Difference between revisions of "The Tragedy of Tragedies, or The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great"
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The satire tells the story of a character who is small in stature and status, yet is granted the hand of a princess in marriage; the infuriated queen and another member of the court subsequently attempt to destroy the marriage. | The satire tells the story of a character who is small in stature and status, yet is granted the hand of a princess in marriage; the infuriated queen and another member of the court subsequently attempt to destroy the marriage. | ||
| − | The play was originally written as an addition to | + | The play was originally written under his pseudonym of Scriblerus Secundus, as an addition to his play ''[[The Author's Farce]]''. First produced, with the title ''[[Tom Thumb]]'', at Haymarket Theatre, London on 24 April 1730. |
| − | + | By 1731 Fielding had reworked and expanded the play considerably and it was now performed and published under the title ''[[The Tragedy of Tragedies, or The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great]]'' (or at times ''[[The Tragedy of Tragedies]]''). It was first produced | |
== Performance history in South Africa == | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
Revision as of 06:31, 5 January 2016
The Tragedy of Tragedies, or The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great [1] is a play by Henry Fielding (1707-1754) [2]. Also known as The Tragedy of Tragedies.
Translations and adaptations
The satire tells the story of a character who is small in stature and status, yet is granted the hand of a princess in marriage; the infuriated queen and another member of the court subsequently attempt to destroy the marriage.
The play was originally written under his pseudonym of Scriblerus Secundus, as an addition to his play The Author's Farce. First produced, with the title Tom Thumb, at Haymarket Theatre, London on 24 April 1730.
By 1731 Fielding had reworked and expanded the play considerably and it was now performed and published under the title The Tragedy of Tragedies, or The Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great (or at times The Tragedy of Tragedies). It was first produced
Performance history in South Africa
1972: CAPAB Drama staged an adaptation of the play, under the inverted title of Tom Thumb, or The Tragedy of Tragedies in the Nico Malan Theatre. It was directed by Robin Malan, with Denis Bettesworth (Tom Thumb), Arthur Hall (King Arthur), Christopher Prophet (Merlin), Glynn Day (Lord Grizzle), Pietro Nolte/Ronald France (Noodle/Doodle), Elliot Playfair (Foodle), Steve Daitsh/Steve Gurney (Bailiff/Follower), Bill Tanner (Parson), Nerina Ferreira (Queen Dollallolla), Maggie Soboil (The Princess Huncamunca), Roger Dwyer (Glumdalca), Lynn Greenblatt (Cleora), Marion Achber (Mustacha), Gay Morris (Mustora), Simon Swindell (Ghost) and others. Designed by Penny Simpson and original music by Peter Wale.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Thumb_%28play%29
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tragedy_of_Tragedies
CAPAB theatre programme, 1972.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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