Governor van Noot, or Things as They Were

Governor van Noot, or Things as They Were is a historical play by C. Utting (fl. 1860s).

Also known as Governor van Noot or Things as They Were.

The original text

Written in 1866, it is an historical drama, said to be "founded on old Cape history" and based on a recent account by a correspondent of the S.A. Commercial Advertiser and Mail who signed himself "Antiquary".

Translations and adaptations

This led to a skit by B. Mollan called Governor van Brute (also known as Things as They Might Have Been or Governor van Brute, or Things as They Might Have Been.).***

Performance history in South Africa

1866: First performed as Governor van Noot, or Things as They Were by the Le Roy-Duret Company in the Theatre Royal, Harrington Street, Cape Town, on 5 and 10 September, with a "Highland Fling and Broad Sword Dance" by Herr Luin and a production of Behind Time (Webster)

1866: Performed again by the Le Roy-Duret Company in the Theatre Royal, Harrington Street, Cape Town, on 12 September, with a new dance performance and a production of The Little Sentinel (Williams). Possibly repeated on 13 and 17 September, the latter as a benefit evening for the author.

Sources

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.201, 212-218, 226-228, 293.

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