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Set in Spain the storyline concerns Don Caesar who awaits execution in prison. While there he is induced to marry a heavily-veiled woman so that his death will be by firing squad rather than decapitation. The marriage is being arranged by Don Jose, a government minister who plans to later use the woman in a plot to compromise the King. When Don Caesar escapes he disguises himself as a monk and goes looking for the woman.
Notes
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Although the authorship of the burlesque has not been identified through any publicity or reviews W. Horace Bent was likely responsible either in full or in part.
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Bent and Bachelder's spoof of Maritana is believed to have been given its debut in Timaru, New Zealand in October 1881. The opera was likely chosen as a subject for burlesque in response to its inclusion in the repertoire of the tour by the Montague-Turner Opera Company, then touring the country. The opera was likely chosen as a subject for burlesque in response to its inclusion in the repertoire of the tour by the Montague-Turner Opera Company, then touring the country.
Production Details
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1881: Theatre Royal (Timaru, New Zealand); 19 Oct. -
- Business Manger R. G. Bachelder; Director/Stage Manager W. Horace Bent; Advance Agent. J. Gardner.
- Troupe: Bent and Bachelder's Christy's Minstrels (aka Bent and Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels).
- Cast incl. W. Horace Bent, Charles Hugo, William Hugo, Edwin Rowley, Amy Rowe, Beaumont Read, C. S. Fredericks, William Ball.
- Maritana is likely to have been reproduced a number of times during Bent and Bachelder's New Zealand tour, which continued through until February 1882. Other burlesque's presented included H.M.S. Pin-a-Four In Black and The Bohemian Girl.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
PeriodicalNewspaper Details
Note:
This entry has been sourced from research undertaken by Dr Clay Djubal into Australian-written popular music theatre (ca. 1850-1930). See also the Australian Variety Theatre Archive
Last amended 6 Mar 2015 07:56:36
