Crutch and Toothpick

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Crutch and Toothpick, a comedy in three acts by G.R. Sims (1847–1922)[1]. Based on a French farce by Eugène Labiche(1815-1888)[2],

The original text

Based on an unnamed farce by Eugène Labiche ()[3], it was adapted into English as Crutch and Toothpick, a comedy in three acts by G.R. Sims (1847–1922)[4]. Produced in the Royalty Theatre, London, 1879 and enjoyed a run for 240 nights.

The English title is taken from the music hall expression meaning referring to the "Crutch and Toothpick brigade"[5] A crutch was a handled walking stick and the toothpick is refering to a gold toothpick that fops used to wear as a form of jewelry, so the tight trousered, crutch sticks and gold toothpick characters were dubbed the 'Crutch and Toothpick' brigade. Often of hangers-about at stage door.[6]

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

According to some sources it was performed in the Theatre Royal, Port Elizabeth, by Captain Disney Roebuck's company April 20–21, 1876! As this is highly unlikely, given the opening of the play in London in 1879, the date must have been later, late 1879 at the very earliest.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Marin_Labiche

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Robert_Sims

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18830710.2.11

https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Lottie_Venne

Margaret Harradine. 1995. Port Elizabeth: A Social Chronicle to the End of 1945. Port Elizabeth: E.H. Walton Packaging (Pty) Ltd.

Laidler, 1926


Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page