Arrah-na-Pogue, or The Wicklow Wedding

Arrah-na-Pogue, or The Wicklow Wedding is a political melodrama in three acts by Dion Boucicault (1820-1890)[1].

Also found as either Arrah-na-Pogue or The Wicklow Wedding

The original text

Written in 1864, the play is a jaunty historical romance set in the Wicklow Mountains during the Rebellion of 1798. It was first performed at the Theatre Royal, Dublin on 7 November 1864, after which Boucicault rewrote it radically,before its first English production, which opened at the (Royal) Princess's Theatre, London, on 22 March 1865. It was first performed in the USA at Niblo's Garden, 537 Broadway, New York, on 7 December, 1865 by Boucicault's company.

The text published in New York by The De Witt Publishing House, [1864?]

Translations and adaptations

Adapted as a romantic opera in three acts called Shaun the Post in by R. J. Hughes, with music composed by Dermot MacMurrough. Performed at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, and published in Dublin by Pigott & Co., probably in 1924.

Performance history in South Africa

1875: Produced by Disney Roebuck in the Bijou Theatre, formerly the Oddfellows Hall, on 11, 13 and 15 September. The play performed on its own and became a great success for the company. The set designer W. Thorne not only provided a good setting, but apparently also excelled as a dancer of an Irish jig along with Miss Maggie Duggan.

1875. Produced by Disney Roebuck in the Bijou Theatre on 16 September, with Robert Macaire, or The Roadside Inn Turned Inside Out (Byron). The evening a farewell benefit for Mr Paulton and Mrs Paulton.

1875. Produced by Disney Roebuck in the Bijou Theatre on 17 September, with The Loan of a Lover (Planché)

1876: Produced by Disney Roebuck in the Athenaeum Hall on 1 and 7 July, featuring inter alia J.B. Howe as leading actor and William Elton as comedian.

1877: Produced by Disney Roebuck in the Theatre Royal on 12 November, and again on 13 November - this time with Betsy Baker, or Too Attentive by Half (Morton).

1878: Produced by Disney Roebuck in the Theatre Royal on 13 May, with The Lost Baby (Suter?). The evening a benefit for "The Paultons" (Mr Paulton and Mrs Paulton).

1878: Produced by Disney Roebuck in the Theatre Royal on 17 May, the Paultons having been re-engaged.

Sources

Entry on Arrah-na-Pogue in the Catalogue of Dion Boucicault Collections, in the University of Kent Library's Special Collections & Archives[2]

Arrah-na-Pogue, or The Wicklow Wedding, Catalogue information, National Library of Ireland [3]

Shaun the Post, Catalogue information, National Library of Ireland[4]

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 327-330, 340, 341, 345, 348, 351, 362, 368).

Go to ESAT Bibliography