Catching an Heiress

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Catching an Heiress is a farce in one act by Charles Selby (1802?-1863)[].

Also found as Catching an Heiress, or Which is Which?.

The original text

A parody of the mermaid animal/human exhibits popular in the early 19th century, and written for the Olympic theatre's resident comedian Frederic Robson.

First performed at the Olympic Theatre, London in 1855 and

First published by Thomas Hailes Lacy in 19th century British drama no. 633 and as a Lacy's acting edition (no.582) and by as Issue 402 of Dicks' standard plays (with Hunting a Turtle) in 1883, and as Volume 47, Issue 10 of Acting plays by De Witt in 18** and by Duncombe and Company in 1899.

Translations and adaptations

In May 1859, when the topic of a sensational hoax called The Talking Fish was very active in England[1], Coyne's original sketch was altered to Talking Fish and played at the Adelphi Theatre, with the theatre's own comic, J.L. Toole.

Performance history in South Africa

1863: Performed in the Garrison Theatre, Cape Town by the 11th Regiment on 22 and 29 January, with Catherine Howard, or The Tomb, the Throne and the Scaffold (Dumas/Suter).

Sources

https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011611282

https://books.google.co.za/books/about/Catching_an_Heiress.html?id=bpsinQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

Jill A. Sullivan. 2015. Popular Exhibitions, Science and Showmanship, 1840–1910, Routledge[2]

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p. 255

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