The Beaux' Stratagem

The Beaux' Stratagem is a comedy by George Farquhar (1677-1707)[1].

The original text

First produced at the Theatre Royal (also referred to as the Queen's Theatre) in the Haymarket, London, on March 8, 1707. Published in a small quarto (78 pages) by Bernard Lintott, according to some sources in 1707, though others say it only appeared in 1710. (See the discussion of the play on the Ricorso Website[2])

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1807: First produced in South Africa on the 8th of August by the Garrison Players in the African Theatre in Cape Town, with The Old Maid (Murphy) as afterpiece, an interlude written by Captain Frazer and spoken by Mr Napier in the role of "Cherry", and an Epilogue written and spoken by Captain Frazer as "Mrs Sullen". Another performer was Mrs Kinniburgh, one of the first women to appear on stage for the company.

1808: Performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the Garrison Players on 18 June, with The Mayor of Garratt (Foote).

1948: Presented by the Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society at the Little Theatre in November, directed by Minna Millsten.

1966: Produced by PACT from 3 May to 18 June, directed by François Swart, with Patrick Mynhardt (Fiogard), Siegfried Mynhardt, John Whiteley, Ronald Wallace, Arthur Hall, Kerry Jordan, Maureen McAllister and Shirley Firth.

1967: Produced by CAPAB, opening at the Hofmeyr Theatre on 1 July. Directed by Roy Sargeant, with Michael Atkinson, Norman Ettlinger, Peter Curtis, Phillip Boucher, Norman Coombes, Joey Wishnia, Roger Dwyer, Ken Leach, David Goatham, Elliot Playfair, Yvonne Bryceland, Valerie Miller, Jeanne Wennberg, Gillian Garlick and Pat Armstrong. Set designed by Keith Anderson, costumes designed by Stephen de Villiers).