Influence of The Beggars Opera on Musical Theatre

Influence of The Beggars Opera on Musical Theatre Explore the ways in which The Beggars Opera influenced the development of musical theatre in the eighteenth and twentieth centuries. What were the reasons for its continued popularity? Intro The Beggars opera is an outstanding piece of writing, which has for centuries been an inspiration of talent to musical theatre everywhere. John gays piece has led to the creation of many different productions, that shall be talked about in more depth throughout the essay. The 18th Century is the obvious place to start, with the first production being staged in 1728 on 28 January . This is also where John Gays marked his place in History as a great Ballad Opera writer. Ballad Opera was a new Style of musical theatre made huge by its humorous satire, which could be related to by all types and classes of people, because of its satire on Italian Operas and British prime minister Walpole at the time. The play in its new and unique group managed to relate to a mass amount of people who found the humorous play to be so true in its own exaggerated wayWhen given the question (Explore the ways in which The Beggars opera influenced the development of musical theatre in the eighteen and twentiet h centuries. What were the reasons for its continued popularity?) there were certain aspects of the ballad opera which I needed to understand before answering the question. The Production, adaptations of the play, the stylistic aspects, the construction, and its popularity within the two Centuries are some of the key aspects needed to answer the question. The beggars opera and Its low-life settings were Taken and used in pieces like The Cobblers Opera, which is set in Billingsgate. Charles Johnsons The Village Opera ( 1729 ) started a trend for more emotional and more rural subject, which contained little satire or wit. None of these two operas came close to the success of The Beggars Opera. This waspartly to do with the fact Gay had used most of the best songs in the public domain.(footnote)The popularity of The ballad opera caused a lot of serious difficulties for The composers and Italian opera houses at the time including composers such as Handel. When the obsession had died, there were still shorter pieces of the same style which came onto the scene and became popular afterpieces of the Big shows.(footnote) These pieces were written In the early 1760s, they were unoriginal pieces of ballad opera. One called Thomas and sally(1760) by Arne, and one called Love in a village(1772) also by Arne. These were considered unoriginal becaus e only 5 new songs were written for the opera and some were taken from his previous works. (footnote) Bibliography and More Information about ballad opera R. Fiske , English Theatre Music in the Eighteenth Century (London, 1973, 2/1986) Y. Noble (ed.), Twentieth Century Interpretations of The Beggars Opera (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1975) Percy Scholes / Nicholas Temperley Only The Beggars opera is the only one out of the pieces that kept its popularity. It was a huge milestone of the 20th century for musical theatre, was an adaptation (probably the most well known of all that have been done) of the The beggars opera, The Threepenny Opera. The piece was inspired by The beggars Opera in its social message, using some of the same characters and even one of the songs. Composer Kurt Weill and playwright Bertolt Brecht changed old-fashioned opera and operetta forms, an incorporateda political view and the sound of 1920s Berlin dance bands and cabaret into the play. Weills harmonies and Brechts writing created a completely new musical theatre that inspired some of the most well known hits such as Chicago and cabaret. Mack the Knife, is one of the most well know tunes of the century, this is the opening song to the play.(footnote) The first night of Three penny opera was August 31, 1928. No one knew what to expect from the night, but not long in and everyone began to shout and cheer. The show turned out to be a brilliant success and the popularity spread throughout Europe. This started something huge. After the Berlin premiere, 46 stage productions of the work was generated because of the popularity from audiences. 1931 brought a film version to its audience, the film was called Die 3-Groschenoper. This made a an international star out of weills wife, Lotte Lenya. The opera, by 1933 had already been produced 130 times all over the world. The play really took off after the war when there was a New York production at Theatre de lys, this production was off Broadway. It ran from 1954 to 1961 and the show did a total of 2707 performance and was the longest running play in history a the time. The Threepenny Opera is still entertaining audiences all over the world. There are three cinematic versions of the work, made in 1931, 1963, and 1988. the music and story of The Threepenny Opera as stayed irresistible to audiences everywhere as they were in 1928. This adaptation of the beggars opera as you can see has had significant inspiration on musical theatre, and had a lot on early popular music of the 20th century. In America, ballad opera began with the importation of an English work, Flora, or Hob in the Well, which was given at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1735. The first American performance of The Beggars Opera itself took place in New York in 1750. Thereafter all the most popular English comic operas were quickly imported, and, indeed, for long they formed the sole operatic entertainment in the English colonies and successor states, since Italian and French opera did not reach that part of America until the 1790s, and no serious attempt to promote Italian opera was made until 1825 . Many writers of the time were sticking to Italian Opera, which were very serious 1953 brought forward a new light on the ballad opera turning it into a film. The film priemered in London on the 5th of June 1953, film1985, Musical theatre before The beggars opera was very different. During the 17th Century there was a period called interregnum, unfortunately this had an effect on musical theatre and During this time theatrical performances were forbidden under the Puritan government. After this period and when the restoration was finally over, there was a lot of changes to society. There was a lot of positive effects on the countrys performing arts, and because of the financial developments the balance of social classes came together. Londoners started to appreciate newer forms of artistic expression. They welcomed teachers of Italian and French to the city, as well as the many Continental musicians who arrived and settled there. An era began where Italian style was put above all other types of entertainment. The Italian castrato was a male singer who was trained to sing with soprano or alto voice. The Italian Castrato became very popular(footnote) John gay took a lot of his inspiration for the The beggars opera Productions an adaptations of The beggars opera since 1728 have been everywhere. I have taken a look at some of these since its first performance to show how much of a success it was even 250 years on, the influence on musical theatre has shown in many different types of opera. When John Gay took his new ballad opera to the manager of the famous Drury lane theatre, Colley Cibber, gay was unfortunately turned away. The main reason for Colley Cibbers choice was not ignorance, it was a perception of its political satire that made him refuse. If maybe The beggars opera was a bit more obtuse there would have been a bigger chance of Cibber accepting. The fact that Cibber had a Personal friendship with British Prime minister Walpole would probably have also played a big part in Cibbers decision, as he could not of found Gays Humour remotely comical.[i]Not long after Gays disappointment with Colley Cibbers Decision, Gay approached John Rich, the manager of another successful theatre called Lincolns Inn Fields. John Rich decided to take a chance on Gays work, However John Rich had his doubts and probably would have dropped it after its rehearsals if it wasnt for Gays friends who pressured him into continuing with the balled opera.[ii] John rich was so right in takin g on the piece and the widespread popularity of Gays Ballad opera led Rich to build Covent Garden, which today is the most famous Opera house in London.[iii] Gays main source of inspiration for the 69 Songs (in the original score there were 68 songs, one was added later by third edition) in his ballad opera were taken from a collection of songs and ballads written by Thomas DUrfey. The verses he wrote were mostly written to folksongs and favourite melodies. The book was published in 1700 in a songbook entitled, Wit and Mirth or pills to purge melancholy. John Gay selected many songs from this collection of popular music and wrote his own lyrics, so that the lyrics fitted in with his opera. Gay also had other sources which he borrowed from such as his contemporary composers Eccles, Barrett, Purcell, Clarke, and Handel, as well as using tunes from English, Scotch, and Irish folksongs. The music in the ballad was collected and the arranged to fit. The chosen songs included a range of popular styles at the time, from jigs to hymn-like tunes. German composer and music Director of Lincolns Inn Fields Theatre Dr. Pepusch Also participated in the creation of the score, providing the overture and assisting in the orchestration of the opera.[iv] The first Performance of John Gays Ballet Opera The Beggars Opera was on stage in 1728, This performance attracted the acclaim and attention of the Popular audience in England. The first season of performances lasted for a total of 62 nights. The play received just as much applause in the next season of performances. It soon spread into a lot of the main towns in England, and also made its way to Wales Scotland and Ireland where it was made more popular. The woman who played Polly( Lavinia Fenton) became a favourite of many different people. The ballad opera became that successful it drove Italian opera out of England for the whole season. Italian opera had carried Musical theatre for 10 year prior to this completely new style, I see as Experimenting at the time, as it was completely out of the norm. The 62 consecutive nights seems like a huge amount to be doing nowadays, but back in the 18th Century however this was quite normal for the actors to be doing. Years later the Opera was performed internationally in Dublin, Jamaica, Glasgow, New York. In America The beggars Opera was one of the earliest musical comedies Produced.[v] The Opera popularised this new form of stage entertainment which was known as balled opera. Balled opera changed Operas standard Upper-class audience and had attracted and combined the likes of lower-class, middleclass and Upper-class followings. Londoners really loved the realism and satire in the ballet opera, I think it was something that everyone at the time could relate to, which maybe why it attracted such a wide range of different minded and different classed people. Audiences would leave the theatre talking about the opera and singing the familiar tunes. There is a lot of evidence to show its popularity in the 18th Century, one being the book trade. This was highly increased because of Its controversial subject matter and satire. Other evidence showing its popularity was that every year after 1728 The beggars opera was performed every single year of the 18th Century.[vi] The Beggars Opera was premiered on January 29, 1728 at John Richs theatre at Lincoln-Inn-Fields and had an overwhelming amount of success. A newspaper at the time, The Craftsman(London weekly) ran this short piece: February 3, 1728 This Week a Dramatick Entertainment has been exhibited at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, entitled The Beggars Opera, which has met with a general Applause, insomuch that the Waggs say it has made Rich very Gay, and probably will make Gay very Rich. The reference to Rich above refers to John Rich, the manager of the Lincolns Inn Fields theatre. February 17, 1728 We hear that the British Opera, commonly called The Beggars Opera, continues to be acted, at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn Fields with general Applause, to the great Mortification of the Performers and Admirers of the Outlandish Opera in the Haymarket.[vii] The piece written shows how the play was a hit, and happened in such a small amount of time. People from everywhere wanted to see the play because It was the talk of the town. The huge success of The Beggars Opera has retained its popularity for over 200 hundred years, which forms a record in dramatic productions. Every generation brings new applause and the causes for its popularity change each generation, John gay probably didnt expect such a major interest in his work and maybe didnt think it would become as popular as it has. Im sure it would have shocked him that the piece was performed 62 nights in a row at one of the most well known theatres at the time. Gay at the time most definitely would have been expecting some abuse over the satire contained in the opera but he would not of been expecting the creation of the characters Macheath, his gang, and women followers would be criticized, and made into something more serious.[viii] The ballad opera has become so influential that critics by now tend to assume that complicated irony is Pervasive and thoroughgoing in the language of the play. Ironic double-meaning is understood to provide a key to correct reading of Gays satire, which in its ambiguity and uncertainty is modernistic.[ix] The first imitation of The beggars opera was by Tomas Cooke and johnJohn Mottleys ballad opera Penelope-the odyssey story set in England, this was also in 1728. The opera only ran for 3 night which had nothing on Gays piece.[x] Another production of the beggars opera was the 1985 Performances at 1985 brought forward lots of production of the ballad opera, and it marked Johngays In 1985 this Catchy News paper article, shows how popular The beggars opera was and how popular is was still in 1985. Beggars Banquet Dramatic and musical flexibility and vitality make John Gays 1728 Musical comedy an indestructible theatrical creation During the 18th Century Musical theatre Except in Air 34, where Pepusch used P.G. Sandonis original bass for the latters setting of Gays own song-text Sweet Williams Farewell to Black-eyd Susan. Also, in Air 20 (Handels march from Rinaldo) and Air 41 (Purcells song If loves a sweet passion), Pepuschs bass line is similar to the composers own. For further details, see my edition, p.108. ) Arrangements of the The rearranging of the songs in The beggars be traced back to the first performance in 1728. The existing tunes John gay had chosen for his play, were taken by arranger John Christopher Pepusch and instead of him taking earlier harmonized version of the songs, he added his own basses.(footnote)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1729 the basses were published, this was the third edition of the work. The first two edition only include the tunes.( The songs were unlike John Pepuschsfully-scored overture written for two oboes and string, and there printed on two staves. The staves lack any instrumental introductions or codas.(footnote) Other sources show evidence that there was a standard method for arranging the songs. Scoring was for unison violins and continuo, and instrumental introduction and codas copied the opening and closing bars of the song itself.(footnote) When the third edition was introduced it was used as a basis for arrangements until late into the 19th century. However, in the second half of the 18th century, many London revivals began to try out new arrangements for the musical, the most significant version is Thomas Linleys of 1776. All of the arrangements have not been published. In 1769 there was an edition of the ballad opera published with a misleading title page: THE BEGGARS OPERAwith the Additional Alterations byDr ArneThe Basses entirely New.(footnote) The publisher hoped the audience would think that the basses entirely new were part Dr Arnes additional alterations, The truth is the pieces were far to poor to be his work, as it contained too much harmonic for the speed of the tunes. This gave a different spin on the musical but didnt contain the right ingredients, that made gays version what it is. Compared to Pepuschs simple but very effective bass the Arne version omitted some of the songs from the piece, some were transposed and part of the writing is introduced into ensemble numbers. (footnote) Arrangements of ballad operas [i] Colley Cibber: a biography by Helene koon. 1986- 242 pages. Page 118. [ii]www.umich.edu/-ece/student_projects/beggars-opera (the first production) [iii] Colley Cibber: a biography by Helene koon. 1986- 242 pages. Page 118. [iv] www.umich.edu/-ece/student_projects/beggars-opera (the first production) [v] [vi] Introduction to the beggars opera by [vii] The craftsman Newspaper article- February 3rd 1728 This Week a Dramatick Entertainment has been exhibited at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, entitled The Beggars Opera, which has met with a general Applause, insomuch that the Waggs say it has made Rich very Gay, and probably will make Gay very Rich. The reference to Rich above refers to John Rich, the manager of the Lincolns Inn Fields theatre. February 17, 1728 We hear that the British Opera, commonly called The Beggars Opera, continues to be acted, at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn Fields with general Applause, to the great Mortification of the Performers and Admirers of the Outlandish Opera in the Haymarket. [viii] [ix] Peter Lewis, The uncertainty principle in the beggars opera Durham University Journal 41 (1980) 143-6 [x] The Cambridge history of British theatre Volume 2: 1660 to 1895. 6. The beggars opera: a case study CALHOUN WINTON. Page 126.