Victorian Epic Burlesques: A Critical Anthology of Nineteenth-Century Theatrical Entertainments after Homer (Bloomsbury Studies in Classical Reception)

"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 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 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-- 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. Rachel Bryant Davies. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Online Materials 10 List of Illustrations 11 Acknowledgements 12 List of Abbreviations 13 1. Classical burlesque and Homeric epic 15 Victorian Homer 20 Homer burlesqued 22 Ancient and modern 31 Notes on editions, running commentary and textual annotations 37 2. Thomas Dibdin, Melodrama Mad!; or, the Siege of Troy (1819) 46 3. James Robinson Planché with Charles Dance, Telemachus; or, the Island of Calypso (1834) 106 4. Robert B. Brough, Iliad; or the Siege of Troy (1858) 149 5. Sir Francis Cowley Burnand, Ulysses; or the Ironclad Warrior and the Little Tug of War (1865) 233 6. List of epic burlesques 284 References 286 Index 296