Strathmore, or Love and Duty

Strathmore, or Love and Duty is a tragic play in four (five) acts by John Westland Marston (1819-1890)[1]

Sometimes simply referred to as Strathmore or as Love and Duty - in the latter case it is not to be confused with the Afrikaans play Liefde en Plig ("Love and Duty") by Jan F.E. Celliers (1865-1940).

The original text

First performed as Strathmore, or Love and Duty (and seemingly as a play in only four acts) on 20 June, 1849, at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London, with Charles Kean in the leading role.

Published simply as Strathmore and subtitled "A tragic play in five acts" by C. Mitchell I 1849.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1858: Performed as Love and Duty by a company made up of members of the Cape Town Dramatic Club, in support of the first public stage appearance of the twelve-year old child phenomenon Annie Rowlands as "Amy" in the Harrington Street Theatre, Cape Town, on 12 and 21 October. Also performed was Poor Pillicoddy (Morton), with Annie Rowlands appearing as "Sarah".

1859: Performed once more as Love and Duty in the Harrington Street Theatre, Cape Town, on 10 March, again accompanied by Poor Pillicoddy and performed by members of the Cape Town Dramatic Club, and featuring Annie Rowlands with Annie Rowlands once more as "Amy" and "Sarah" respectively.