Little Don Giovanni, or Leporello and the Stone Statue

Little Don Giovanni, or Leporello and the Stone Statue is a burlesque play in verse by Henry James Byron (1835–1884)[1]

Often simply referred to as Little Don Giovanni in the various sources.

The original text

Largely based on Mozart's opera Don Giovanni, with an overture and incidental music by J.C. Van Maanen. First performed in London on 26 December, 1865. Published in London, 1867.

Translations and adaptations

Also found is a rare text called An Original, Musical, Pantomical, Comical. Christmas Extravaganza, Entitled Don Juan! likewise written by H.J. Byron. Performed in London in 1873.

Performance history in South Africa

1876: First performed by the Disney Roebuck Company in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, on 2 September, featuring dances and songs by William Elton and Louise Balfe.

1876: Performed again by the Disney Roebuck Company in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, on 5 September with The Poisoner (Anon.).

1876: Performed again by the Disney Roebuck Company in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, on 7 September with Naval Engagements (P.O.W.).

1876: Performed by the Disney Roebuck Company in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, on 9 and 14 September with Under the Gaslight (Daly/Hazlewood) and Betsy Baker (Morton).

1876: Performed again by the Disney Roebuck Company in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, on 30 September, with The Corsican Brothers (Grangé and De Montépin).

1878: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and company on 6 July with Lady Audley's Secret (Hazlewood).

1878: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and company on 8 July.

1878: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and company on 9 July with Jessy Vere, or The Return of the Wanderer (Hazlewood).

1878: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and company on 11 July with David Garrick (Robertson).

1878: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck and company on 12 July with Lady Audley's Secret (Hazlewood).

Sources

Armand E. Singer 1993 The Don Juan Theme: An Annotated Bibliography of Versions, Analogues, Uses, and Adaptions. West Virginia University Press[2]

D.C. Boonzaier. 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 342, 347, 370.

Go to ESAT Bibliography