Ireland As It Is

Ireland As It Is is a drama in three acts by J.A. Amherst (1776-1851)[1].

Also found published under the title: Ireland As It Was.

The original text

According to Barney Williams (1824-1876)[2], he first performed the play in the Bowery Amphitheatre[3], New York, playing "Ragged Pat". He and his wife Maria Pray later also did it on on Broadway and in Boston, and in 1856-7 at the Adelphi Theatre, London, while on tour in the UK.

Published in New York by Samuel French (as French's American Drama, no. 9 ) in 1846, and again in 1865 (as French's American Drama, no. 23).

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1867: Performed as Ireland As It Is by Le Roy's Original Company in the Theatre Royal on 14 March, with The Miller and his Men (Talfourd and Byron).

1867: Performed as Ireland As It Is by Le Roy's Original Company in the Theatre Royal on 10 April, with The French Spy (Haines).

Sources

Facsimile version of the 1865 published text by Samuel French, Hathi Trust Digital Library [4]

"J. H. Amherst", The Online Books Page [5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Williams_(actor)

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.221.

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