The Omnibus, or A Convenient Distance

The Omnibus, or A Convenient Distance is the name given to two adaptations of a one act farce called Cherry Bounce by Richard John Raymond ()[]

Also found as The Omnibus! or, A Convenient Distance!

The original text

Cherry Bounce by Richard John Raymond ()[], was first performed at Saddlers Wells Theatre in 1821 (some sources say 1823), and became very popular. There appear to have been two adaptations by this title, one by Isaac Pocock (1782-1835)[1] and the other by Tyrone Power (1797-1841)[].

According to Allardyce Nicholl (19**), the adaptation done by Isaac Pocock was first performed as The Omnibus, or A Convenient Distance in the Lyceum on 225 November 1830 and at Covent Garden on 6 December, 1830. The text published by Duncombe (1831?), Dick 725 and later by Thomas Hailes Lacy (1850) (Lacy’s Acting edition), 1850. His version is also sometimes referred to simply as or simply The Omnibus (and termed "an interlude").

However, according to the 1907 edition of the play (Minor drama ; no. 26.), the adaptation had been done by Tyrone Power, whose version was first performed at Drury Lane Theatre in 1833. The chances are of course that this was the Pocock version performed by Power.