Difference between revisions of "Speed the Plough"
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''Not to be confused with '''[[Speed-the-Plow]]''', a 1988 play by David Mamet'' | ''Not to be confused with '''[[Speed-the-Plow]]''', a 1988 play by David Mamet'' | ||
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== The original text == | == The original text == | ||
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First performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden on 8 Feb. 1798, it was acted forty-one times, and often revived. | First performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden on 8 Feb. 1798, it was acted forty-one times, and often revived. | ||
The play introduced the fictional (off-stage) English character of "Mrs Grundy", who typifies the censorship enacted in everyday life by conventional opinion. The term soon passed into everyday English speech as a criterion of rigid respectability, especially in contexts in which free expression is impeded by excessive purity. | The play introduced the fictional (off-stage) English character of "Mrs Grundy", who typifies the censorship enacted in everyday life by conventional opinion. The term soon passed into everyday English speech as a criterion of rigid respectability, especially in contexts in which free expression is impeded by excessive purity. | ||
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== Performance history in South Africa == | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
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1818: Performed in Cape Town on 7 February by the [[English Theatricals]] company (former [[Garrison Players]]) in the [[African Theatre]] , with ''[[The Spoiled Child]]'' (Bickerstaffe). | 1818: Performed in Cape Town on 7 February by the [[English Theatricals]] company (former [[Garrison Players]]) in the [[African Theatre]] , with ''[[The Spoiled Child]]'' (Bickerstaffe). | ||
| − | 1822: Performed in Cape Town on 2 November by the [[Amateur Company]] company ([[Garrison Players]]) in the [[African Theatre]], with ''[[ | + | 1822: Performed in the [[African Theatre]], Cape Town, on 2 November by the [[Garrison Players]] with the "[[burletta]]" of ''[[Tom Thumb]]'' (Fielding) as afterpiece. |
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| + | 1822: Performed in Cape Town on 7 December by the [[Amateur Company]] company ([[Garrison Players]]) in the [[African Theatre]], with ''[[The Soldier's Daughter]]'' (Cherry) and ''[[Fortune's Frolic]]'' (Allingham) as afterpiece. | ||
1826: Performed in Cape Town on 2 September by the ([[Garrison Players]]) in the [[African Theatre]], with ''[[Sharp and Flat]]'' (Lawler), as a benefit for [[Mrs Johnson]]. | 1826: Performed in Cape Town on 2 September by the ([[Garrison Players]]) in the [[African Theatre]], with ''[[Sharp and Flat]]'' (Lawler), as a benefit for [[Mrs Johnson]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 06:45, 23 June 2017
Speed the Plough is a comedy, in five acts by Thomas Morton (1764-1838)[1].
Not to be confused with Speed-the-Plow, a 1988 play by David Mamet
Contents
The original text
First performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden on 8 Feb. 1798, it was acted forty-one times, and often revived.
The play introduced the fictional (off-stage) English character of "Mrs Grundy", who typifies the censorship enacted in everyday life by conventional opinion. The term soon passed into everyday English speech as a criterion of rigid respectability, especially in contexts in which free expression is impeded by excessive purity.
Performance history in South Africa
1812: Performed in Cape Town on 6 July by the Garrison Players in the African Theatre, with The Irishman in London (Macready), with Lt Prescott and Lt Hanson listed as Directors for the evening.
1815: Performed in Cape Town on 23 September by the English Theatricals company (former Garrison Players) in the African Theatre, with The Prize, or 2,5,3,8, (Hoare).
1818: Performed in Cape Town on 7 February by the English Theatricals company (former Garrison Players) in the African Theatre , with The Spoiled Child (Bickerstaffe).
1822: Performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town, on 2 November by the Garrison Players with the "burletta" of Tom Thumb (Fielding) as afterpiece.
1822: Performed in Cape Town on 7 December by the Amateur Company company (Garrison Players) in the African Theatre, with The Soldier's Daughter (Cherry) and Fortune's Frolic (Allingham) as afterpiece.
1826: Performed in Cape Town on 2 September by the (Garrison Players) in the African Theatre, with Sharp and Flat (Lawler), as a benefit for Mrs Johnson.
1827: Performed in Cape Town in May by the (Garrison Amateur Company) in the African Theatre, with the musical farce Love Laughs at Locksmiths (Colman Jr).
Translations and adaptations
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Morton_(playwright)
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/559155/Speed-the-Plough
F.C.L. Bosman. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [2]: pp. 143, 147, 153, 189, 191
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays
Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
Return to South African Festivals and Competitions
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