Deeds of Dreadful Note

Deeds of Dreadful Note is a play in one act by Alfred Dubois (nom de plume of James Stuart Bowes, 1768/69-1863)[1]

Also found as Wilful Murder, or Deeds of Dreadful Note, A Dreadful Deed and possibly even Crimson Crimes, or Deeds of Dreadful Note.

The original text

Styled a "romantic tale of terror in one act" it was first performed at the Adelphi Theatre London in 1842, the text not published at the time.

The text finally published in London by Pickering and Chatto and in Philadelphia by Turner & Fisher, (Turner's dramatic library of acting plays, 1810?] - "Correctly printed from the most approved acting copy."

At head of title: Turner's dramatic library.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1857: A "screaming farce" called Crimson Crimes, or Deeds of Dreadful Note (attributed to William E. Burton) was performed in the Harrington Street Theatre , Cape Town, on 23 September by the Sefton Parry Company. It has been suggested that it may in fact have been a parody of this one act "romantic tale of terror" by Dubois. Also performed was Who Speaks First? (Dance) and Monsieur Jacques (Barnett and Barnett).

1859: Performed as A Dreadful Deed by Sefton Parry and his company in the Cape Town Theatre on 7 November, along with A Dead Shot (Buckstone) and a "Tambourine Dance" by Lizzie Powell