The Reprisal, or The Tars of Old England
The Reprisal, or The Tars of Old England is a comedy in two acts by Tobias George Smollett (1721 – 1771)[1].
Contents
The original text
First performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane on January 22 1757.
Published anonymously.
Performance history in South Africa
Translations and adaptations
1808: A play billed as The Tars of Old England was apparently performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the Garrison Players on 16 July, 1808, with The Agreeable Surprise (O'Keeffe). This was possibly Smollett's play, given the title, though it could also have been a version of Britain's Brave Tars!!, a special celebratory piece by John O'Keeffe, written for the naval victories of 1797. This is quite likely, given the predilection the Garrison Players had for the work of O'Keeffe's work at the time and the fact that members of the company most probably had taken part in some of the battles.
Sources
http://www.amazon.com/The-Reprisal-Tars-Old-England/dp/1165884445
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobias_Smollett
http://www.oxforddnb.com/templates/article.jsp?articleid=20658&back=
F.C.L. Bosman. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [2]: p. 76
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