TEMPLEMAN LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF KENT, CANTERBURY
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS: THEATRE COLLECTIONS
UKC/CALB/COL - Level 4
The Colleen Bawn, a dramatic adaptation of Gerald Griffin's novel,
"The Collegians" was first produced in the U.S.A., at Laura Keene's Varieties
on Broadway, on 29th March 1880. Later that year being performed at the Adelphi
Theatre in London it was eventually put on all over the USA and the UK and
made its author a fortune, as one of the most popular plays of the century.
Characters in the play
- Myles-Na-Coppaleen
- Hardress Cregan
- Danny Mann
- Kyrle Daly
- Father Tom
- Mr. Corrigan
- Bertie O'Moore
- Hyland Creagh
- Servant
- Corporal
- Eily O'Connor
- Anne Chute
- Mrs. Cregan
- Sheelah
- Kathleen Creagh
- Ducie Blennerhasset
Plot
Melodrama set in Ireland near Lake Killarney. Mrs. Cregan in
an attempt to save her family's impoverished estate encourages her son Hardress
to wed his cousin Anne Chute for her money. Hardress, has secretly married
Eily O'Connor, a peasant girl, but still makes advances to Anne to save the
estate.
Hardress visits Eily, on the other side of the lake, and one night
is seen and taken by Anne for her lover Kyrle Daly. Annoyed at Daly's inconstancy
and hearing about the Cregans' financial plight, she agrees to marry Hardress.
Danny Mann, Hardress's evil servant, decides to murder Eily, afraid
she will prevent the marriage with Anne. He pretends to take her across the
lake to meet Hardress but as he tries to drown her is himself shot by Myles
na-Coppaleen, a former lover of Eily.
Meanwhile, interrupting the wedding of Hardress and Anne police
officers accompanied by the dying Danny turn up; Danny falsely accuses Hardress
of killing Eily who promptly appears. Myles had hidden her after rescuing
her.
In the end, Mrs. Cregan welcomes Eily into the family, Anne and
Kyrle are reconciled, and Anne saves the Cregan estate by paying off the
debt.
production 1
Laura Keene's Varieties, 622 Broadway, New York, New York,
United States of America
29.3.1860
manager : Keene, Laura, Miss, 1826?-1873, (British actress
and theatrical producer, born Mary Moss)
The play was written by Boucicault in 1860 for Laura Keene's company. She
played the heiress Anne Chute. Boucicault played Myles-na-Coppaleen, and
his wife Agnes, Eily O'Connor.
production 2
Adelphi Theatre, Strand, Westminster, London, England
10.9.1860
manager : Webster, Benjamin, Mr., 1797-1882
The production at the Adelphi ran for a record 231 performances. The cast
included C. H. Stephenson, Edmund Falconer, Miss Woolgar, and Mr. and Mrs.
Billington.
"The production was also of considerable significance for writers for the
theatre. Boucicault pioneered a royalty system by making a "novel proposal"
to Webster, the manager, for The Colleen Bawn. Instead of asking for a lump
sum, he suggested sharing terms--and found himself eventually richer by 10,000
pounds.... The practice did not become universal until the 1880s" (History
of English Drama, 5: 69).
The Observer of 16 September 1860 praised the set particularly the lake where
Eily's attempted drowning took place.
production 3
London Pavilion, Tichborne Street, Westminster, London,
England
1876
production 4
Surrey Theatre, Blackfriars Road, Lambeth, London, England
1879
production 5
Theatre Royal, New Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
1869
Related Material
printed edition published by Dicks
0590200, 0590511
Related Material
printed edition published by Lacy
0590510
e.g. These 2 versions of the play are in the Pettingell Collection
Related Material
printed edition published by Lacy
F190272
Related Material
printed edition published by Samuel French
F190273
These 2 copies are in the Calthrop Boucicault Collection
Related Material
Purkess's Penny Pictorial Plays ; no.32
0594362
PETT BND.126(33) Spec Coll
Related Material
B and W film: Three reels
Kalem Film Manufacturing Company production. / Scenario by Gene Gauntier,
from the play The Colleen Bawn by Dion Boucicault. Cinematography by George
K. Hollister. / Cast: Gene Gauntier, Jack Clark, Sidney Olcott, Robert Vignola,
J.P. McGowan, George H. Fisher/ Released 16 October 1911. / Standard 35mm
spherical 1.37:1 format. / The production was shot in Ireland. The film was
rereleased in 1914.
Survival Status: The film is presumed lost; an incomplete print exists (one
reel only) in the International Museum of Photography and Film at George Eastman
House film archive.
Related Material
B and W film : Seven reels / 6650 feet
Stoll Film Company, Limited, production; distributed by Stoll Film Company,
Limited. / Scenario by Eliot Stannard, from the play The Colleen Bawn by Dion
Boucicault. / Directed by Will P. Kellino / Cast: Henry Victor, Colette Brettell,
Stewart Rome, Gladys Jennings, Clive Currie, Marie Ault, Marguerite Leigh,
Aubrey Fitzgerald, Dave O~Toole/ Released May 1924. / Standard 35mm spherical
1.37:1 format. / The film was rereleased in the United Kingdom in 1929 as
The Loves of Colleen Bawn by Stoll.
Survival Status: (unknown)- BUT "One of the most enjoyable highlights of the
weekend was the performance of a new arranged score for the silent movie The
Colleen Bawn. This was arranged and performed by local retired GP, Dick Shanahan.
Dick selected 25 pieces of music from the 1911 era and arranged it to synchronise
it perfectly with this exceptional movie" KILLARNEY FILM SUMMERSCHOOL REPORT
19 July 2004 http://www.killarney250.com/news.php?NID=48
Related Material
legal document
UKC/BOUC/BIO : 0648724
Copy affadavit from Boucicault versus Delafield. Boucicault was sueing Charles
Delafield, manager of the Theatre Royal Preston, for staging a version of
the COLLEEN BAWN without permission. Includes Boucicaults answer to the affadavit.
(From Fawkes Boucicault Collection)
Enquiries should be made to; Mrs. S. Crabtree, Special Collections
Librarian(S.A.Crabtree@kent.ac.uk)
(Last updated 9th March, 2005)
©
Copyright 2005 Templeman Library, University of Kent, Canterbury
