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The premiere production for Dan Tracey's end of the year 'Grand Burlesque season' (which continued well into 1892), this burlesque operetta was adapted, localised, and arranged by Percy St John, most likely in collaboration with other members of the troupe. As with many other locally produced burlesques from around this period, it likely re-used the main plot developments from the original source, with the addition of new material, such as songs and comic routines.
In Douglas William Jerrold's original 1829 melodrama, Blackeyed Susan;Or, All in the Downs,Susan is forced to endure the attentions of her rapacious uncle and an over-amorous sea captain while her sailor husband is away. He is eventually court-martialled and sentenced to death for defending her honour.
Notes
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The relationship between this work and a production staged at Melbourne's Gaiety Theatre in late August/early September 1890 is unknown. That production, adapted by Lance Lenton from the F. C. Burnand burlesque of Douglas Jerrold's original drama, and titled Black-Eyed Susan, or, The Little Bill That Was Taken Down, also featured Percy St John in the cast.
John F. Sheridan and Bert Royle also produced a Black-Eyed Susan burlesque in 1890, and re-staged it in 1890. There is no connection between that production and any others, including the St John/Dan Tracey version.
Another version of Black-Eyed Susan was produced by Dan Tracey at the School of Arts the following year. Although most likely similar in many respects, the 1892 production was arranged by Harry Leston, and is believed to have contained new material (localised subjects, songs, and comic routines, etc.).
Production Details
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1891: School of Arts, Sydney, 21 November - 4 December.
- Producer/Lessee Dan Tracey
- Troupe Dan Tracey's Vaudeville Minstrel and Specialty Company.
- Cast incl. Percy St John, Martyn Hagan (Captain Crosstree), Emma Markham (Susan), Lucy Fraser (William), J. S. Whitworth, Frank York, Eddie Sampson, Alf M. Hazlewood, Annette Bodin, Florrie Summers, Amy Kennedy, Sherwood Sisters.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Editorial
1891
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 23 November 1891; (p. 5)
— Review of Black-Eyed Susan; Or, The Little Bill Up-to-Date 1891 single work musical theatre
-
Editorial
1891
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 23 November 1891; (p. 5)
— Review of Black-Eyed Susan; Or, The Little Bill Up-to-Date 1891 single work musical theatre
