The shade, or, Blood for blood
Subtitle: a drama, in two acts
By: by C. Pelham Thompson, author of Nothing superfluous, The dumb Savoyard, Jac Robinson, &c. &c. ; the only edition correctly marked from the prompter's book, with the stage business, situations, and directions ; as performed at the Surrey Theatre
Publisher: Printed and published by J. Duncombe, 19, Little Queen Street, Holborn
Published: 1829
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 28
Subjects: English drama
Other titles: Blood for blood; Duncombe's edition.
Notes: Frontispiece illustration signed: T. Jones delt.

Premiered at the Surrey Theatre on 22 August 1829.

Includes cast list.

Purchased in 2018 with the Robert Gould Shaw Fund.

Promptbook; marked with significant cuts to the text and alternate text inserted in manuscript (chiefly on 3 interleaved sheets). On the title page "or Blood for blood" has been crossed out and the number of acts changed to 3, and a list of characters and costume ideas has been penciled surrounding the printed cast list. On a final leaf are a crossed out list of "Titles for this play" along with several others on the inside of the front cover. An explanatory note tipped in at end reads: This drama of the "Shade" can be considerably lengthen'd by the addition of 3 acts or two from a ms. play by Moncrieff entitled the Post chaise companion, which will form the Prologue; the last act can be moderately strengthened[?] by the perusal of the murderer (see ms. "Charm of gold"[?] by R.B. Peake). I am convinced you should never lose a chance of working up old and successful material, for an excellent new version of the "Corsican brothers" can be built out of the above suggestions.

First edition.

Tipped in at end is a newspaper clipping regarding the performance of a "new version of the 'Corsican brothers'" (entitled "Brother for brother") at the Pavilion Theatre produced by Arthur Shirley.

Nos. 8-9 of 10 works by Thompson in a volume with binder's title: Thompson, Plays.

Two copies with slight variations in paper covers are bound together. One copy with the autograph of A.L. Manly.

Bound in stab bound paper wrappers with manuscript title: The shade, no. 44; a second hand has added "A new version of The Corsican brothers" below the first title; in prefab, 22 cm.