Municipal Muddles, or Love in the Dark

Municipal Muddles, or Love in the Dark is a comedy in three acts by Charles Utting (1818-1898)[1].

Also referred to simply as Municipal Muddles.

The original text

Probably a satire on local politics, written by Charles Utting (also found as C. Utting), a Capetonian author and first performed in Cape Town 1867. It had been written especially for J.H. le Roy and his company, and was described as a "good natured" satire of the municipal issues of the time, when the perceived inefficiencies of the old "Municipal Board" had led to local agitation for a more efficient "Municipal Council". The romantic sub-plot, "Love in the Dark", is used to illustrate some of the issues (e.g. the dark streets and water shortages).

F.C.L. Bosman (1980, pp.221-5) cites The South African Commercial Advertiser and Mail (22 March, 1867), which provides the full programme, including a substantial outline of tall three acts and the full cast list. According to contemporary reports the play was "well received" and a "decided success".

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1867: Performed by "Le Roy's Original Company" in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town on 25 March, with Margate Sands (Hancock). The cast consisted of [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], and The set was designed and painted by R.S. Cooper.

1867: Performed by "Le Roy's Original Company" in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town on 28 March and 1 April, with A Terrible Secret (Waldron) and My Wife's Second Floor (Morton).

Sources

https://www.geni.com/people/Charles-Utting/6000000034168811185

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.221-225, 295.

P.J. du Toit. 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica

Jill Fletcher. 1994. The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930. Cape Town: Vlaeberg: p.

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