A Comical Countess

A Comical Countess is a farce in one act by William Brough (1826-1870)[1]

The original text

First performed in the Lyceum Theatre, London, under the management of Madam Vestris and in New York at Burton's Theatre on 1 January, 1858. Published in London by Thomas Hailes as Lacy's Acting Edition in 1866 and in New York by Robert M. De Witt.

Performance history in South Africa

1868: First performed in the old Oddfellows Hall Cape Town by the Le Roy and Duret Company on 14 May (and referred to as a "Beautiful Comedietta"), along with The Lady and the Devil (Clarence) and act 3 of The Octoroon (Boucicault)

1868: Performed as part of the farewell benefit for Le Roy and Duret company, in the old St Aloysius Hall, Cape Town , (though wrongly attributed to "C. Matthews" as author) on 14 August, along with a concert by the Harper-Leffler-Hirst Company and songs and poetry readings, etc. by C.L. van Vloten, E.T. Cooke and Mr Hutchinson. Madame Duret also delivered a farewell address.

1871: Performed in the Garrison Theatre Cape Town by the D'Arcy Read Company on 7 November, with A Race for a Wife (Cooper)

Sources

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 233, 251

https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/21121520

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Brough_(writer)

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Brough%2C%20William%2C%201826%2D1870

Facsimile version of the original De Witt text, Hathi Trust Digital Library[2]

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