Valentine and Orson

Valentine and Orson is a romantic melodrama by Thomas John Dibdin (1771 – 1841)[1].

The original text

The play is based on the medieval romance of Valentine and Orson, which has been attached to the Carolingian cycle, and has been adapted and re-written in most European languages in some form or another.

The 1804 Dibdin staqe version, published by Barker in London, is described as follows: "Valentine and Orson, a romantic melodrame, as performed at the Theatre-Royal Govent-Garden. Written by T. Dibdin. And produced under the direction of Mr. Farley. The overture and music by Mr. Jouve (1804)"

Performance history in South Africa

1818: Performed by the Gentlemen Amateurs (Garrison Players) with the help of Mr Cooke and his company of ladies, in the African Theatre, Cape Town on 13 June, with The Road to Ruin (Holcroft).

1818: Performed by the Gentlemen Amateurs with the help of Mr Cooke and his company of ladies, in the African Theatre, Cape Town on 11 July, with Wild Oats (O'Keeffe), including a new Dance solo by Mr E. Garoute.