My Pretty Maid

My Pretty Maid is a comedy by Basil Hood (1864-1917)[1].

The original text

The play tells of "Robert Fanshawe", a meek schoolmaster, and his daughter, who is courted by two lovers who may, or may not, help her father's school. It premiered at Terry's Theatre, The Strand, London, in 1902, with Terry in the role of the schoolmaster. There exists a widely held poster[2] of Terry in this role.

For some reason the piece is wrongly ascribed to W.S. Gilbert (1836–1911)[3] by Bosman (1980, p. 414), and described as an extravaganza - however no theatrical work by this title is to be found among lists of Gilbert's works.

Performance history in South Africa

1903: Performed by Edward Terry (1844–1912)[4] and his company as part of a season of plays in the Good Hope Theatre, Cape Town, during April. Terry played the schoolmaster "Fanshawe".

Sources

J.P. Wearing. 2013. The London Stage 1900-1909: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. (Second, revised edition, p. 95). Scarecrow Press, Google E-book[5]

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

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/edward-terry-as-fanshawe-in-my-pretty-maid-terry-s-theatre-news-photo/171088136

http://www.wsgilbert.co.uk/gilbert-s-plays/

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 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.414

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