The Whites and The Browns
The Whites and The Browns is a farce by an unknown author.
Also found written as The Whites & The Browns, The Whites and the Browns, The Whites & the Browns, or The Whites and Browns.
Contents
The original text
The Whites and The Browns appears to have been a vaudeville style piece from the mid-19th century, since the only reference to such a play that has been found to date (besides the the South African performances by Disney Roebuck mentioned below) is the following item that appeared in the "Amusements" section of the New York Times of August 4, 1862 (Page 5)[1]
"Gabriel Ravel, with his pantomimic and ballet troupe, in which are included the well-known names of the Marzettis, Axel and Tophoff, commence an engagement to-night at Niblo's. They do the pantomime of The Four Lovers. The performances commence with the farce of The Whites and the Browns, with Mr. Henry Placide, Mr. J.G. Burnett, Mr. Shewell, Miss Wells and Miss Emma Taylor in the principal characters. 'Young America', the wonderful juvenile gymnast, also appears in a Zampillarostatic Act, perilously emulative of Leotard and William Hanlon."
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1874: Performed as The Whites and Browns on 31 January in the Mutual Hall, Cape Town by the Disney Roebuck company, with Lady Audley's Secret (Hazlewood).
1875: Performed as The Whites and the Browns on 20 September in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town by the Disney Roebuck company, with The Peep o' Day (Falconer).
1875: Performed as The Whites & the Browns on 22 September in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town by the Disney Roebuck company, with The Peep O' Day or Savourneen Deelish (Falconer).
1876: Performed as The Whites & the Browns in the Athenaeum Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 15 April, as an afterpiece to Blow for Blow (Byron).
Sources
"Amusements" in the New York Times of August 4, 1862 (Page 5)[2]
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.311,327, 335, 338
William Groom. 1899-1900. Drama in Cape Town. Cape Illustrated Magazine, 10(4): 478-481, 517-520, 547-552, 580-584, 640-643, 670-672, 706-708.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays
Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
Return to South African Festivals and Competitions
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
