman astronomer. In the play, he is obsessed with observing the transit of Venus. He leaves Celeste, the girl who loves him, to embark on an expedition to observe it. He returns after six years, having failed to observe the transit. He immediately makes preparations for a new expedition to observe the next transit.

Some artistic license has been taken: the real-life Guillaume Le Gentil did not return until after the second transit, remaining overseas during the eight year interim.

The play was subsequently performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company and recorded for the BBC.

[edit] Opera

In 2007 the play was transformed into a full-length three-act opera with libretto by Maureen Hunter and music by Victor Davies. The world premiere of the opera was presented by Manitoba Opera on November 24, 2007.