A Happy Pair

A Happy Pair is a comedietta in one act by S. Theyre Smith (1834–1911)[1].

The author's name is sometimes found as "S. Theyre-Smith" or "Spenser Theyre-Smith", and the play as The Happy Pair.

The original text

First performed at St. James Theatre, London, on 2 March, 1868. Published in London by Samuel French in 1868. The most frequently found version however, appears to be the one by Harold Roorbach, New York, published as No 30 of Roorbach's American Edition of Acting Plays in 1890.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1875: Performed as A Happy Pair in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 20 March, with Black-Eyed Susan (Jerrold).

1875: Performed as A Happy Pair in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 3 May, with Lost in London (Phillips).

1875: Performed as The Happy Pair in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 2 June, with Rob Roy (Scott).

1875: Performed as The Happy Pair in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and company on 19 June, with Boots at the Swan (Selby) and acts one and three of The Corsican Brothers (Grangé and De Montépin/Boucicault).

1877: Performed as The Happy Pair in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 6 and 9 October, with Little Emily, or The Ark on the Sands (Dickens/Halliday).

1877: Performed as The Happy Pair in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 6 and 9 October, with Robinson Crusoe! (Defoe/Byron).

1878: Performed as A Happy Pair in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, by Dramatic Recital Society on 19 September, as a benefit for Hugh Fisher. Also performed were The Bells (Erckmann-Chatrian/Lewis) and A Rough Diamond (Buckstone).