Only a Halfpenny

Only a Halfpenny is a farce in one act by John Oxenford (1812-1877)[1].

The original text

First performed at the Royal Haymarket Theatre, London, on 30 May 1855 and published by T.H. Lacy, London, in the same year and by Robert M. de Witt in New York.

Performance history in South Africa

1861: Produced by Officers of the Regiment (North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot) in the Garrison Theatre, Grahamstown on 9 and 12 September, with Box and Cox (Morton) and Crinoline (Brough). Cast for Only a Halfpenny consisted of Captain G. E. Bulger (Mr Fitzroy Plantagenet), R. Annesley Esq. (Stanley Jones), W. Malcolm Esq. (Henrietta), Corporal J. Davies (Bridget).(For more on contemporary responses to the performances, see the entry on the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot)

1861: Performed in the Theatre Royal by the Sefton Parry company on 28 October, with Henrietta the Forsaken (Buckstone) and Mr H.W. Franklin and "his celebrated Act" The Corde Volante. The evening a benefit for Mrs Parry.

Sources

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

Facsimile version of the Lacy edition, Hathi Trust Digital Library[2]

North Lincoln Sphinx Vol 1, No 8. September 30, 1861.

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p.99.

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