The Village Lawyer

A farce, in two acts. Attributed, apparently erroneously, to William Macready, the Elder.

The original text

Erroneously attributed to the William Macready in a pirated edition, and since printed as such, the play is actually an adaptation of L'Avocat Pathelin by David-Augustin de Brueys (1706), the translation being attributed to either George Colman the Elder, or Charles Lyons. De Brueys had based his own play on La Farce de maître Pierre Pathelin ("The Farce of Master Pierre Pathelin"), the very popular medieval farce, written by an anonymous author in 1457.

The Village Lawyer performed at the Theatre-Royal, Haymarket, 28 August 1787.

Printed inter alia by in 1795, P. Byrne in 1801, R. Grace in 1819 - all attributed to Macready.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

The play is also attributed wrongly by F.C.L. Bosman (1928, p.145), in his case to a "Mrs Macready".

Performed Saturday 14 July by the Garrison Players in the African Theatre, under the leadership of Mr Cuerton, as afterpiece to a Harlequin Pantomime, devised by Mr Cuerton.

Performed again on Saturday 23 October and Saturday 6 November 1813 by the Garrison Players in the African Theatre, still under the leadership of Mr Cuerton, with Robinson Crusoe, or Harlequin Friday (Sheridan) as afterpiece.