A Roland for an Oliver

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

The original play

First performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, on April 29, 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.