Michael Erle, the Maniac Lover, or The Fayre Lass of Lichfield

Michael Erle, the Maniac Lover, or The Fayre Lass of Lichfield is a romantic drama in two acts by Thomas Egerton Wilks (1812-1854)[1].

Also found with the shorter titles Michael Erle, the Maniac Lover and The Maniac Lover.

The original text

First performed at the Surry Theatre, London, 1839 and the Federal Street Theatre in Boston, 1849. Published in London by Thomas Hailes Lacy in 1839 and in New York by Samuel French in 1859.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1864: Performed under its full title of Michael Erle, the Maniac Lover, or The Fayre Lass of Lichfield by the amateurs of the 11th Regiment in the Garrison Theatre, Cape Town, 5 April, with Othello (Shakespeare). The evening was the farewell performance by the 11th Regiment before they left for Durban. In addition it was announced that, quite logically, that: "On this occasion the Amateur Christy's Minstrels will also enter their farewell performance."

1865: Performed as Michael Erle, the Maniac Lover by the Valorous Amateurs (amateur players from H.M.S. Valorous) in the Garrison Theatre, Cape Town on 17 November, with Ben Bolt (Johnstone) and Betsy Baker (Morton).

1876: Performed by Disney Roebuck and his company as Michael Erle, or The Maniac Lover in the Theatre Royal, Burg Street, Cape Town, on 18 July, with The Lost Ship (Townsend).

1877: Performed as The Maniac Lover in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and company on 17 November, with Catherine Howard (Dumas/Suter).