Robert Macaire, or The Roadside Inn Turned Inside Out

Robert Macaire, or The Roadside Inn Turned Inside Out is a burlesque extravaganza by Henry James Byron (1835-1884)[1]

The original text

Il fut créé par Benjamin Antier et incarné par Frédérick Lemaître dans le drame l’Auberge des Adrets, représenté pour la première fois en 1823. Il fut ensuite repris en 1835 dans une deuxième pièce intitulée Robert Macaire.

Antier, Saint-Amand et Polyanthe avaient composé très sérieusement un mélodrame sombre, aux phrases pompeuses et ampoulées, l’Auberge des Adrets, dont le principal rôle était destiné à Frédérick Lemaître, lors de la reprise de cette pièce en 1832 au théâtre de la Porte-Saint-Martin.

Robert Macaire is a burlesque drama in 4 acts by Benjamin Antier (1787-1870), Saint-Amand (1797-1885), Frédérick Lemaître, (1800-1876) and Polyanthe, first performed

Translations and adaptations

Adapted as by Philippe Gille (1831-1901) and William Busnach (1832-1907) as a 4 act burlesque drama, performed 1 March, 1889 at the Théâtre Porte Saint-Martin and published by Tresse et Stock (Paris), 1889

The original 18** French text was translated and adapted into English as Robert Macaire, or The Roadside Inn Turned Inside Out , a burlesque extravaganza, by Henry James Byron (1835-1884)[2]

Also known as Robert Macaire, it was first performed in English in the Royal Globe Theatre, London, on 16 April, 1870. The English text published by Thomas Hailes Lacy, 1872 ([Lacy's Acting Edition of Plays. vol. 93.)

Performance history in South Africa

1875. Produced by Disney Roebuck in the Bijou Theatre on 16 September, with Arrah-na-Pogue, or The Wicklow Wedding (Boucicault). The evening a farewell benefit for Mr Paulton and Mrs Paulton.

1877: Performed as in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town on 28 September by the Disney Roebuck company, with the burlesque Aladdin, or The Wonderful Woman (?)