Cirrus@Austlit

A historical burlesque on the theme of the Norman invasion of England, The Battle of Hastings largely takes place in Kent, England, on May Day 1052. The Argus theatre critic notes, however, that the piece was 'full of apposite allusions to recent political events'. Concerning the story, the same critic writes, 'There is less coherency... than is customary to find in modern burlesques, but as this class of dramatic composition is supposed to appeal more to the visual than any other sense, this is possibly no defect' (30 March 1869, p.6).

The scenes presented were:

Scene 1. A Kentish Meadow (with a distant view of an ancient Roman Villa, restored in the Anglo-Saxon style).

Scene 2. Picturesque Ruins of a Roman Temple.

Scene 3. Banqueting Hall in Duke William's Palace at Rouen.

Scene 4. Exterior of the Abbey Church of St Peter, Thorney Isle.

Scene 5. The English Channel and Coast of Sussex, Anglo Saxon Exultation at the Victory over Tastig the Witch, The Invasion of England, and Duke William's Fleet.

Scene 6. Outposts of the Norman Camp by Moonlight.

Scene 7. The Field of Battle.

The music styles incorporated into the production were both operatic and popular. 'New and sparkling music [was] selected' from Crequefer, Quadrille, Geneviève de Brabant, Lucrezia Borgia, La Trompette, Operetta de Chanson, L'Hirondelle, Elixir of Love, Le Prophete, La Valse des Adiex, The Lover and the Bird, and The Lancashire Lass. The song parodies included 'Smother the Men', 'Ten Little Niggers,' 'Rollicking Rams', 'Naughty Mary Anne', 'Buy a Baby Bunting', 'Good Bye John', 'Fast Old Gals', 'My Father was a Viking', 'Bonnie Blue Flag', 'My Mary Land', and 'The Immortal Tommy Dodd'.