Forget-me-Not

Forget-me-Not is a comic drama by Herman Charles Merivale (1839-1906)[] and Florence Crauford Grove (1832-1902)[].

Not to be confused with a number of other plays with similar names, e.g. Forget Me Not[1] by Tom Holloway, Forget-me-not Lane[2] by Peter Nichols and Forget Me Not by the organization African Americans Against Alzheimer’s[3]

The original text

Written in the style of a French drawing-room drama, the play opened at the Lyceum Theatre, London, on 21 August, 1879, produced and performed in by the American born actress Genevieve Ward (1837-1922)[4]. In many ways this particular play would truly launch Ward's illustrious career in Britain. She toured it widely over the years, appearing in several English-speaking countries, including South Africa.

Translations and adaptations

Adapted as a silent film drama by the World Film Company in 1917, directed by Emile Chautard and starring Kitty Gordon. The film has since been lost.

Performance history in South Africa

1884: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Henry Harper and his company, as part of his season in the venue. Harper himself played "Sir Horace Welby".

1891: Performed as part of a season of plays put on in the Vaudeville Theatre, Cape Town, by a newly found company. In this production, "Stephanie de Morivart" was performed by Lilla Wilde.

1891: Genevieve Ward and W.H. Vernon opened season of 26 plays (1891-1892) with this play in the Exhibition Theatre, Cape Town, on 8 December 1891, under the auspices of Luscombe Searelle. As usual, Miss Ward played her signature role of "Stephanie de Morivart". The sets for this particular production were painted by Arthur Elliott, the famed photographer.

Sources

https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38268211?q&versionId=50672615

Martin Banham. 1996. The Cambridge Paperback Guide to Theatre Cambridge University Press: p.402 [5]

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 1932. (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.378, 391-2.

Jonathan Law. 2013. The Methuen Drama Dictionary of the Theatre. A&C Black: p. 536[6]

Allardyce Nicoll. 1975. A History of English Drama 1660-1900: Late 19th Century Drama 1850-1900 Cambridge University Press: p. 487[7]

Go to ESAT Bibliography