Lend Me Five Shillings

Lend Me Five Shillings is a farce in one act by John Maddison Morton (1811-1891)[]

The original text

Said to be an English version of the little drama entitled Riche d'amour by J. Xavier, B. Saintine, F.A. Duvert and Lauzanne de Varroussel.

First performed at the Haymarket Theatre, London, on 19 February 1846, and at the Park Theatre, New York on 27 April of the same year.

Published in London by T.H. Lacy in 1846 and in New York by William Taylor & Co. in the series Modern Standard Drama (no. 24), also in 1846. A new American edition, published by Dick and Fitzgerald, New York, appeared in 1889.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1867: Performed on 4 March 1867 during a Benefit Performance for the Somerset Hospital in Cape Town was arranged by the officers of the 9th Regiment, led by Captain Borton, and performed in the Theatre Royal in association with Mrs Marie Duret and Mrs Cooper. It also featured the regimental orchestra, led by Signor Bonicoli and a performance of Macbeth Travestie (Talfourd).