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Description

Written by John Gay

Directed by Walter Stump

Presented by the Treehouse Players

From the program:

On January 29, 1728, John Gay's The Beggar's Opera opened in London at Lincoln Inn Fields marking the end of one era and the beginning of another. The ballad opera construction utilized by Gay, was the culmination of a new theatre genre which had begun with the Italian Opera Buffa and later was refined. into the French Opera Comique. In addition to the Italian tradition of satirizing serious opera, Gay combined the French comedies-en-vaudville concept of using popular folk tunes in the musical score. Italian grand opera had become fashionable in 18th century London, and many English composers had parroted the style. Foremost among the advocates of the Italian methods for George Frederick Handel, among whose techniques were the use of vocal trills, recitative and grandiose themes of gods and heroes. The Beggar's Opera sets up an anti-hero, satirizing the use of recitative and mocks artificial vocal techniques. There was no doubt in the minds of Londoners that Handel was being lampooned.

Included among the satirical targets at which Gay aimed was the. whole neo-classical tradition. Fresh from the dictatorial French academy had come the rigid rules of neo-classism: the purity of dramatic types; the purposes of drama; verisimilitude and decorum, and the unity of time, place and action. The Beggar's Opera happily mixes tragedy with comedy in direct conflict of the pronouncement from the academy. Watch the closing scene with the above in mind.

Publication Date

1972

City

Gorham, ME

Keywords

Theatre, University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre, Theatre Program

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | Theatre and Performance Studies | Theatre History

Comments

CAST

The Beggar ... Ronald Colby
The Player ... James Derosier
Jemmy Twitcher ... James Derosier
Mr. Peachum ... Timothy Wooten
Filch ... Thomas Derrah
Mrs. Peachum ... Deborah La Shane
Polly Peachum ... Karen Halverson
Mac heath ... John Mcleod
Ben Budge ... Nicholas Netos
Matt of the Mint ... Danforth West
Crook-Fingered Jack ... Thomas Sauret
Wat Dreary ... Michael Johnson
Jenny Diver ... Martha Whitten
Mrs. Coaxer ... Diana Nedeau
Mrs. Vixen ... Carole Bohannon
Molly Brazen ... Robin Lamb
Dolly Trull ... Deborah· Holmes
Suky Tawdry ... Bonnie Chapman
Mrs. Slammekin ... Pauline Howe
Lockit ... Joseph Hanley
Lucy Lockit ... Deborah Hall
Mrs. Trapes ... Brenda Humphrey
Pretty Face Hawkins ... Daniel West
Betty Doxy ... Sally Derosier
Telly Swisher ... Charlene Rainha
Poxie Turner ... Karen Smith
Robin of Bagshot ... Edward Chase
Jeanie Tatum ... Margaret McAdam
Mrs. McThirster ... Karen Selberg
Nimming Ned ... Thomas Coolidge

ORCHESTRA

1st Violin ... Debbie Bragdon
................... Darryl Card

2nd Violin ... Martha Freely
.................... Dierdre Clark

Viola ... Janice Dibiasi
Flute ... Michael Luce
Clarinet ... Ruth Soucy
Double Bass ... John McDuffy
Cello ... Holly Sargent
Piano ... Jane Bartholomew

Recorder ... Joyce Pike
.................... Mike Luce
.................... Karen Smith
.................... Marge Jones

Location: Box R10, Folder 2

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Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

The Beggar's Opera Program


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