Adaptation of The Talisman Walter Scott , 1825 single work novel
Issue Details: First known date: 1838... 1838 Richard Coeur de Lion; or, The Crusader and His Dog
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

The advertisement for this play describes it as 'founded on Sir Walter Scott's celebrated Novel of The Talisman ...' The novel was first published in 1825.

Notes

  • AustLit has not yet established whether the Sydney 1838 version is an international play or a local adaptation of the novel The Talisman.

Production Details

  • Performed 'for the first time in this Colony' at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, 11 September 1838. This performance featured 'the dog Bruin'. Philip Parsons and Victoria Chance describe the actor J. H. S. Lee, whose benefit the performance was, as 'the first to work regularly with performing dogs ...'

    Source: Parsons, Philip with Chance, Victoria (eds). Concise Companion to Theatre in Australia (Sydney: Currency Press, 1997): 157

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

The Dog Bruin Royal Victoria Theatre : Greatest Treat of the Season : The Dog Bruin : For This Night Only'. 1838 single work advertisement
— Appears in: Commercial Journal and Advertiser , 8 September vol. 4 no. 300 1838; (p. 2) Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser , 8 September vol. 36 no. 4068 1838; (p. 3) Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser , 11 September vol. 36 no. 4069 1838; (p. 1)

Advertisement for benefit performances for Mr. [J. H. S.] Lee at the Royal Victoria Theatre on 11 September 1838 to include a 'Drama, founded on Sir Walter Scott's celebrated Novel of the "Talisman," called Richard Coeur De Lion; or, The Crusader and His Dog' and the 'popular and interesting Melo-Drama, called Raymond and Agnes, or the Bleeding Nun of Lindenberg '.

J. H. S. Lee was an Australian actor, actor manager, 'utility man' (an actor who plays many small parts) and comedian. According to Philip Parsons and Victoria Chance he was the 'first to work regularly with performing dogs and one of [the] first to sing blackface minstrel songs'. Parsons and Chance mention that Lee introduced "Jumping Jim Crow" 'a blackface minstrel act' in Hobart in 1843. This was not the first time he performed the work,The advertisement for his September 1838 benefit announces that 'Mr Lee, for the first time, will Jump Jim Crow'. He also seems to have been an exponent of stage fights as the advertisement mentions a fight scene from 'the celebrated Roman Drama of the Horatii and Curatii' as part of the varied entertainment for the benefit. The advertisement includes a description of the scenes and a list of the actors and the names of the characters they portray for each play

Source: Parsons, Philip, with Chance, Victoria. Concise Companion to Theatre in Australia (Sydney, Currency Press, 1997): 157

Theatre 1838 single work review
— Appears in: Commercial Journal and Advertiser , 19 September vol. 4 no. 303 1838; (p. 4)

— Review of The Mountaineers George Colman (The Younger) , 1793 single work drama ; Richard Coeur de Lion; or, The Crusader and His Dog 1838 single work drama ; The Massacre of Jerusalem Morris Phillips , 1838 single work drama

Review of the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, performances of the plays in September 1838. The piece includes a review of Morris Phillips' dance 'Cat-Choca'.

Theatre 1838 single work review
— Appears in: Commercial Journal and Advertiser , 19 September vol. 4 no. 303 1838; (p. 4)

— Review of The Mountaineers George Colman (The Younger) , 1793 single work drama ; Richard Coeur de Lion; or, The Crusader and His Dog 1838 single work drama ; The Massacre of Jerusalem Morris Phillips , 1838 single work drama

Review of the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, performances of the plays in September 1838. The piece includes a review of Morris Phillips' dance 'Cat-Choca'.

The Dog Bruin Royal Victoria Theatre : Greatest Treat of the Season : The Dog Bruin : For This Night Only'. 1838 single work advertisement
— Appears in: Commercial Journal and Advertiser , 8 September vol. 4 no. 300 1838; (p. 2) Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser , 8 September vol. 36 no. 4068 1838; (p. 3) Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser , 11 September vol. 36 no. 4069 1838; (p. 1)

Advertisement for benefit performances for Mr. [J. H. S.] Lee at the Royal Victoria Theatre on 11 September 1838 to include a 'Drama, founded on Sir Walter Scott's celebrated Novel of the "Talisman," called Richard Coeur De Lion; or, The Crusader and His Dog' and the 'popular and interesting Melo-Drama, called Raymond and Agnes, or the Bleeding Nun of Lindenberg '.

J. H. S. Lee was an Australian actor, actor manager, 'utility man' (an actor who plays many small parts) and comedian. According to Philip Parsons and Victoria Chance he was the 'first to work regularly with performing dogs and one of [the] first to sing blackface minstrel songs'. Parsons and Chance mention that Lee introduced "Jumping Jim Crow" 'a blackface minstrel act' in Hobart in 1843. This was not the first time he performed the work,The advertisement for his September 1838 benefit announces that 'Mr Lee, for the first time, will Jump Jim Crow'. He also seems to have been an exponent of stage fights as the advertisement mentions a fight scene from 'the celebrated Roman Drama of the Horatii and Curatii' as part of the varied entertainment for the benefit. The advertisement includes a description of the scenes and a list of the actors and the names of the characters they portray for each play

Source: Parsons, Philip, with Chance, Victoria. Concise Companion to Theatre in Australia (Sydney, Currency Press, 1997): 157

Last amended 24 Aug 2017 15:34:31
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