Amoroso, King of Little Britain

Amoroso, King of Little Britain is theatrical work by James Robinson Planché (1796–1880)[1].

The original text

Subtitled a "Serio-Comick, Bombastick, Operatick Interlude", it was probably inspired by Rhodes's Bombastes Furioso (Rhodes, 1816). Originally written for an amateur performance at a private theatre, it was subsequently performed at Drury Lane, London in 1818. The production was a success and persuaded Planché to take up play-writing full-time.

Performance history in South Africa

1822: Performed by the Garrison Players on 14 September 1822 in the African Theatre, as interlude between The Point of Honour (Kemble) and The Irishman in London (Wm Macready)

1822: Played by the Garrison Players again on 12 October 1822 in the African Theatre, as an afterpiece to The Poor Gentleman (Colman Jr.) and billed a "burlesque entertainment".

1827: Performed , probably by the Garrison Amateur Company, on 27 August 1827 in the Cape Town Theatre, as interlude between Monsieur Tonson (Moncrieff) and Miss in her Teens (Garrick)

1862: Produced in the Grahamstown Garrison Theatre on 27 January by the Non-commissioned Officers of the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot, with a cast consisting of: Corporal J. Davies (Amoroso, King of Little Britain), Sergeant J. Lydon (Rosatando, his cook), Sergeant T. M'Kay (Blusterbus, yeoman of the Guard), Sergeant T. Coughlin (1st Lord of the Bed-Chamber), Sergeant J. Hughes (2nd Lord of the Bed-Chamber), Private J. M'Kechnie (Coquetinda), Drummer T. Smith (Mollidusta). Also played was Scene II, Act III from Othello (Shakespeare). (For more on contemporary responses to the performances, see the entry on the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot)

1862: Performed in the Eastern Cape village of Keiskama Hoek's Garrison Theatre by North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot on May 28, as their first production there, referring to it as Amorosa, or King of Little Britain. The cast featured J. Davies (Amoroso, King of Little Britain), J.F. Gay (Roastando, his cook), T. Paterson (Blusterbus, his cook), B. Sheean (1st Lord of the Bed-chamber), J. M'Kechnie (Aoqnetinda), and F. Girton (Mollidusta). After the performance, a comic song was sung by J. M'Kechnie. The other plays on the programme were The Omnibus (Pocock or Power) and The Irish Tutor (Butler). (For more on contemporary responses to the performances, see the entry on the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot)