y separately published work icon Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts single work   musical theatre   opera   - Three acts.
Issue Details: First known date: 1883... 1883 Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Set in Venice, the action moves from the shore of the Adriatic to the Palace of the Count, and finally to the Doge's Palace of Justice. The narrative concerns Estrella, betrothed to a Count, but actually in love with Lorenzo, a young advocate. The Count schemes to test his wife-to-be's affection, and having found this out Lorenzo makes a plan with his friends to carry the Count off disguised as pirates. In the second act the count (disguised as a Hebrew moneylender) tells of his own capture and death, and that he was obliged to bring his last words to the young fiancée of the count. A second ceremony is performed, now between Lorenzo and Estrella. The third act, set in the Doge's Palace, which settles the problem once and for all, has been described as being influenced by the trial scene in The Merchant of Venice (Sydney Morning Herald 29 September 1884, p.8).


Production Details

  • 1883: Prince's Theatre, Manchester (England); 14 May

    • Cast incl. Arnold Breedon.
    • This was a tryout production. The cast very likely comprised most of the actors involved in the Gaiety Theatre season (below).

    1883: Gaiety Theatre, London (England); 24 May

    • Cast incl. Aynsley Cook, Constance Loseby, Arnold Breedon, G. Temple, R. Brough, Mr DeLange, Miss F. Trevelyan, Sallie Turner, Ednee Richards, Maude Perletti, plus a chorus of fifty.
    • One matinee performance only.

    1883: Follies Dramatiques Theatre, London (England); 6 June - 6 July.

    • Manager F. Fairlie; Scenic Art Messrs Spong and Perkins; Costumes Mons. Alias and Mrs May.
    • Cast incl. Aynsley Cook, W. S. Rising, Constance Loseby, G. Temple, F. Desmond, Philip Day, Sallie Turner, Rose Paton, Ednee Richards, Camille Dubois, plus a "Chorus of 50 selected ladies."
    • 24 performances

    1884: Theatre Royal, Sydney; 27 September - 17 October.

    • Producer Williamson, Garner and Musgrove; Music Director Luscombe Searelle; Scenic Art John Hennings.
    • Troupe: Williamson, Garner and Musgrove Opera Company.
    • Cast incl. Carlo Modini, Edwin Kelly, Nellie Stewart (Estrella), John Wallace, Phillip Day, John Forde, W. Ford, Miss Santley, Fannie Liddiard, Aggie Stuart, Ida Osbourne.
    • 18 performances

    1884: Princess Theatre, Melbourne; 15 November - ca. 23 December.

    • Cast and production mostly as for previous Sydney season.

    1884: Standard Theatre, New York, USA; 11-13 December

    • Cast incl. Amy Gordon.
    • The season was forced to close after three nights when fire destroyed the Standard Theatre on 14 December.
    • 3 performances.

    1885: Theatre Royal, Brisbane; 10-16 September.

    • Producer Williamson, Garner and Musgrove; Music Director W. H. Harrison; Scenic Art John Hennings; Stage Manager John Wallace.
    • Troupe: Williamson, Garner and Musgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company.
    • Cast incl. Albert Brennier, T. Grundy, Robert Brough, W. H. Woodfield, John Wallace, Miss B. Moir, Emma Chambers, Nellie Stewart.

    [Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive - see 'Works 1883']

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1883

Works about this Work

On the Wing Anonymous , 1886 single work column
— Appears in: Table Talk , 23 July 1886; (p. 16)

— Review of Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts Walter Parke , 1883 single work musical theatre
The Comic Opera Season - 'Estrella' 1885 single work review
— Appears in: Brisbane Courier , 11 September 1885; (p. 3)

— Review of Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts Walter Parke , 1883 single work musical theatre

Review of the 1885 Brisbane premiere of Estrella (Theatre Royal; 10 September).

Music and the Drama 1884 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian Town and Country Journal , 4 October vol. 30 no. 769 1884; (p. 705)

— Review of Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts Walter Parke , 1883 single work musical theatre

Review of the 1884 Sydney season of Estrella (Theatre Royal; 27 September - 17 October).

Theatre Royal 1884 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 29 September 1884; (p. 8)

— Review of Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts Walter Parke , 1883 single work musical theatre

Review of the 1884 Australian premiere (Theatre Royal, Sydney; 27 September).

'Estrella' 1884 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 26 September 1884; (p. 8)

— Review of Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts Walter Parke , 1883 single work musical theatre

Preview of the 1884 Australian premiere season (Theatre Royal, Sydney; 27 September - 17 October).

Amusements : Theatre Royal 1884 single work review
— Appears in: Evening News , 1 October 1884; (p. 6)

— Review of Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts Walter Parke , 1883 single work musical theatre

Review of the 1884 Australian premiere season of Estrella (Theatre Royal, Sydney; 27 September - 17 October).

The Comic Opera Season - 'Estrella' 1885 single work review
— Appears in: Brisbane Courier , 11 September 1885; (p. 3)

— Review of Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts Walter Parke , 1883 single work musical theatre

Review of the 1885 Brisbane premiere of Estrella (Theatre Royal; 10 September).

'Estrella' 1884 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 26 September 1884; (p. 8)

— Review of Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts Walter Parke , 1883 single work musical theatre

Preview of the 1884 Australian premiere season (Theatre Royal, Sydney; 27 September - 17 October).

Theatre Royal 1884 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 29 September 1884; (p. 8)

— Review of Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts Walter Parke , 1883 single work musical theatre

Review of the 1884 Australian premiere (Theatre Royal, Sydney; 27 September).

Follies Dramatiques 1883 single work review
— Appears in: TheTimes , 7 June 1883; (p. 5)

— Review of Estrella : Opera Comique in Three Acts Walter Parke , 1883 single work musical theatre

A review of the 1883 London premiere of Estrella (Follies Dramatiques Theatre; 6 June).

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 8 Sep 2016 06:58:49
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