A Roland for an Oliver

A two-act farce by Thomas Morton (1764 – 1838).

The original play

First performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, on April 29, 1819. Published and printed by John Miller, London in 1819.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1824: A performance was planned for 30 November 1824 to be performed in Cape Town by the English Theatricals company (former Garrison Players) in the The African Theatre as a benefit performance for Mr J. Corbishley, (with Love, Law and Physic by Kenney). However it was "unavoidably postponed" and according to Bosman (1928, p 187) no records appear to show whether it did actually occur or not.

4 November 1826: Performed in Cape Town by the English Theatricals company (former Garrison Players) in the The African Theatre, with Catherine and Petruchio (Shakespeare) Silvester Daggerwood (Colman Jr.). This was a benefit performance for Mrs O'Brien and Sgt Corbishley.

20 September 1826: Performed in Cape Town by the Garrison Amateur Company) in The Cape Town Theatre, with We fly by Night (Colman Jr.). A quite comprehensive review of the production appeared in the The Commercial Advertiser on 26 September 1826 (though, interestingly, the names of performers are not mentioned, only roles.)

Late 1820's: According to an undated handbill, it was produced in the Cape Town barracks, along with Poole's Paul Pry, some time in the late 1820s by a group of 72 Highlanders calling themselves The Highland Amateur Party. The cast included P. Smith, W. Williamson, A. Schofield, J.Foster, W. Cameron, T. Caldwell, G. Milne, T. Norrie, A. Ramsay.