The Cape Mail
The Cape Mail is a one act play by Clement Scott (1841–1904)[1]
Contents
The original text
Founded on an incident in Jeanne qui Pleure et Jeanne qui Rit, a French comedy in four acts by (1859) by Philippe François Pinel Dumanoir and Ange de Kéraniou (published in January 1860 by Michel Lévy frères and first performed in Paris at the Théâtre Gymnase-dramatique, 4 April 1860).
Translations and adaptations
In 1864 Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), Charles Nuitter (1828-1899) and Etienne Tréfeu produced an operetta in one act by this title.
Scott's play (perhaps based on the one act opera?) was written shortly after, and refers to, the battle of Rorke's Drift in Natal (1879). Originally published: London , S. French in 1881, as French's acting edition, no. 1784.; and London and New York: Macmillan, 1899.
First performed at the Vaudeville Theatre, London on 11 October, 1897, playing till 2 February 1898.
Performance history in South Africa
1885: Performed as The Cape Mail in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, produced by Mr H.C. Sidney and partner Mr H.J. Fiedler during the course of the year. in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, while under the management of H.C. Sidney and H.J. Fiedler.
Sources
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011541633
http://www.worldcat.org/title/cape-mail-a-drama-in-one-act/oclc/9151818
J.P. Wearing. 2013. The London Stage 1890-1899: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Scarecrow Press: p. 358[2]
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: p. 381.
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