Mrs Dane's Defence

Mrs Dane's Defence is a play in four acts by by Henry Arthur Jones (1851-1929)[1]

The original text

A it tells the story of Mrs Dane and her betrothal to Lionel, adopted son of Sir Daniel who is a famous judge. Because there are rumours that young widow Mrs Dane is actually Felicia Hindermarsh, who had been involved in a tragic scandal following an affair with a married man in Vienna, the judge interrogates her and eventually exposes the truth.

First performed at Wyndham's Theatre, London, on 9 October 1900 and had 209 performances. A company toured the USA with the play from 31 December 1900 to April 1901.

Translations and adaptations

Filmed a few times, including a 1918 silent film by Hugh Ford and a 1833 black and white film by A.V. Bramble.

Performance history in South Africa

1901: Performed by Edward Sass and his company in the Opera House, Cape Town, in October, directed by Sass, probably presented under the auspices of Ben and Frank Wheeler.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs_Dane%27s_Defence

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

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: p.410

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