Maltese Military Mummers ...

 

I have had this item on my desktop for a number of days. And so, I see, have others. It is offered for sale by at least three dealers ... I assume its an original, so how come?  Anyway, none of them seems to have taken the trouble to identify it, date it and so forth, so I thought I would have a crack before wiping it.

Not many clues, are there? Yes, it is garrison theatricals again. Date? Well, My Wife's Husband dates from 1830.

I've searched for all the officers listed, and not found a one. I have no idea who Miss Lewis was, but 'the other amateurs' turn up one recognisable name. The one civilian involved in the playacting -- the chappie who played the women's parts -- was Mr Hector (aka Ettore) Zimelli, a native Maltese. Mr Zimelli was to turn out to be a major figure in Malta, rising to be Superintendant of Public Works, director of Police, consul for Sweden and Norway, and it seems also impresario of the local theatre. He is remembered today as the architect behind the building of the Valetta Market Buildings.

I imagine this foray into amdrams would have taken place before his elevation to high places. Would the Scandinavian consul have been properly seen as Mrs Wildlove? So it seems we are looking at a date before 1843. At which stage he was 27 years of age and working as a government clerk.  (I am presuming here that there were not two Hectors!).  Well, 4 February fell on a Wednesday in 1835, 1840 and 1846 ...

Over to someone else to find out which regiments were garrisoned in Valletta in those years.