Difference between revisions of "The Beggar's Opera"
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| − | ''The | + | ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]'' is a ballad opera[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad_opera] by John Gay (1685-1732)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gay] |
| − | + | == The original text == | |
| − | + | Based on the story of the infamous British thief and jailbreaker '''Jack Sheppard'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Sheppard], the play is a musical comedy about the love triangle between the highwayman Macheath, his fence's daughter Polly and the jailer's daughter Lucy. | |
| − | + | ||
| + | John Gay's text uses music consisting largely of poplar tunes of the day, to which Gay adapted his own words. In the original production these were arranged and orchestrated by Johann Christoph Pepusch (1667-1752)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Christoph_Pepusch], who also composed the overture. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The original version was first produced in the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London in 1728. | ||
==Translations and adaptations== | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
| + | |||
There was a London revival at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, produced by Sir Nigel Playfair, for which the music was freely rearranged by Frederic Austin. | There was a London revival at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, produced by Sir Nigel Playfair, for which the music was freely rearranged by Frederic Austin. | ||
| − | Since 1920 there had been several "rewrites" of ''The Beggar's Opera''. | + | Since 1920 there had been several "rewrites" of ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]'' and it later formed the basis of Bertolt Brecht’s immensely popular ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'' (1928)[]. |
| + | |||
| + | In 1953 a Technicolor film version was made of Gay's opera, directed by Peter Brook and starring Laurence Olivier, Dorothy Tutin, [[Stanley Holloway]] and others.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beggar%27s_Opera_(film)] | ||
| − | + | [[Louis Burke]] made a South African adaptation of Gay's play for the [[CAPAB]] production of 1965. | |
| − | + | Another South African version attempting to fuse Baroque (Old England) and African (contemporary South Africa) elements was produced by the opera company, [[Dimpho di Kopane]] in 2002. | |
== Performance history in South Africa == | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| − | Staged in Cape Town in 1922 at the | + | 1922: Staged in Cape Town in 1922 at the [[Opera House]] by an overseas company under the direction of [[African Theatres]] Ltd. |
| − | A production by [[CAPAB]] in 1965 was directed and choreographed by [[Louis Burke]], with [[Joan Brickhill]], David Holliday [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Holliday] and a large cast which included [[Fitz Morley]], [[Paddy Canavan]], [[Yvonne Bryceland]], [[Frank Lazarus]]. | + | 1965: A production by [[CAPAB]] in 1965 was directed and choreographed by [[Louis Burke]], with [[Joan Brickhill]], David Holliday [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Holliday] and a large cast which included [[Fitz Morley]], [[Paddy Canavan]], [[Yvonne Bryceland]], [[Frank Lazarus]], [[Maggie Soboil]]. Musical direction was by [[Walter Swanson]], decor by [[Bill Smuts]], costumes by [[Joan Brickhill]]. This production was then taken to Johannesburg by [[Theatre International]] in 1966. |
| + | |||
| + | 1966: Presented by [[PACOFS Opera]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1983: Presented by [[UCT Opera School]] and [[UCT Drama Department]] at the [[Baxter Theatre]], directed by [[Peter Klatzow]] and [[Mavis Taylor]], produced by [[Angelo Gobbato]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2002: South African version by the company [[Dimpho di Kopane]] first performed by [[Dimpho Di Kopane]] on 22 February 2002 at the [[Joseph Stone Theatre]] in Athlone, with [[Pauline Malefane]]. The production was staged at Wilton's Music Hall, London, in the autumn of 2002. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2004: The [[Dimpho di Kopane]] adaptation/production performed at the [[Spier Amphitheatre]]. Directed by [[Mark Dornford-May]], designed by [[Jessica Dornford-May]], musical direction by [[Charles Hazlewood]]. With [[Lungelwa Blau]], [[Bongani Bubu]], [[Mvuyisi Mjali]], [[Ruby Mthethwa]], [[Jim Ngxabaze]], [[Sibusiso Ziqubu]], [[Otto Siqubu]], [[Bulelwa Cosa]], [[Andries Mbali]]. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| − | |||
| − | ''The | + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gay |
| + | |||
| + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Christoph_Pepusch | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beggar%27s_Opera | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad_opera | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beggar%27s_Opera_(film) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''[[The Beggar's Opera]]'' theatre programme, 1965. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow]]. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. [[University of Stellenbosch]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Ivan Meredith]]. 2006. 'Opera in South Africa during the first democratic decade'. Unpublished Masters thesis. [[University of Cape Town]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. ''Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987''. | ||
| + | |||
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
Revision as of 15:48, 4 April 2025
The Beggar's Opera is a ballad opera[1] by John Gay (1685-1732)[2]
Contents
The original text
Based on the story of the infamous British thief and jailbreaker Jack Sheppard[3], the play is a musical comedy about the love triangle between the highwayman Macheath, his fence's daughter Polly and the jailer's daughter Lucy.
John Gay's text uses music consisting largely of poplar tunes of the day, to which Gay adapted his own words. In the original production these were arranged and orchestrated by Johann Christoph Pepusch (1667-1752)[4], who also composed the overture.
The original version was first produced in the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London in 1728.
Translations and adaptations
There was a London revival at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, produced by Sir Nigel Playfair, for which the music was freely rearranged by Frederic Austin.
Since 1920 there had been several "rewrites" of The Beggar's Opera and it later formed the basis of Bertolt Brecht’s immensely popular The Threepenny Opera (1928)[].
In 1953 a Technicolor film version was made of Gay's opera, directed by Peter Brook and starring Laurence Olivier, Dorothy Tutin, Stanley Holloway and others.[5]
Louis Burke made a South African adaptation of Gay's play for the CAPAB production of 1965.
Another South African version attempting to fuse Baroque (Old England) and African (contemporary South Africa) elements was produced by the opera company, Dimpho di Kopane in 2002.
Performance history in South Africa
1922: Staged in Cape Town in 1922 at the Opera House by an overseas company under the direction of African Theatres Ltd.
1965: A production by CAPAB in 1965 was directed and choreographed by Louis Burke, with Joan Brickhill, David Holliday [6] and a large cast which included Fitz Morley, Paddy Canavan, Yvonne Bryceland, Frank Lazarus, Maggie Soboil. Musical direction was by Walter Swanson, decor by Bill Smuts, costumes by Joan Brickhill. This production was then taken to Johannesburg by Theatre International in 1966.
1966: Presented by PACOFS Opera.
1983: Presented by UCT Opera School and UCT Drama Department at the Baxter Theatre, directed by Peter Klatzow and Mavis Taylor, produced by Angelo Gobbato.
2002: South African version by the company Dimpho di Kopane first performed by Dimpho Di Kopane on 22 February 2002 at the Joseph Stone Theatre in Athlone, with Pauline Malefane. The production was staged at Wilton's Music Hall, London, in the autumn of 2002.
2004: The Dimpho di Kopane adaptation/production performed at the Spier Amphitheatre. Directed by Mark Dornford-May, designed by Jessica Dornford-May, musical direction by Charles Hazlewood. With Lungelwa Blau, Bongani Bubu, Mvuyisi Mjali, Ruby Mthethwa, Jim Ngxabaze, Sibusiso Ziqubu, Otto Siqubu, Bulelwa Cosa, Andries Mbali.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gay
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Christoph_Pepusch
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beggar%27s_Opera
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad_opera
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beggar%27s_Opera_(film)
The Beggar's Opera theatre programme, 1965.
Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Stellenbosch.
Ivan Meredith. 2006. 'Opera in South Africa during the first democratic decade'. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Cape Town.
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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