Nursey Chickweed

Nursey Chickweed is a farce in one act by Thomas J. Williams (Thomas John Williams, 1824-1874)[1]

(For some reason wrongly listed as Nursery Chickweed in some cases, e.g. by Google[2] and AusStage [3])

The original text

The play was created/performed in 1859 and published in that year by T.H. Lacy in Lacy's acting plays, vol. 43.

Published in Boston by Charles H. Spencer, [1869], by W.H. Baker & Company and by Samuel French as French's Acting Edition, No. 637 (circa 1876-1878).

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1860: Performed as Nursey Chickweed by Sefton Parry and his company in the Theatre Royal in Harrington Street, Cape Town, on 28 May, with Parry himself in the leading role of "Nursey". Also performed were Don Caesar de Bazan, or The Dancing Girl from Madrid (Webster and Boucicault) and a Spanish dance ("La Yolta Arragonaise") by Miss Powell.

1875: Performed as Nursey Chickweed by Disney Roebuck and his company in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, on 12 and 16 August, with Tom Paulton as the star. Also performed was The Palace of Truth (Gilbert).

Sources

The Miranda Digital Asset Platform[4], Folger Shakespeare Library[5], Washington DC[6]

The Glenn Hughes (1894-1964) collection, "19th century acting editions collection, 1762-1946", the Archives West website[7]

Nursery Chickweed: A Farce in One Act, Google Books [8]

Online Books by Thomas J. Williams, The Online Books Page [9]

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.79, 91, 326, 331, 334

Go to ESAT Bibliography