Cherry Bounce

Cherry Bounce is a one act farce by Richard John Raymond (fl. 1820-40)

The original text

Cherry Bounce, described as "A Farsetta, in One Act" was performed for the First Time on Monday August 27th, 1821, at Sadler's Wells Theatre.

The play was published by J. Lowndes, 1821, by T.H. Lacy, 1823, and in Volume 4, Issue 59 of The new British theatre by J. Duncombe, 1830.

Translations and adaptations

It appears that the play became very popular and at least two adaptations of the text, both called The Omnibus, or A Convenient Distance were done in the 1830s, one by Isaac Pocock (1782-1835)[1] and the other by Tyrone Power (1797-1841)[2].

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

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 American edition of the play by Samuel French (Minor drama ; no. 26), the adaptation had been done by Tyrone Power, whose version was first performed at the Drury Lane Theatre in 1833. The chances are of course that this was simply the Pocock version performed or produced by Power.

Performance history in South Africa

1862: Performed as The Omnibus, or A Convenient Distance (author not credited) by Sefton Parry and his company on 11 April, with All is not Gold that Glitters (Morton and Morton). The evening was as a benefit for Mr Bland and Mrs Bland.