The Bonnie Fish Wife

The Bonnie Fish Wife is a musical interlude in one act by Charles Selby (c. 1802 – 1863)[1]

Also referred to as a farce in one act or a burletta, and found under the titles The "Bonnie Fish Wife" or The Bonnie Fishwife.

The original text

Licenced 17 September 1858 for its first performance at the Strand Theatre on 20 September 1858. Published in Lacy’s (Vol. 37, no.551) as an original musical interlude, songs included in text.

First published in New York by R.M. De Witt in 1858.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1861: Performed as The Bonnie Fishwife by Sefton Parry and his company on 13 May 1861, the opening night of the newly completed Theatre Royal. (However, Groom has the title as All that Glitters is not Gold.) The rest of the programme consisted of a tambourine dance by Miss Powell,songs by Mr J.H. Leffler and All is not Gold that Glitters, or The Factory Girl (Morton and Morton).

1861: Performed as The Bonnie Fishwife in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Cape Town and Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 1 August, with The Rivals (Sheridan) and a dance by Lizzie Powell.

1875: Performed in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 5 March, with Black Sheep (Yates).