My Sweetheart

My Sweetheart is an operatic comic drama in three acts by F.G. Maeder (Frederick George Maeder, 1840-1891)[1] and W. Gill (William Gill, fl. 1842-1919)[2].

The original text

Originally produced in America, and toured for many years with the American actress, Minnie Palmer (1860-1936)[3], in the leading role. The touring company was first seen in the United Kingdom at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in 1883.

The text published in London by J. Dicks, in Dicks' Standard Plays No 1027 [1896] , including a cast list for the production given by Minnie Palmer's company.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1887: The play was performed as part of the repertoire of the Wheeler Theatre Company when they played in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town during April and May. Probably directed by Sutton Vane.

1895: Performed as part of a season of plays put on by Luscombe Searelle in the Opera House, Cape Town, featuring Herbert Flemming, Miss Fortesque and Charles Arnold in leading roles.

1902-3: Performed by Leonard Rayne at the Opera House, Cape Town, under the auspices of the Mouillot-De Jong Company, as part of a season of musical comedy and light opera beginning in December of 1902 and running into 1903.

Sources

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/evancoll/a/014eva000000000u09034000.html

https://digital.nls.uk/theatre-posters-1870-1900/archive/74560242#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=32&xywh=-1150%2C0%2C4799%2C3701

https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/6345546

http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/william-davenport-adams/a-dictionary-of-the-drama-a-guide-to-the-plays-play-wrights-players-and-play-hci/page-129-a-dictionary-of-the-drama-a-guide-to-the-plays-play-wrights-players-and-play-hci.shtml

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140619157

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Gill

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

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 1923. (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. 384

Go to ESAT Bibliography