View source for Masks and Faces, or Before and Behind the Curtain

''[[Masks and Faces, or Before and Behind the Curtain]]'' is a comedy by Tom Taylor ( 1817–1880)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Taylor]  and Charles Reade (1814-1884)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Reade].

Also referred to simply as '''''[[Masks and Faces]]'''''

==The original text==

Based on the life of the Irish actress Peg Woffington (1720-1760)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peg_Woffington], the play was first produced by [[Benjamin Webster]] in November, 1852; and played 103 nights at the Haymarket and Adelphi Theatres.

The text published as ''[[Masks and Faces, or Before and Behind the Curtain]]'' by Richard Bentley in 1854

It appears the play may have been performed under the title of '''''[[Peg Woffington]]''''' as well.

==Translations and adaptations==

Because of the success of the play, Reade wrote a novel called ''[[Peg Woffington]]'' and these works in turn led to a number of films, including ''[[Peg Woffington]]'' (1910 & 1912), ''[[Masks and Faces]]'' (1917) and ''Peg of Old Drury'' (1935).

== Performance history in South Africa ==


1867: Performed as ''[[Masks and Faces]]'' by the [[James Leffler]]  in the [[Theatre Royal]] in Harrington Street, Cape Town, on 20 December, with ''[[Cramond Brig]]'' (Murray).

1901: A play called ''[[Peg Woffington]]'' was produced in the [[Good Hope Theatre]], Cape Town, during September by the [[Wheeler Theatre Company]] with American actress [[Nance O'Neill]] in the leading role.  

1902: Produced again in the [[Good Hope Theatre]] by the [[Wheeler Theatre Company]] during February, once more with [[Nance O'Neill]] in the lead.

== Sources ==

Transcript version of the 1859 text by Bentley, The [[Project Gutenberg]] EBook[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/51385/51385-h/51385-h.htm]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masks_and_Faces_(play)

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

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

[[D.C. Boonzaier]], 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage",  in ''SA Review'', 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] 1980: pp. 374-439.)

[[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: p.220

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

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