The New Clown

The New Clown is a play by H.M. Paull (1854-1934)[].

The original text

A play about Lord Cyril Garston, who thinks he has killed a man and becomes a clown in a touring circus.

First performed in 1902 at Terry's Theatre, London, with James Welch as "Lord Cyril Garston" and published in the same year. After a tour of the colonies in 1903, the play was once more done at Terry's Theatre 31 Marh-28 April.

The play and the role of "Lord Cyril Garston" would become a staple part of Welch's repertoire.

Translations and adaptations

In 1925 it was adapted as a musical piece called Boodle by Sydney Blow and Douglas Hoare, first performed at the Empire Theatre London on 10 March, 1925.

The play was filmed in 1916 by Fred Paul, James Welch once more in the role of "Lord Cyril Garston".

Performance history in South Africa

1903: Forming part of the repertoire of the James Welch Company on their tour of South Africa under the management of Sass and Nelson, The New Clown was done as their debut performance in South Africa by James Welch and his company in the Opera House, Cape Town, on 4 January.

1904 The James Welch Company returned to Cape Town in January, inter alia to give another performance of the play in the Opera House.

Sources

J.P. Wearing. 2013. The London Stage 1900-1909: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel, Scarecrow Press: p. 286[1]

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0007124/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl

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.412, 417

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