Dandy Dick

Dandy Dick is a farce in three acts by Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934) [1].

The original text

The play was the third of a series of farces which the English dramatist and director wrote for the old Court Theatre [2]. It tells of an impecunious clergyman who, having preached against gambling, uncharacteristically places a bet on his sister's horse horse "Dandy Dick". This leads to all kinds of hilarious trouble, including a time spent in the local police cell.

It was first performed in 1887.

Translations and adaptations

Adapted and filmed in 1935, directed by William Beaudine and starring Will Hay as the principal character.

Also adapted for BBC radio by John Tydeman and recorded featuring Patricia Routledge, based on her 1973 performance on stage.

Performance history in South Africa

1886: Performed by Madame Pearmain and her company as part of a short season of eleven plays put in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, from 22 November onwards.

1887: The play was performed as part of the repertoire of the Wheeler Theatre Company when they played in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town during April and May. Probably directed by Sutton Vane, with Frank Wheeler as "Noah Topping".

1893: The play was once again performed by the Wheeler Theatre Company, as part of a short season in the Vaudeville Theatre, Cape Town.

1918: An amateur production was staged by C.V. Becker for the Mayoress’ Charity Fund at the Palladium Theatre, Johannesburg.

1932: His Majesty's Theatre, July.

1974(?): A production of the play was directed by Pieter Scholtz.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandy_Dick_(play)

https://archive.org/details/dandydick_1709_librivox

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Wing_Pinero

Press clippings of a review by Sjoerd Meijer held by NELM re the Scholtz production.

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.)

The Rand Daily Mail, 16 July 1932.

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p. 383-4, 395, 428.

Go to ESAT Bibliography