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 page -- Halftitle page -- Series page -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Dedication -- Contents -- Online Materials -- Illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- 1 Classical Burlesque and Homeric Epic -- Victorian Homer -- Homer burlesqued -- Ancient and modern -- Notes on editions, running commentary and textual annotations -- Notes -- 2 Melodrama Mad! or, the Siege of Troy -- Thomas Dibdin -- Notes -- Paratext from John Miller's edition (1819) -- 3 Telemachus -- or, the Island of Calypso -- Charles Dance (1794-1863) -- James Robinson Planch é (1796-1880) -- Note -- Manuscript paratext -- 4 Iliad -- or the Siege of Troy -- Robert Brough -- Notes -- Manuscript paratext -- 5 Ulysses -- or the Iron-Clad Warrior, and the Little Tug of War -- Sir Francis Cowley Burnand -- Notes -- Paratext from submitted edition -- List of Epic Burlesques -- References -- Index Online Materials List of Illustrations Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations 1. Classical burlesque and Homeric epic Victorian Homer Homer burlesqued Ancient and modern Notes on editions, running commentary and textual annotations 2. Thomas Dibdin / Melodrama Mad!; or, the Siege of Troy (1819) 3. James Robinson Planché with Charles Dance / Telemachus; or, the Island of Calypso (1834) 4. Robert B. Brough / Iliad; or the Siege of Troy (1858) 5. Sir Francis Cowley Burnand / Ulysses; or the Ironclad Warrior and the Little Tug of War (1865) 6. List of epic burlesques References Index