Romany Rye can refer to any of three literary or theatrical works:

The Romany Rye an 1857 novel by George Borrow (1803–1881)[1], Romany Rye, a lost play by Wilson Barrett (1846-1904)[2] (as no such text can be found, he was possibly the producer of Sims's play, not the author of another text?) and The Romany Rye, a drama by G.R. Sims ()[].

Only the latter play was produced in South Africa.

The Romany Rye, a drama by G.R. Sims

The original text

Written by George Robert Sims. Performed on 4 June 1888 at the Britannia Theatre, London

Translations and adaptations

Adapted as a silent filmed called The Life Line[3] in 1919 , directed by Maurice Tourneur and starring Jack Holt, Wallace Beery and Lew Cody.

Performance history in South Africa

1885: Performed as The Romany Rye in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, produced by Mr H.C. Sidney and partner Mr H.J. Fiedler during the course of the year.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Romany_Rye_(disambiguation)

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

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

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

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.381.

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