The Queen's Shilling

The Queen's Shilling is a a comedy in three acts by J.W. Godfrey ()[].

The original text

The title refers to the practice known as the "King's shilling" (or the "Queen's shilling" in the case of a Queen on the throne)[1], of a payment of one shilling given to recruits to the Armed forces of the United Kingdom in the 18th and 19th centuries, although the practice dates back to the end of the English Civil War. To "take the King's shilling" was to agree to serve as a soldier or sailor in the Royal Navy or the British Army. It is closely related to the act of impressment. The practice officially stopped in 1879, although the term is still used informally.

The play was adapted from Le Fills de Famille () by J.W. Godfrey.

First performed in London in

In ‎1889 it was played at the New National Theatre, Washington, by Mr. and Mrs. Kendal and their company, directed by Daniel Frohman, and the orchestra under the direction of A.W. Schroeder

The text was published by in 1889

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1886: Performed by Madame Pearmain and her company as part of a short season of eleven plays put in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, from 22 November onwards.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_shilling

https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/queens-shilling

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.383

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