Description:

Advertisement for Inkle and Yarico at the Theatre Royal, Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal , 1792.
An Indian woman is sold into slavery on Barbados by the man she had rescued and protected from her countrymen when he was shipwrecked. He then repented of his action towards the woman he had loved, redeemed her and married her.

Inkle and Yarico is a comic opera, which was written by George Colman the Younger in 1787. It is based on a supposedly true story told in Richard Ligons True and Exact History of the Island of Barbados.

A young man was shipwrecked on the South American coast and his life was saved by a young Indian woman.
He got off the island, taking her with him, and then sold her into slavery in Barbados.

This story was romanticised by Steele, writing in the Spectator in 1711.

Colman adapted Steeles story into his comic opera. It was very popular and was performed many times at different London theatres.
In Colmans version, Thomas Inkle, a young Englishman, is taking his fiance out to her father, the Governor of Barbados.
He is lost overboard with his servant and is marooned on an island.

They are saved from the cannibal locals by a young Indian woman, Yarico, and her servant.

Inkle and Yarico fall in love. Inkle and Yaricos servants also fall in love with each other.
Inkle promises undying love to Yarico.

They are taken off the island by a British boat and taken to Barbados.
There, Inkle is reintroduced to civilised life and realises his position.
He applies economic theory rather than love to his situation, by choosing his fiance and selling Yarico as a slave.
His servant refuses to sell his Indian lover as a slave.
Inkle is then humiliated for his ingratatitude and betrayal of Yarico, repents his behaviour and marries her.

This story was romanticised by Steele, writing in the Spectator in 1711.

Colman adapted Steeles story into his comic opera. It was very popular and was performed many times at different London theatres.

In Colmans version, Thomas Inkle, a young Englishman, is taking his fiance out to her father, the Governor of Barbados.
He is lost overboard with his servant and is marooned on an island.
They are saved from the cannibal locals by a young Indian woman, Yarico, and her servant.

Inkle and Yarico fall in love. Inkle and Yaricos servants also fall in love with each other.
Inkle promises undying love to Yarico.

They are taken off the island by a British boat and taken to Barbados.
There, Inkle is reintroduced to civilised life and realises his position.
He applies economic theory rather than love to his situation, by choosing his fiance and selling Yarico as a slave.
His servant refuses to sell his Indian lover as a slave.

Inkle is then humiliated for his ingratatitude and betrayal of Yarico, repents his behaviour and marries her.

Creator: Theatre Royal

Date: 1792

Copyright: Copyright BCC Library Service