Difference between revisions of "Dido, the Celebrated Widow"

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''[[Dido, the Celebrated Widow]]'' is an [[burlesque]] by Francis Cowley Burnand (1836–1917)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._C._Burnand]  
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''[[Dido, the Celebrated Widow]]'' is a [[burlesque]] by Francis Cowley Burnand (1836–1917)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._C._Burnand]  
  
 
==The original text==
 
==The original text==
  
 
+
A [[burlesque]] version of the story of Dido, it was possibly based on, or at least inspired by, Christopher  Marlowe's play. 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 [[burlesque|burlesques]].  
 
 
This is a [[burlesque]] version of the story of Dido, possibly based on, or at least inspired by, Christopher  Marlowe's play. 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 [[burlesque|burlesques]].  
 
 
   
 
   
 
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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.
Burnand's play '''''[[Dido, the Celebrated Widow]]''''' (or ''[[The Widow Dido]]'')  and termed a  "New and Original Extravaganza" was written by Francis Cowley Burnand (1836–1917)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._C._Burnand] and first performed at the Royalty Theatre , London, in 1860, and published in Lacy's acting edition by T.H. Lacy in 1865. To what extent Burnand's version had been inspired by Marlowe's play is uncertain, since Burnand was a renowned classicist and author of classics-based [[burlesque|burlesques]].
 
 
 
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, Queen of Carthage]]''''' and termed a "Grand Musical, Classical and Picturesque Extravaganza in One Act by Burnand" .
 
This was most probably the text performed a number of times in Cape Town during the 1860-1861 season under the title '''''[[Dido, Queen of Carthage]]''''' and termed a "Grand Musical, Classical and Picturesque Extravaganza in One Act by Burnand" .

Revision as of 05:11, 24 March 2020

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 play. 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, Queen of Carthage and termed a "Grand Musical, Classical and Picturesque Extravaganza in One Act by Burnand" .

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

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

1860: Performed as Dido, 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, 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, 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).

Sources

Laura Monros-Gaspar (ed). 2015. Victorian Classical Burlesques: A Critical Anthology. Bloomsbury Publishing[2]

Reprint of the Lacy's acting edition of 1865, [3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._C._Burnand

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.155-9

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