The Bells of Haslemere

The Bells of Haslemere is a romantic drama in four acts by Henry Pettitt (1848–1893)[1] and Sydney Grundy (1848–1914)[2].

The title seemingly misspelled as The Bells of Haselmere on occasion (e.g. by D.C. Boonzaier, 1923).

The original text

Opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 28 July, 1887, with William Terriss as "Frank Beresford", the Squire of Haslemere. The play subsequently opened at the Windsor Theatre in New York on 23 December, 1889.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1890: Performed in the Vaudeville Theatre, Cape Town, opening on 8 March, by the Chambers Theatrical Company, under the management of Emma Chambers. The cast consisted of Will R. Bernard, Albert Marsh, Reuben Armstrong, Joseph Ashman, Edward Vincent, Harold Selwyn, George Herbert, Affey Bevan, Emilie Bevan, Emma Chambers, Roy Aird.

1892: Performed in the Vaudeville Theatre, Cape Town, by the visiting Emilie Bevan Comedy Company as part of a three-and-a-half month season of 20 plays which began on 8 August.

Sources

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-bells-of-haslemere-512200

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

The Adelpji Theatre Calendar: A Record of Dramatic Performances at a Leading Victorian Theatre[3]

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 1923. (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. 390, 394-5

Go to ESAT Bibliography