y separately published work icon The Battle of Hastings ; Or, The Duke, the Earl, the Witch, the Why and the Wherefore single work   musical theatre   burlesque   fantasy   humour   - Seven scenes
Issue Details: First known date: 1869... 1869 The Battle of Hastings ; Or, The Duke, the Earl, the Witch, the Why and the Wherefore
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

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'.

Production Details

  • 1869: Theatre Royal, Melbourne, 29 March - 9 April.

    • Manager Henry R. Harwood, Richard Stewart, John Hennings, George Coppin; Music Arranger Frederick Coppin; Scenic Art John Hennings, Alfred Clint, and Richard Little; Stage Manager/Director J. R. Greville; Costumes Mde Jager.
    • Troupe Royal Star Burlesque Company.
    • Cast incl. G. H. Rogers (William, Duke of Normandy), Anna Ford (Edith), Con Warde (Edward the Confessor), Richard Stewart (Taillefer), J. R. Greville (Hilda), Miss Chester (Mallet de Graville), Docy Stewart (Harold), Maggie Stewart (Gurth), Mrs Woolridge (Matilda), Emma Rogers (An Usher), Master Trotter (Tallboys), H. Power (Smulf), Mr Lewis (Eggot), Mr Forde (Egbad), Mr Lowman (Bulf), Miss Blanche (John de Smith), Miss Bray (Bill de Jones), Miss L. Coppin (Jim de Brown), Miss Bennison (Bob de Buggins), Miss Lester (Jeff de Wilkins), Miss L. Collins (Mo d'Abraham), Miss Crawford (Richard de Boshe), Miss Forde (Phil de Figgins), Miss Howard (Mont de Piete), Miss Carey, Miss Newman, Miss Graham, Miss J. Collins.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Theatre Royal 1869 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 30 March 1869; (p. 3)

— Review of The Battle of Hastings ; Or, The Duke, the Earl, the Witch, the Why and the Wherefore W. M. Akhurst , 1869 single work musical theatre
Theatre Royal 1869 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 30 March 1869; (p. 6)

— Review of The Battle of Hastings ; Or, The Duke, the Earl, the Witch, the Why and the Wherefore W. M. Akhurst , 1869 single work musical theatre
Theatre Royal 1869 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 30 March 1869; (p. 6)

— Review of The Battle of Hastings ; Or, The Duke, the Earl, the Witch, the Why and the Wherefore W. M. Akhurst , 1869 single work musical theatre
Theatre Royal 1869 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 30 March 1869; (p. 3)

— Review of The Battle of Hastings ; Or, The Duke, the Earl, the Witch, the Why and the Wherefore W. M. Akhurst , 1869 single work musical theatre

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

Details have also been derived in part from the Annotated Calendar of Plays Premiered in Australia: 1850-1869.

Last amended 15 Oct 2020 13:14:19
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