The Bride of Lammermoor
The Bride of Lammermoor is a play in five acts by John William Calcraft, (pseudonym of John William Cole, 1792–1870).
Contents
The original text
Based on the famous historical novel of the same name by Sir Walter Scott (published in 1819)[1], the play was one of a number of works based on Scott's story.
Written and licensed for performance in 1822, to be first performed at the Royal Theatre, Edinburgh, 1 May 1822 and published in by J. Anderson, jun, Edinburgh in 1823. Later published by John Dicks, London, as No 344 in Dick's Standard Plays.
Translations and adaptations
Other versions of the story include The Bride of Lammermoor, or The Spectre at the Fountain by C. Dibdin (first performed at the Surrey Theatre, 5 July 1819) and an anonymous play put on at Astly's Circus the in the same year. (See for example, Allardyce Nicoll (2009)[2] for more on the various versions.)
The original story is also the basis for the libretto by Salvatore Cammarano (1801-1852)[3] for Lucia di Lammermoor, an Italian opera in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1838)[4]. The opera was first performed to acclaim on September 26, 1835 at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Italy.
Performance history in South Africa
1866: Performed as The Bride of Lammermoor (and ascribed to Calcraft) in the Harrington Street Theatre (Theatre Royal) by the Le Roy and Duret Company on 30 April, with as an afterpiece Sam's Arrival (Oxenford)
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bride_of_Lammermoor
http://www.eighteenthcenturydrama.amdigital.co.uk/Documents/Details/HL_LA_mssLA2289
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100136398
Allardyce Nicoll. 2009. A History of English Drama 1660-1900, Volume 4[]. Cambridge University Press:p.94[5]
John C. Greene. 2011. Theatre in Dublin, 1745-1820: A Calendar of Performances, Volume 6. Lexington Books:p.4545[6] By
Facsimile version of the 1823 edition by Anderson, Hathi Trust Digital Library[7]
Facsimile version of the John Dicks edition, Hathi Trust Digital Library[8]
https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/5565140
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p. 203
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