The Wandering Minstrel

The Wandering Minstrel is a popular farce by Henry Mayhew (1812-1887)[1].

The original text

A farce about mistaken identity and romance, it questions the class system and exploits the different languages spoken by the varying classes for comic effect.

First performed in the Fitzroy Theatre, London, January 1834, featuring by Mayhew himself. Published by J. Miller 1834. It was regularly performed for more than 50 years and was available in print for 63 years.

Performance history in South Africa

1856: Performed as The Wandering Minstrel in the Simon's Town Theatre on 27 December by crew members from the H.M.S. Penelope, under the command of Sir William Wiseman, with Talfourd's Travestie of Macbeth. The cast probably also included local amateurs, and featured Mr Palgrave, Mrs Forrest and Miss Gretrex.

1858:

1860: Performed on the Eastern Cape border by the Band Amateurs of the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot on July 9 and 16, as afterpiece to The Corsican Brothers (Boucicault). The cast consisted of J. M’Kechnie (Mr Crincum), W. Dansie (Herbert Carroll), W. Allan (Tweedle), T. Brooker (Jem Bags), M. Rafferty (Mrs Crincum), J. Grennan (Julia), J. Durney (Peggy). The evening also included W. Allen on the violin ("in seven different positions") after which J. M. M'Kechnie sang a comic song, "Solomon Lob".

1860: Performed on the Eastern Cape border by "The Serjeants" (sic) of the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot as The Wandering Minstrel on July 21, 26 and 27, and August 3. The cast consisted of J. M. M'Kechnie (Mr Crincum), W. Dansie (Herbert Carol), W. Allen (Tweedle), T. Brooker (Jem Bags), M. Rafferty (Mrs Crincum), J. Grennan (Julia) and J. Durney (Peggy). Also included in the evening's entertainment were a solo was performed on the violin in seven different positions by W. Allen. Also performed were a comic song "Solomon Lob" in character by J. M. M'Kechnie, The Lady of Lyons, or Love and Pride (Bulwer-Lytton) and The Kiss in the Dark (Buckstone and Moore).

1860: Performed on the Eastern Cape border on November 26 by the Amateurs of the Band (North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot) , with the same cast. Also performed that evening were The Review, or The Wags of Windsor (Colman) and The British Volunteers (Bridgeman). (For more on contemporary responses to the performances, see the entry on the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot)

1864: Performed in June as part of the closing production of the St George's Theatre, Pietermaritzburg, along with Little Toddlekins (Mathews) and Who Stole the Pocket Book (Morton).

1876: Performed in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and his company on 4 May, with Still Waters Run Deep (Taylor).

Sources

"Henry Mayhew" in Steven H. Gale. Encyclopedia of British Humorists: Geoffrey Chaucer to John Cleese, Volume 1: Routledge: pp. 747-752[2]

1978. Dennis Schauffer. The Establishment of a Theatrical Tradition in Pietermaritzburg, Prior to the Opening of the First Civilian Playhouse. Unpublished PhD., University of Natal.

Ludwig Wilhelm Berthold Binge. 1969. Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1832-1950). Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

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 1923. (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: pp.69-72, 126, 163,322, 331, 339-341

North Lincoln Sphinx Vol 1, No 1. January 1, 1860.

North Lincoln Sphinx Vol 1, No 3. November 1, 1860.

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