The Wandering Minstrel

The Wandering Minstrel is a popular farce by Henry Mayhew (1812-1887)[1].

A farce about mistaken identity and romance, it questions the class system and exploits the different languages spoken by the varying classes for comic effect.

First performed by Mayhew in the Fitzroy Theatre, London, January 1834. Published by J. Miller 1834. It was regularly performed for more than 50 years and was available in print for 63 years.

1860: Performed on the Eastern Cape border by the Band Amateurs of the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot on July 9 and 16, as afterpiece to The Corsican Brothers (Boucicault). The cast consisted of J. M’Kechnie (Mr Crincum), W. Dansie (Herbert Carroll), W. Allan (Tweedle), T. Brooker (Jem Bags), M. Rafferty (Mrs Crincum), J. Grennan (Julia), J. Durney (Peggy). The evening also included W. Allen on the violin ("in seven different positions") after which J. M. M'Kechnie sang a comic song, "Solomon Lob".

"Henry Mayhew" in Steven H. Gale. Encyclopedia of British Humorists: Geoffrey Chaucer to John Cleese, Volume 1: Routledge: pp. 747-752[2]