The Fast Coach

The Fast Coach is a light comedy in one act by C.J. Claridge (Jr, ) and Robert Soutar (1830-1908)[1]

The original text

There is some confusion in the sources about this play, laregely occasioned by strange entry in Allardyce Nicoll's useful History of British Theatre[2] ascribes it to J. Soutar (Jr) and C.J. Claridge (Jr), indicating that the play was first performed at the Olympic Theatre, London, in 1851, published by L.C. Lacy in the same year.

The Adelphi Theatre Project [3] however lists the play as written Robert Soutar(1830-1908) [4] and first performed at the Adelphi Theatre, London, in 1868, and published by Wheat in 1876. The Victorian Plays Project as well as Wikipedia entry on Robert Soutar follow this, and a number of later editions of the play all list Robert Soutar as the author.

However, there is direct evidence that a performance of the play took place in Cape Town in as early as 1860, it would seems to make the 1851 date more feasible, and that suggests that either the compilers of the latter publications have it wrong, possibly referring to a later revival (perhaps the first at the Adelphi), and then wrongly ascribing it to Robert Soutar; or possibly Allardyce Nicoll had the author wrong, though perhaps the date of the first performance correct. Robert Soutar actually began his own acting career in 1852, but - being a journalist - may have written the play earlier and seen it performed in 1851.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1860: Performed as The Fast Coach by the Charles Fraser and his company in the Cabinet Theatre, Cape Town, on 21 March, with A Wonderful Woman (Dance). The performers included Charles Fraser, Miss Rowlands and Mr Raymond in the leads, with V. Verdict also praised.