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Inkle and Yarico: An opera, in three acts
This is a drama, which might remove from Mr. Wilberforce his aversion to theatrical exhibitions, and convince him, that the teaching of moral duty is not confined to particular spots of ground; for, in those places, of all others, the doctrine is most effectually inculcated, where exhortation is the most required-the resorts of the gay, the idle, and the dissipated.
74 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1807
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About the author
George Colman
70 books1 followerLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
George Colman (often misspelled as Coleman), known as "the Younger", was an English dramatist and miscellaneous writer. He was the son of George Colman "the Elder".
He was falsely stated to have written The Rodiad, which was probably written by Richard Monckton Milnes. Also, Canadian author John Glasso published his Squire Hardman as being a poem by George Coleman the Younger, which it wasn't.
George Colman (often misspelled as Coleman), known as "the Younger", was an English dramatist and miscellaneous writer. He was the son of George Colman "the Elder".
He was falsely stated to have written The Rodiad, which was probably written by Richard Monckton Milnes. Also, Canadian author John Glasso published his Squire Hardman as being a poem by George Coleman the Younger, which it wasn't.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 13, 2023
i mean just not very good at all, in writing or story
January 11, 2020
Gammer Gurton's Needle was all butt jokes. This was different. I absolutely agree that this is an important work of 17th century abolitionist propaganda and God bless George Colman. If people heeded this we would've saved centuries of pain.
The 17th century was weird though; I'm still not sure if Inkle is a funny name. (Inkle's first name is Thomas.) Inkle's uncle's name is Medium; not sure if that's funny either. Inkle's servant's name is Trudge, a good name for a servant. So English people might have funny names, and Yarico, the fair maiden of non-European birth, has a sort of romantic foreign-ish name. Maybe it sounds like Jericho? Is that evocative of dusky maidens of foreign climes? Her wacky servant's name is Wowski, the perfect name for a fictional foreigner with a funny accent.
The play opens with Inkle and Trudge stranded on the shores of America, afeared of the tigers and natives. They contrive to hide behind a tree while the natives who are chasing them run past them and then run past them again in the opposite direction, which is comical, and they say things about the natives which are not funny at all. Then they hide in a cave, where Yarico is sleeping, so she wakes and falls in love with Inkle and they sing a duet in perfect English together. Wowski and Trudge fall in love and she has a funny foreign accent.
Meanwhile, Inkle is betrothed to Narcissa but she's in love with Captain Nice Guy. Wowski, Inkle, Yarico, and Trudge arrive in Barbados and Inkle realizes that he needs to shake off Yarico to marry Narcissa. Meanwhile, Narcissa's father, the governor of Barbados has a comic misunderstanding where he mistakes the Captain for Inkle and sends him off to marry Narcissa. Inkle meets the governor without realizing he's the governor and there's another comic misunderstanding and Inkle sells his native wife to the governor, who makes disparaging asides about those who would sell slaves. (If the 17th century governor of Barbados opposed slavery, history would be a lot happier.) Then the comedy of errors is resolved, there's some mealy dialogue about how being good is good and slavery is bad, and Inkle reaffirms his love for Yarico. HE FUCKING SOLD HER. They are happy together, along with Trudge, who never wavered in his love for Wowski. HE FUCKING SOLD HER.
I would like to go back in time and see this in the Strand, with all the musical numbers and imaginative interpretations of other cultures. Seeing it nowadays would be uncomfortable for everyone, to say the least.
A man sells his wife and everything is fine ten minutes later, because he renounced slavery. Good moral, fucking weird delivery.
My e-book had a foreword by Mrs. Inchman, who enjoyed the play but didn't think Trudge was funny.
The 17th century was weird though; I'm still not sure if Inkle is a funny name. (Inkle's first name is Thomas.) Inkle's uncle's name is Medium; not sure if that's funny either. Inkle's servant's name is Trudge, a good name for a servant. So English people might have funny names, and Yarico, the fair maiden of non-European birth, has a sort of romantic foreign-ish name. Maybe it sounds like Jericho? Is that evocative of dusky maidens of foreign climes? Her wacky servant's name is Wowski, the perfect name for a fictional foreigner with a funny accent.
The play opens with Inkle and Trudge stranded on the shores of America, afeared of the tigers and natives. They contrive to hide behind a tree while the natives who are chasing them run past them and then run past them again in the opposite direction, which is comical, and they say things about the natives which are not funny at all. Then they hide in a cave, where Yarico is sleeping, so she wakes and falls in love with Inkle and they sing a duet in perfect English together. Wowski and Trudge fall in love and she has a funny foreign accent.
Meanwhile, Inkle is betrothed to Narcissa but she's in love with Captain Nice Guy. Wowski, Inkle, Yarico, and Trudge arrive in Barbados and Inkle realizes that he needs to shake off Yarico to marry Narcissa. Meanwhile, Narcissa's father, the governor of Barbados has a comic misunderstanding where he mistakes the Captain for Inkle and sends him off to marry Narcissa. Inkle meets the governor without realizing he's the governor and there's another comic misunderstanding and Inkle sells his native wife to the governor, who makes disparaging asides about those who would sell slaves. (If the 17th century governor of Barbados opposed slavery, history would be a lot happier.) Then the comedy of errors is resolved, there's some mealy dialogue about how being good is good and slavery is bad, and Inkle reaffirms his love for Yarico. HE FUCKING SOLD HER. They are happy together, along with Trudge, who never wavered in his love for Wowski. HE FUCKING SOLD HER.
I would like to go back in time and see this in the Strand, with all the musical numbers and imaginative interpretations of other cultures. Seeing it nowadays would be uncomfortable for everyone, to say the least.
A man sells his wife and everything is fine ten minutes later, because he renounced slavery. Good moral, fucking weird delivery.
My e-book had a foreword by Mrs. Inchman, who enjoyed the play but didn't think Trudge was funny.
January 5, 2026
Although an important text for the abolitionist cause, in giving the story a 'happy ending', Colman loses the gravity of the tale. His attempts to erase the atrocities of Inkle's actions and maintain the opera's comedy are anticlimactic, with this deviation from the true story making the ending dissatisfying.
January 16, 2020
Had to read for a university module (Romantic Plays and Players) for a study of Race and Empire. Fairly interesting with material for research but not my favourite.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews