The Bonnie Fish Wife

The Bonnie Fish Wife is a musical interlude in one act by Charles Selby (c. 1802 – 1863)[1]

Also referred to as a farce in one act or a burletta, and found under the titles The "Bonnie Fish Wife" or The Bonnie Fishwife.

The original text

Licenced 17 September 1858 for its first performance at the Strand Theatre on 20 September 1858. Published in Lacy’s (Vol. 37, no.551) as an original musical interlude, songs included in text.

First published in New York by R.M. De Witt in 1858.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1861: Performed as The Bonnie Fishwife by Sefton Parry and his company on 13 May, the opening night of the newly completed Theatre Royal, Cape Town. (However, Groom has the title as All that Glitters is not Gold.) The play introduced Mrs. Clara Tellett to Cape audiences, and the rest of the programme consisted of a tambourine dance by Miss Powell,songs by Mr. J.H. Leffler and All is not Gold that Glitters, or The Factory Girl (Morton and Morton).

1861: Performed as The Bonnie Fishwife by Sefton Parry and his company in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, on 1 July, with The Rough Diamond (Buckstone) and Ici on Parle Français (Williams)

1861: Performed as The Bonnie Fishwife in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by the Cape Town and Royal Alfred Dramatic Club (in conjunction with by Sefton Parry) on 1 August, with The Rivals (Sheridan) and a dance by Lizzie Powell. As a benefit for the Club.

1862: Performed as The Bonnie Fishwife by Clara Tellett and her company in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, on 11 and 12 August, with The Pilot, or A Tale of the Sea (Fitzball) , A Perfect Cure (Sapte) and The Married Bachelor, or Master and Man (O'Calligan).

1875: Performed as The Bonnie Fishwife in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 4 March, with The Marble Heart, or The Sculptor's Dream (Lambert-Thiboust and Barrière /Selby).

1875: Performed as The Bonnie Fishwife in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 5 March, with Black Sheep (Yates).

1875: Performed as The Bonnie Fishwife in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 14 September, with Plot and Passion (Taylor and Lang), "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (recited) and a "Farewell address" by Miss Berenger.

1878: Performed as The Bonnie Fishwife in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 2 and 4 May, with Robinson Crusoe (Byron). The plays featured Tom Paulton and Emmeline Montague.