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 (1930), 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 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 actor-manager 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 as performed or produced by Power.

Performance history in South Africa

1861: A play called The Omnibus, or A Convenient Distance (no author mentioned) was performed in the border town of Keiskama Hoek's Garrison Theatre by North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot on May 28, as part of their first production, . The cast featured J Davies (Amorosa, King of Little Britain), J F Gay (Roastando, his cook), T Paterson (Blusterbus, his cook), B Sheean (1st Lord of the Bed-chamber), J M'Kechnie (Aoqnetinda), and F Girton (Mollidusta). After the performance, a comic song was sung by J M'Kechnie. The other plays on the programme were announced as Amororosa or King of Little Britain (Planché) and The Irish Tutor (Butler).