The Eddystone Elf

The Eddystone Elf is a melodrama in two acts by George Dibdin Pitt (1795-1855)[1].

The original text

Originally performed at Sadler's Wells in 1833 and 1834. According to A History of Early Ninteenth Century Drama 1800-1850 it appears to have been performed as The Monster of the Eddystone, or The Lighthouse Keepers at Sadlers Wells on 7 April, 1834 and at the Royal Pavilion on 18 August 1834 as The Eddystone Elf.

Published as The Eddystone Elf in Cumberland's Minor Drama, vol. x and by T.H. Lacy vol. lxix,

According to A History of Early Ninteenth Century Drama 1800-1850 it appears to have been performed as The Monster of the Eddystone, or The Lighthouse Keepers at Sadlers Wells on 7 April, 1834.

Performance history in South Africa

1861: Performed as The Eddystone Elf by Mrs Henderson and Mr Lamb in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, on 16 December, along with the first act of Henry the Sixth (Shakespeare), a "Pantomimic Sketch full of Hits and Skits on Cape Publicities and Peculiarities" (cited by Bosman, 1980, p. 130, from the Cape Argus of 12 December, 1861) and some variéte acts.

1862: Performed by the Amateurs of the Band (North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot) as The Eddystone Elf on September 24, in the Garrison Theatre, Keiskama Hoek, with a cast consisting of F. Girton (Mark Traverson, a retired merchant), J. M'Kechnie (Richard Clifton, his son-in-law), T. Paterson (Captain Brilliant, agent for Government), W. Allan (Metrical Mat, his coxswain), J. F. Gay (Peter Partlet, host of the Ram Inn), W. Dansie (The Elf of the Eddystone), J. Mann (Harry Grapnell, a sailor), J. Durney (Jerry Jowel, a Plymouth-Sound Boy), J. Grimley (Servant), J. Davies (Lucy Clifton, daughter to Mark Traverson). At the conclusion of this melo-drama, J. M'Kechnie sang some comic songs and this was followed by Slasher and Crasher (Morton). (For more on contemporary responses to the performances, see the entry on the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot)

1862: Performance of The Eddystone Elf repeated by the Amateurs of the Band (North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot) on September 29, in the Garrison Theatre, Keiskama Hoek, with the same cast a cast. The evening once more included comic songs by J. M'Kechnie, and the farce Slasher and Crasher (Morton). A new addition was Fitzobert's Dream, an interlude prepared especially for this occasion by Lance-Corporal W. Allan. (For more on contemporary responses to the performances, see the entry on the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot)

1862: Performed by the Amateurs of the Band (North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot) on 8 October, in the Garrison Theatre, Keiskama Hoek, with a cast consisting of F. Girton (Mr Simon Lullaby), J. Davies (Mrs Letitia Lullaby). The evening also included the play Slasher and Crasher (Morton) and The Conjugal Lesson (Danvers) as an interlude.

Sources

A History of Early Ninteenth Century Drama 1800-1850. CUP Archive: p.362; Google E-book[2]

Victorian Plays Project, Electronic catalaogue Vol 69[3]

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

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p.130.

North Lincoln Sphinx Vol 1, No 14. December 10th 1862.

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