Wild Oats, or The Strolling Gentlemen

Wild Oats, or The Strolling Gentlemen is a comedy in five acts by John O'Keeffe (1747 – 1833)[1].

Generally known simply as Wild Oats (see for instance the Wikipedia[2] entry).

The original text

The play premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 1791 and was published from the promptbook by Longman Hurst Rees and Orme in London 1791 , also printed for the booksellers in Dublin, in 1791.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1815: Performed as Wild Oats in the African Theatre, Cape Town on 4 November by the Garrison Players, as benefit for a regimental orphan. With a Prologue written by Captain Thomas Sheridan.

1818: Performed as Wild Oats by the Gentlemen Amateurs with the help of Mr Cooke and his company of ladies, in the African Theatre, Cape Town on 11 July (with Valentine and Orson by Dibdin) and a new Dance solo by Mr E. Garoute

1823: Performed as Wild Oats by the Amateur Company as a benefit for Mrs Green, in the African Theatre, Cape Town on 25 November (with Two Strings to your Bow by Goldoni/Jephson).

1833: Performed (under the slightly inaccurate title of Wild Oats, or The Strolling Gentleman), as a farewell benefit for Mr H. Booth on 9 March, with The Spectre Bridegroom (Montcrieffe).