A Cure for the Heartache

A comedy, in five acts by Thomas Morton (1764-1838). First performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden on 10 January 1797. Printed by P. Wogan,1797.

Also listed in various sources as A Cure for the Heart Ache, A Cure for the Heart-Ache, The Cure for the Heart Ache, A Cure for the Heart Ache and so on.

Performance history in South Africa

1812: Performed in Cape Town on 12 July by the Garrison Players) in the The African Theatre, with The Jew and the Doctor (**). Lt Prescott and Lt Hanson are listed as Directors for the evening.

1816: Performed in Cape Town on 26 October by the English Theatricals company (former Garrison Players) in the The African Theatre, with Silvester Daggerwood (Colman Jr.).

1824: A performance was planned for 30 November, to be performed in Cape Town by the English Theatricals company (former Garrison Players) in the The African Theatre as a benefit performance for Mr J. Corbishley, (with Love, Law and Physic by Kenney). However it was "unavoidably postponed" and according to Bosman (1928, p 187) no records appear to show whether it did actually occur or not.

1826: Performed in Cape Town on 20 September by the Garrison Amateur Company) in The Cape Town Theatre, with We fly by Night (Colman Jr.). A quite comprehensive review of the production appeared in the The Commercial Advertiser on 26 September 1826 (though, interestingly, the names of performers are not mentioned, only roles.)

1832: Performed under the title The Cure for the Heart Ache in Cape Town on 21 July by the All the World's a Stage) in The Cape Theatre, with Raising the Wind (Kenney). According to the Cape Advertiser (13 June 1832, cit. in Bosman, 1828, p.222) the production was in aid of "The Philanthropic Society for the emancipation of slave children", under the direction of a Committee of some of the leading philanthropic gentlemen in the Cape; including Geo. Greig, Dr Fairbridge, Dr Bailey and D.J. Cloete. A very positive review of the productions appeared in the The Commercial Advertiser on 8 and 11 August 1832 (though, once more, the names of performers are not mentioned, only roles.)