An Englishman's Home

An Englishman's Home is a play in three acts by Guy du Maurier (1865–1915)[1]

The original text

The play originally appeared anonymously, under the name “A Patriot”, when it was first performed at Wyndham’s Theatre, London, on 27 January 1909, produced by Gerald du Maurier. The work caused a sensation with its theme of an invasion by an anonymous country and England's unpreparedness for such an event. The piece became a long-running success, though it caused an outrage in Germany since the German press saw it as a critique of their homeland.

The text was published by Harper and Brothers, London in 1909, now crediting Major Guy du Maurier.

Translations and adaptations

In 1914, the play was made into a silent film directed by Ernest Batley and in 1939 became the basis for a propaganda film directed by Albert de Courville , known by the original title as well as Mad Men of Europe and was released in the UK by United Artists in 27 January 1940 and in the USA by Columbia Pictures in 26 June 1940.

Performance history in South Africa

1909: Performed for the first time in South Africa at the Opera House Cape Town on 3 May, directed by Edward Vincent, who also played the leading role.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Englishman%27s_Home

http://www.theriddleofthesands.com/du-maurier-g-1909-an-englishmans-home/

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 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p.430

Go to ESAT Bibliography