John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera 1728-2004: Adaptations and Re-WritingsWhen Richard Steele remarked that the greatest Evils in human Society are such as no Law can come at, he was not able to forsee the spectacular success of John Gay's satire of society, the administration of law and crime, politics, the Italian opera and other topics. Gay's The Beggar's Opera, with its mixture of witty dialogue and popular songs, was imitated by 18th century writers, criticized by those on the seats of power, but remained a favourite of the English theatre public ever since. With N. Playfair's 1920 revival and B. Brecht's and K. Weill's 1928 Dreigroschenoper, Gay's play has been a starting-point for dramatists such as V. Havel (Zebrácká opera, 1975), W. Soyinka (Opera Wonyosi, 1977), Ch. Buarque (Ópera do Malandro, 1978), D. Fo (L'opera dello sghignazzo, 1981), A. Ayckbourn (A Chorus of Disapproval, 1984), as well as others such as Latouche, Hacks, Fassbinder, Dear, Wasserman, and Lepage. Apart from contributions by international scholars analysing the above-named plays, the editors' introduction covers other dramatists that have payed hommage to Gay. This interdisciplinary collection of essays is of particular interest for scholars working in the field of drama/theatre studies, the eighteenth century, contemporary drama, postcolonial studies, and politics and the stage. |
Contents
Title Page | 3 |
Copyright Page | 4 |
Table of Contents | 5 |
Calendar of Important Adaptations and ReWritings 19202004 | 7 |
Imitation and ReWriting of The Beggars Opera 1728 to 2004 | 9 |
Satire Kriminalität Ballade Oper Kommerzialisierung | 33 |
The Beggars Opera and its Criminal Law Context | 103 |
Polly 1728 | 127 |
The BowStreet Opera 1773 | 169 |
Zur Dreigroschenoper 1928 von Bertolt Brecht und Kurt Weill | 193 |
John Gays The Beggars Opera und Václav Havels Zebrácká opera 1975 | 219 |
Strategies of a Postcolonial Response to a Western Operatic Drama | 243 |
Chico Buarque de Hollandas Ópera do Malandro 1978 als brasilianische Wiederkehr von John Gays The Beggars Opera | 273 |
Dario Fos Lopera dello sghignazzo 1981 als provokatives Rewriting der Bettleroper | 295 |
Alan Ayckbourns Beggars Opera as A Chorus of Disapproval 1984 | 327 |
Contributors | 345 |
Die satirischen Bezugspersonen von John Gays The Beggars Opera | 147 |
Other editions - View all
John Gay's The beggar's opera 1728 - 2004: 1728 - 2004 ; adaptations and re ... Uwe Böker No preview available - 2006 |