Hans, the Boatman

Hans, the Boatman is a musical comedy in 3 acts by Clay M. Greene (1850-1933)[1]

Not to be confused with dramatizations of Hans die Skipper ("Hans the skipper or sailor"), a famous Afrikaans novel by D.F. Malherbe.

The original text

Called "an idyl of the Adirondacks", the text was apparently written for the Anglo-Dutch comedian Charles Arnold, who "created" the role of "Hans" and performed it across the globe.

Arnold first performed it in England on 7 March, 1887 at the Theatre Royal Sheffield and first appeared in London at the Grand Theatre on 4 July 1887. Performed at Hooley's Theatre, on April 6, 1890). He thereafter took it on tour with his English Comedy Company, inter alia visiting South Africa and Australia.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1895: Performed in Cape Town by Charles Arnold on 11 September.

1900: Performed once more by Charles Arnold as part of a season in the Opera House, Cape Town, in early months of the year.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_M._Greene

J.P. Wearing. 2013. The London Stage 1890-1899: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. (Second, revised edition, p. 423). Scarecrow Press, Google E-book[2]

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: pp.203-205

Go to ESAT Bibliography