Moths

Moths is the title of a number of 19th century plays, based on a novel by Ouida (Maria Louise Ramé, 1839-1908)[1].

Not to be confused with Moths, the 2015 Australian play by Michele Lee[2]

The original text

Moths (a novel in three volumes, Chatto and Windus 1880) was originally written as a popular novel by Ovida (Louise Ramé, 1839-1908)[], and deals with such Victorian taboos as adultery, domestic violence, and divorce. The work was the author's fifteenth novel, and possibly her most popular - though savaged by critics. The work saw numerous adaptations to the stage in the Victorian era - many done without her approval.

The first version seems to have been by Henry Hamilton (1855-1918), a version that opened at the Globe Theatre London on 25 March, 1882. Another adaptation was by John C. Chute ()[], opening in the Theatre Royal, Croydon, in July of the same year. A third, probably by actress Marion Grace ()[], opened at the Royal Opera House, London, in October. A fourth adaptation, by W.F. Lyon ()[], opened in Peterborough on 12 February 1883.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1892: Performed in the Vaudeville Theatre, Cape Town, by the visiting Emilie Bevan Comedy Company as part of a three-and-a-half month season of 20 plays which began on 8 August. It is uncertain which text was used in this case.

Sources

T. Rebecca Kennamer. 2008. Review of Moths, by Ouida. Victorian Review, vol. 34 no. 1, 2008, p. 182-184. (Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/vcr.2008.0028.)[]

Andrew King. 2016. Ouida and Victorian Popular Culture. Routledge: pp.74-5 [3]

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.394-5

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