Victorian epic burlesques : a critical anthology of nineteenth-century theatrical entertainments after Homer / Rachel Bryant Davies.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Davies, Rachel Bryant, author.

Series:

Classical Studies & Archaeology 2018.

Classical Studies & Archaeology 2018

Bloomsbury studies in classical reception

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Burlesques.

English drama--19th century--History and criticism.

English drama.

Burlesque (Theater)--Great Britain--History--19th century.

Burlesque (Theater).

Trojan War--Literature and the war.

Trojan War.

History.

Troy (Extinct city)--Literature.

Troy (Extinct city).

Carthage (Extinct city)--Literature.

Carthage (Extinct city).

English literature--Classical influences.

English literature.

Great Britain.

Genre:

Drama.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 284 pages).

Place of Publication:

[London] : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

"This anthology presents annotated scripts of four major burlesques by key playwrights: Melodrama Mad! or, the Siege of Troy by Thomas John Dibdin (1819); Telemachus; or, the Island of Calypso by J.R. Planché (1834); The Iliad; or, the Siege of Troy by Robert Brough (1858) and Ulysses; or the Ironclad Warriors and the Little Tug of War by F.C. Burnand (1865). Beloved legend, archaeological riddle and educational staple: Homer's epic tales of the Trojan War and its aftermath were vividly reimagined in nineteenth-century Britain. Classical burlesques--exceptionally successful theatrical entertainments--continually mined the Iliad and Odyssey to lucrative comic effect. Burlesques combined song, dance and slapstick comedy with an eclectic kaleidoscope of topical allusions. From namedropping boxing legends to recasting Shakespearean combats, epic adaptations overflow with satirical commentary on politics, cultural highlights and everyday current affairs. In uncovering Homer's irreverently playful afterlife, this selection showcases burlesque's development and wide appeal. The critical introduction analyses how these plays contested the accessibility of classical antiquity and dramatic performance. Textual and literary annotations, with contemporary illustrations, illuminate the juxtaposed sources to establish these repackaged epics as indispensable tools for unlocking nineteenth-century social, cultural and political history. Resources for further study are available online."--Bloomsbury Publishing.

Contents:

Classical burlesque and Homeric epic

Thomas Dibdin, Melodrama mad! or, the Siege of Troy (1819, Surrey)

James Robinson Planch with Charles Dance, Telemachus' or, the Island of Calypso (1834, Olympic)

Robert B. Brough, the Siege of Troy : a burlesque (1858, Lyceum)

Sir Francis Cowley Burnand, Ulysses' or the Ironclad warrior and the Little tug of war (1865, St James')

List of epic burlesques.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Electronic reproduction. London : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018. Available via World Wide Web. Access limited by licensing agreement. s2018 dcunns

Other Format:

Original

ISBN:

9781350027206

OCLC:

1069708451

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.