Willem Ogier


Willem 'Ogier' was a Flemish schoolmaster, playwright and comedian.

Life

Guilliam Ogier was born in Antwerp in 1618 but brought up in Amsterdam. He returned to Antwerp after his father's death and registered with the schoolmasters' guild in 1644, becoming dean of the guild during the 1650s. He wrote comedic moralities for performance by the chambers of rhetoric the Violieren and the Olijftak. First performances were often on the Feast of St. Luke, as the rhetoricians had a close association with the Guild of Saint Luke. When the Olyftack and Violieren merged in 1660 Ogier took a leading role as "Factor" of the reinstituted chamber. He died in Antwerp on 22 February 1689.
Guilliam Ogier was the father of the playwright Barbara Ogier, who also took part in the Olijftak.

Plays

Droncken Heyn, first performed by the Olyftack on 18 October 1639De hooveerdigheydt, first performed by the Violieren on 18 October 1644De gramschap, first performed by the Violieren on 18 October 1645De onkuysheydt, first performed by the Violieren on 18 October 1646Den haet en nydt, first performed by the Violieren on 18 October 1647 De traegheydt, first performed by the Olyftack on 18 October 1677De gierigheydt, first performed by the Olyftack on 18 February 1678Belachelijk misverstant ofte boere geck, first performed by the Olyftack on 18 October 1680

Publication

Ogier's seven moralities were collected for publication as De seven hooft-sonden in 1682, with Droncken Heyn reworked as De Gulsigheydt.
A critical edition of his plays was edited by Willem van Eeghem and A.A. Keersmaekers and published in three volumes as Willem Ogier: De tooneelwerken.

Studies