Deeds of Dreadful Note

Deeds of Dreadful Note is a play in one act by Alfred Dubois (nom de plume of James Stuart Bowes, 1768/69-1863)[1]

Also found as Wilful Murder, or Deeds of Dreadful Note, A Dreadful Deed and possibly even Crimson Crimes, or Deeds of Dreadful Note.

The original text

Styled a "romantic tale of terror in one act" it was published in Philadelphia by Turner & Fisher, (Turner's dramatic library of acting plays, 1810?] - "Correctly printed from the most approved acting copy."

At head of title: Turner's dramatic library.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1857: A "screaming farce" called Crimson Crimes, or Deeds of Dreadful Note (attributed to William E. Burton) was performed in the Harrington Street Theatre , Cape Town, on 23 September by the Sefton Parry Company. It has been suggested that it may in fact have been a parody of this one act "romantic tale of terror" by Dubois. Also performed was Who Speaks First? (Dance) and Monsieur Jacques (Barnett and Barnett).

1859: Performed as A Dreadful Deed by Sefton Parry and his company in the Cape Town Theatre on 7 November, along with A Dead Shot (Buckstone) and a "Tambourine Dance" by Lizzie Powell