High Life Below Stairs

High Life Below Stairs is a two-act farce by James Townley (1714-78)[1]

The original text

First presented at Drury Lane on October 31, 1759 and published by J. Newberry, London, 1759

1807: Produced on 10 October by the Garrison Players, led by Mr Morgan, Captain Frazer and Captain Collins, as afterpiece to The Brothers (Cumberland). A prologue, written and delivered by Captain Collins, names a number other performers who had become part of the Garrison Players in the years preceding. An epilogue written and delivered by Captain Frazer, concluded the evening's entertainment.

1822: Performed the African Theatre on 14th and 16th August, by the Garrison Players, along with John Bull, or an Englishman's Fireside (Colman Jr), as a charity performance for shipwreced sailors. An original Prologue was written and performed by Captain Straton, who also played "Roscius", and an Epilogue was sung by Dr M'Donnell in the role of "Dennis Brulgruddery". (Extracts from the texts are contained in Bosman, 1928: pp.180-182.)

1837: Performed in the "South African Theatre" by Vlyt en Kunst, led by C.E. Boniface, during January, with The Merchant of Venice (Shaekspeare).