Crutch and Toothpick

Crutch and Toothpick, a comedy in three acts by G.R. Sims (1847–1922)[1].

The original text

Based on an unnamed farce by Eugène Labiche ()[2], it was adapted into English produced in the Royalty Theatre, London, 1879 and enjoyed a run for 240 nights.

The English title is taken from the music hall expression meaning referring to the "Crutch and Toothpick brigade"[3] A crutch was a handled walking stick and the toothpick is refering to a gold toothpick that fops used to wear as a form of jewelry, so the tight trousered, crutch sticks and gold toothpick characters were dubbed the 'Crutch and Toothpick' brigade. Often of hangers-about at stage door.[4]

Performance history in South Africa

According to some sources it was performed in the Theatre Royal, Port Elizabeth, by Captain Disney Roebuck's company April 20–21, 1876! (This is highly unlikely, given the opening of the play in London in 1879, the date must have been later, late 1879 at the very earliest.) Starring Captain Disney Roebuck as Alderman Jones, Seymour Dallas as The Hon Guy Devereux, Wilfred Lyndon as Cecil Leighton, C J Barber as Jellico, Charles Wilstone as Fibbins, Jack Lawson as Mr Jubbins, Mr Williams as Mr Sharpe, Miss Agnes Birchenough as Amy Jones, Miss Eugenie Vernie as Dolly Devereux, Miss Florence Conliffe as Lady Penneeuick.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Marin_Labiche

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

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18830710.2.11

https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Lottie_Venne

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32714872

Laidler, 1926

Original Theatre Royal theatre program, dated April 20th and 21st, but with no year stated.

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