A Hard Struggle

A Hard Struggle is a domestic drama in one act by Westland Marston (1819-1890)[1].

Also referred to as a "dramatic sketch". The title sometimes occurs (wrongly) as The Hard Struggle.

The original text

First performed in 1858, in February at The Lyceum Theatre, London and in the USA at The Boston Theatre and the Howard Athenaeum in the same year. Published in London by T.H. Lacy, and in Boston by W.V. Spencer (Spencers Boston Theatre No CLXI) [1858?]

Performance history in South Africa

1858: Performed as The Hard Struggle as part of a benefit for Mr Gough, put on by J.E.H. English in his New Music Hall in Buitekant Street, Cape Town on 10 August. Also performed were The Bengal Tiger (Dance), minstrel songs and dances by The Carolina Minstrels, and various song- and-dance items by individual performers (e.g. "Paddy's Wedding"[2], "Jim Crow's Dance"[3] etc.)

Sources

http://www.worldcat.org/title/hard-struggle-a-domestic-drama-in-one-act/oclc/8797278

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

Allardyce Nicoll. 2009. History of English Drama, 1660-1900, Volume 5, Part 2. Cambridge University Press: p. 103, [4]

Facsimile version of the Spencer edition, Hathi Trust Digital Library[5]

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.120-121.

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