The Wandering Minstrel

The Wandering Minstrel is a popular farce by Henry Mayhew (1812-1887)[1].

The original text

A farce about mistaken identity and romance, it questions the class system and exploits the different languages spoken by the varying classes for comic effect.

First performed in the Fitzroy Theatre, London, January 1834, featuring by Mayhew himself. Published by J. Miller 1834. It was regularly performed for more than 50 years and was available in print for 63 years.

Performance history in South Africa

1860: Performed on the Eastern Cape border by the Band Amateurs of the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot on July 9 and 16, as afterpiece to The Corsican Brothers (Boucicault). The cast consisted of J. M’Kechnie (Mr Crincum), W. Dansie (Herbert Carroll), W. Allan (Tweedle), T. Brooker (Jem Bags), M. Rafferty (Mrs Crincum), J. Grennan (Julia), J. Durney (Peggy). The evening also included W. Allen on the violin ("in seven different positions") after which J. M. M'Kechnie sang a comic song, "Solomon Lob".

1860: Performed on the Eastern Cape border by "The Serjeants" (sic) of the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot as The Lady of Lyons, or Love and Pride with Serjeant Major T. H. Smith (Claude Melnotte), Color Serjeant W. Shaw (Colonel, afterwards General Damas, cousin to Madame Deschappelles and an Officer in the French Army), Serjeant J. Lydon (Monsieur Beauseant, a rich gentleman of Lyons, in love with, and refused by Pauline Deschappelles), Color serjeant G R Hungerford (Monsieur Glavis, Beauseant's friend, also a rejected suitor to Pauline), Serjeant P Fox (Monsieur Deschappelles, a Lyonnese merchant, father to Pauline), Color Sergeant B. Martins (Landlord of the Golden Lion), Drum Major A. Craig (Gasper), Serjeant J. Hanrahan (Servant), Serjeant M. Lyons (First Officer), Serjeant J. Hanrahan (Second Officer), Drum Major A. Craig (Third Officer), Lance Corporal J. Davies (Pauline Deschappelles), Lance Corporal J. Smith (Madame Deschappelles, Pauline's mother), Corporal G Brown (The Widow Melnotte, mother to Claude), Corporal G. Brown (Marian, maid to Pauline). Also included in the evening's entertainment were a solo was performed on the violin in seven different positions by W. Allen. Then a comic song "Solomon Lob" in character by J. M. M'Kechnie, followed by The Wandering Minstrel (Mayhew) and The Kiss In The Dark.

1864: Performed in June as part of the closing production of the St George's Theatre, Pietermaritzburg, along with Little Toddlekins (Mathews) and Who Stole the Pocket Book (Morton).

Sources

"Henry Mayhew" in Steven H. Gale. Encyclopedia of British Humorists: Geoffrey Chaucer to John Cleese, Volume 1: Routledge: pp. 747-752[2]

1978. Dennis Schauffer. The Establishment of a Theatrical Tradition in Pietermaritzburg, Prior to the Opening of the First Civilian Playhouse. Unpublished PhD., University of Natal.

Ludwig Wilhelm Berthold Binge. 1969. Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1832-1950). Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

D.C. Boonzaier. 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [3]: pp.

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

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