Dido, the Celebrated Widow

Dido, the Celebrated Widow is a burlesque by Francis Cowley Burnand (1836–1917)[1]

The original text

A burlesque version of the story of Dido, it was possibly based on, or at least inspired by, Christopher Marlowe's short play The Tragedy of Dido, Queen of Carthage (1593). However the extent to which Burnand's version relied on Marlowe's play is uncertain, since Burnand was himself a renowned classicist and author of a number of classics-based burlesques.

Burnand's play (also known as The Widow Dido) and termed a "New and Original Extravaganza", was first performed as Dido, the Celebrated Widow in London at St James's Theatre, on 11 February, 1860, and later acted as The Widow Dido at the Royalty Theatre on 20 November, 1865. Published by T.H. Lacy in 1865.

This was most probably the text performed a number of times in Cape Town during the 1860-1861 season under the title Dido, The Queen of Carthage and termed a "Grand Musical, Classical and Picturesque Extravaganza in One Act by Burnand" .

For details of Marlowe's play, see the entry under The Tragedy of Dido, Queen of Carthage

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1860: Performed as Dido, The Queen of Carthage in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 25 November, with The Irish Tutor (Butler) and a musical interlude by the brass orchestra of the 59th Regiment. Announced as a "Grand Musical, Classical and Picturesque Extravaganza in One Act" by "Burnand".

1860: Performed as Dido, The Queen of Carthage in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 3 December with Who Do You Take Me For? (Morton).

1860: Performed as Dido, The Queen of Carthage in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 17 and 20 December with The Little Treasure (Harris) and The Hundred Pound Note (Peake). The first performance was done as a benefit for Mrs Delmaine.

1860: Performed as Dido, The Queen of Carthage again, by special request, in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 27 December with The Happy Man (Lover).

1861: Performed as Dido, The Queen of Carthage in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 10 January with Fra Diavolo, or The Beauty and the Brigands and A Night at Notting Hill (Yates and Harrington).

1861: Performed as Dido, The Queen of Carthage , as part of "grand gala night" in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 23 February, with The Irish Tutor (Butler).