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.
Les mer
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781350027183
Publisert
2020
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Bloomsbury Academic
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter