The Cross of Gold, or The Orphan's Vow

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The Cross of Gold, or The Orphan's Vow is a drama by an unnamed author, performed in Cape Town in the 19th century.

Also performed as The Cross of Gold.

The original text

To date (2018-12-15) no trace of a play by exactly this name has been found. The only reference is to the South African performances by Parry and Roebuck companies.

What have been found are references to plays called Theresa's Vows, or The Cross of Gold[1] and The Maid of Croissey, or Theresa's Vow[2].

The Maid of Croissey, or Theresa's Vow[3] is a drama in two acts by Mrs. Catherine Gore ()[], first produced at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, July 20th, 1835, and published as No. 339. Dicks' Standard Plays.

In the text there are references to a "Gold Cross", which leads one to suspect that Mrs Gore's play may be the original work, subsequently performed under the various titles.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1860: Performed as The Cross of Gold, or The Orphan's Vow on 22 June in the Cape Town Theatre, Cape Town, by the Sefton Parry company, with a dance by Miss Powell and Used Up (Boucicault).

1876: Performed as The Cross of Gold on 2 November in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, by the Disney Roebuck company, under the temporary management of C. Wiltstone. Also played was Checkmate (Halliday).

Sources

Full text of "The maid of Croissey [or, Theresa's vow; a drama in two acts] by Mrs. Charles Gore", The Internet Archive[4]

R.J. Broadbent. 1969. Annals of the Liverpool Stage, from the Earliest Period to the Present Time: p. 383[5]

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. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [6]: pp. 80, 343

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