Little Don Giovanni ; Or, Leporello and the Stone Statue (International) assertion single work   musical theatre   burlesque  
Adaptation of Don Giovanni 1787 single work musical theatre
This international work is included in AustLit to identify a relationship with Australian literature.
Issue Details: First known date: 1865... 1865 Little Don Giovanni ; Or, Leporello and the Stone Statue
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

A burlesque by Byron on the Mozart opera, Don Giovanni (1787).

Adaptations

Little Don Giovanni; Or, The Maid, the Masher, and the Marble Man Fergus Hume , John L. Hall , Frank St Clare , 1886 single work musical theatre burlesque fantasy humour

Localised by Fergus Hume and adapted by Hall and St Clare from H. J. Byron's burlesque Little Don Giovanni; Or, Leporello and the Stone Statue (1865), itself a burlesque of the Mozart opera, Don Giovanni (1787).

The Argus theatre critic, who was not overly impressed with the production, writes: 'The manner in which the performance opened was promising, but the unmistakable indications afterwards given of insufficient rehearsal were disappointing, while the tone of the dialogue and action is susceptible of improvement' ('St George's Hall' 19 April 1886, p.6).

Little Don Giovanni Harry Leston , Dan Tracey , 1892 single work musical theatre burlesque humour

With its material written and arranged by Harry Leston, possibly influenced by H. J. Byron's burlesque Little Don Giovanni; Or, Leporello and the Stone Statue (1865), this burlesque of the Mozart opera heralded the first appearance of Leston, the well-known Australian actor/comic as both producer and star of a short season of burlesque at Sydney's School of Arts. American-born entrepreneur, Dan Tracey, had no doubt keenly sought Leston after the actor's previously successful burlesque engagement with Frank Smith at the Alhambra in late 1890.

The production, which included local songs and dances, was presented as a second part to an evening's entertainment of minstrelsy and vaudeville.

Notes

  • Little Don Giovanni is included in AustLit because it was locally adapted for Australian audiences during the nineteenth century.

Production Details

  • First staged at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, on 26 December 1865.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Last amended 20 Oct 2014 08:53:15
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