The Old Maid

A comedy in two acts by Arthur Murphy (1727 – 1805). Written in 1761.

Performance history in South Africa

Performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the Garrison Players on 9 July, 1807, with The Rivals (Sheridan) and an epilogue written an spoken by Captain Collins.

Performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the Garrison Players on 8 August, 1807, as afterpiece to The Beaux Stratagem (Farquhar), with an interlude written by Captain Frazer and spoken by Mr Napier in the role of "Cherry", and an Epilogue written and spoken by Captain Frazer as "Mrs Sullen".

Performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the Garrison Players on 3 June, 1808, with The Lying Valet (Garrick) and and occasional comic songs, as a benefit for the Widows and Orphans of the Royal Artillery and Engineers. and an epilogue written an spoken by Captain Collins. Rather uniquely Bosman (1928, p75) however, quotes the names of the plays from the bilingual newspaper The Cape Town gazette and African advertiser = Kaapsche Stads courant en Afrikaansche berigter in Dutch ( as De Oude Meid [sic!], and De Liegende Knegt) - but they were most probably performed in the original English.

Produced by Leontine Sagan with speech-training students in the Little Theatre, circa 1939, starring John Caro,among others.

Sources

Bosman, 1928: pp. 71-2, 75

The South African Theatre, Music and Dance 1(1), 1939.

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