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''[[Our Boys]]'' is a comedy in three acts drama in three acts by Henry James Byron (1835–1884)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_James_Byron].

==The original text==

First performed on 16 January 1875 at the Vaudeville Theatre, London and at the New Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York,  on 18 September, 1875. For almost 20 years it was the world's longest-running play, only surpassed by ''[[Charley's Aunt]]'' in the 1890s.  Published by T.H. Lacy and Samuel French.  

==Translations and adaptations==

== Performance history in South Africa ==

The popular comedy was well received when first performed in South Africa in 1877 by of [[Disney Roebuck]] and company, and according to [[Vane Bennett]] (1885, p.24),  would become a "sure card in the managerial hand"  in that period. 

1877: Performed by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town on 15 to 17 October.

1877: Performed by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town on 18 and 19 October, with ''[[Awakening]]'' (Dandeau & Cecourcelle/Clarke). 

1877: Performed by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town on 20 October, with ''[[Ben Bolt]]'' (Johnstone), as a benefit for [[E.V. Sinclair]] and [[Mrs Sinclair]].

1878: Performed again by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, playing from 8 to 13 February, the last performance taking place under the patronage of Colonel Richard George Southey CB CMG (1844–1909)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Southey_(British_Army_officer)]  and the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteers[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Town_Rifles]. 

1878: Performed again by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, playing from 27 March, with the orchestra of the Connaught Rangers and followed by a ballet. The evening under the patronage of the Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony, Sir A. Cunynghame[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Cunynghame] and his wife.       

1878: Performed by the [[Disney Roebuck]] company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, on 4 July, with as ''[[The Captain's Not-A-Miss]]'' (Wilks).

1878: Performed by [[Disney Roebuck]] and his company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, on 5 July, with ''[[Poppleton's Predicaments]]'' (Rae).

1884-5: Performed by the [[Henry Harper Company]] in the new [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, as part of [[Henry Harper]]'s  first season as lessee and manager of the venue.

April 1,2 and 4, 1895. Staged in the [[Port Elizabeth Opera House]] by the [[Port Elizabeth Amateur Dramatic Club]] under the direction of [[Henry Sims]]. Starring Mrs Bigg as Clarissa Champneys, Miss Leslie, [[Effie Stewart]] as Cousin Mary, [[Kathleen Edwards]] as Belinda, Mr Mieville as Sir Geoffrey Champneys, [[Henry Sims]] as Talbot, [[Hamilton Lane]] as Charles Middlewick, and Mr [[Val Davies]] as the butterman.

February 1901: Staged in the [[Port Elizabeth Opera House]], by the [[Joseph Ashman Company]] by arrangement with [[Leonard Rayne]].

== Sources ==

[[Eastern Province Herald]]. April 1, 1895.

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

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

The [[Port Elizabeth Advertiser]], Port Elizabeth, February 5, 1901.

Jim Davis (ed). 1984. ''Plays by H. J. Byron'' CUP Archive[https://books.google.co.za/books?id=o7g8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37&dq=our+boys+by+byron+published+by&source=bl&ots=gBvcjQjkW0&sig=DGaUZdRpRpO5WXGFArEyUcHLGts&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiyhoqL7K3aAhUsB8AKHXHJCpU4ChDoAQgnMAA#v=onepage&q=our%20boys%20by%20byron%20published%20by&f=false]

[[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp. 353, 361, 365-6, 370, 379, 380, 400.

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

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