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Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte (International) assertion single work   musical theatre   humour  
This international work is included in AustLit to identify a relationship with Australian literature.
Issue Details: First known date: 1863... 1863 Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

A burlesque extravaganza possibly spoofing Handel's opera Acis and Galatea (1718).

In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Acis is the son of Faunus and the river-nymph Symaethis (daughter of the River Symaethus). His beloved is the sea-nymph Galatea (daughter of Nereus and Doris). She returns his love but a jealous rival, the Sicilian Cyclops Polyphemus, kills him with a boulder. Galatea then turns his blood into the Sicilian River Acis.

Adaptations

Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte John L. Hall , Frank St Clare , 1886 single work musical theatre burlesque fantasy humour

Adapted and localised by Hall and St Clare from F. C. Burnand's extravaganza of the same name (1863), it has Acis the Sicilian shepherd and the giant Polyphemus compete for the love of the sea-nymph Galatea. The production also included the eruption of Vesuvius spectacular and a tableaux of imperial federation.

Notes

  • Francis Cowley Burnand's Acis and Galatea is included in AustLit because it was either produced in its orginal form or localised/adapted for Australian audiences during the colonial era.

Production Details

  • First produced at the Olympic Theatre, The Strand, London, 6 April 1863.

  • Performed at the Royal Victoria Theatre and, simultaneously, at the Princess's Theatre, Melbourne, March 1868.

  • Performed at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, April 1868.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1863
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Works about this Work

The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 11 April vol. 4 no. 106 (New Series) 1868; (p. 466)
— Review of Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte F. C. Burnand , 1863 single work musical theatre ; Aladdin 1861 single work musical theatre ; Cricket on the Hearth 1868 single work drama

Jaques reviews several plays in production at Melbourne theatres, focusing mainly on the quality of the acting and the scenery.
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 28 March vol. 4 no. 104 (New Series) 1868; (p. 402)
— Review of The Corsican Brothers Dion Boucicault , 1852 single work drama ; Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte F. C. Burnand , 1863 single work musical theatre ; Jack Sheppard 1839 single work drama
Our Letter Home 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Australasian , 28 March vol. 4 no. 104 (New Series) 1868; (p. 402)

Among the subjects covered in 'Our Letter Home' is a round-up of recent entertainments. The Australasian notes that 'the burlesque of Acis and Galatea at both theatres [Theatre Royal and Princess's] has been the leading attraction during the month at our places of amusement'. Several other productions and entertainments are mentioned along with death of actor Robert Heir and the recovery from a fall of another actor, Walter Hill.
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 21 March vol. 4 no. 103 (New Series) 1868; (p. 370)
— Review of Colleen Bawn; or, The Brides of Garryowen Dion Boucicault , 1860 single work drama ; The Red Island; Or, Life on the Mississippi W. B. Gill , 1868 single work drama ; Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte F. C. Burnand , 1863 single work musical theatre

A review of the March 1868 production of Dion Boucicault's Collen Bawn at the Theatre Royal and W. B. Gill's Red Island at the Princess's Theatre. Francis Cowley Burnand's Acis and Galatea is also mentioned; it was being produced simultaneously at the Theatre Royal and at the Princess's Theatre.

Jaques also notes other theatrical happenings in Melbourne and records news of the death of English actor Charles Kean who had performed on the Melbourne stage in 1863.
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 14 March vol. 4 no. 102 (New Series) 1868; (p. 338)
— Review of Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte F. C. Burnand , 1863 single work musical theatre ; Who Killed Cock Robin? Charles Mathews , 1865 single work drama ; The Hidden Hand Tom Taylor , 1864 single work drama

A review of the March 1868 productions of Tom Taylor's The Hidden Hand at the Theatre Royal and Charles Mathews' Who Killed Cock Robin? at the Princess's Theatre. Francis Cowley Burnand's Acis and Galatea is also reviewed; it was produced simultaneously at the Theatre Royal and at the Princess's Theatre.
Victoria Theatre 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Empire , 29 April no. 5130 1868; (p. 2)
— Review of Chevalier de St George Thomas William Robertson , 1845 single work drama ; Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte F. C. Burnand , 1863 single work musical theatre

A review of the 28 April 1868 Royal Victoria Theatre production of Thomas William Robertson's Chevalier de St George and Francis Cowley Burnand's Acis and Galatea.
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 14 March vol. 4 no. 102 (New Series) 1868; (p. 338)
— Review of Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte F. C. Burnand , 1863 single work musical theatre ; Who Killed Cock Robin? Charles Mathews , 1865 single work drama ; The Hidden Hand Tom Taylor , 1864 single work drama

A review of the March 1868 productions of Tom Taylor's The Hidden Hand at the Theatre Royal and Charles Mathews' Who Killed Cock Robin? at the Princess's Theatre. Francis Cowley Burnand's Acis and Galatea is also reviewed; it was produced simultaneously at the Theatre Royal and at the Princess's Theatre.
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 21 March vol. 4 no. 103 (New Series) 1868; (p. 370)
— Review of Colleen Bawn; or, The Brides of Garryowen Dion Boucicault , 1860 single work drama ; The Red Island; Or, Life on the Mississippi W. B. Gill , 1868 single work drama ; Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte F. C. Burnand , 1863 single work musical theatre

A review of the March 1868 production of Dion Boucicault's Collen Bawn at the Theatre Royal and W. B. Gill's Red Island at the Princess's Theatre. Francis Cowley Burnand's Acis and Galatea is also mentioned; it was being produced simultaneously at the Theatre Royal and at the Princess's Theatre.

Jaques also notes other theatrical happenings in Melbourne and records news of the death of English actor Charles Kean who had performed on the Melbourne stage in 1863.
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 28 March vol. 4 no. 104 (New Series) 1868; (p. 402)
— Review of The Corsican Brothers Dion Boucicault , 1852 single work drama ; Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte F. C. Burnand , 1863 single work musical theatre ; Jack Sheppard 1839 single work drama
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 11 April vol. 4 no. 106 (New Series) 1868; (p. 466)
— Review of Acis and Galatea ; Or, The Nimble Nymph and the Terrible Troglodyte F. C. Burnand , 1863 single work musical theatre ; Aladdin 1861 single work musical theatre ; Cricket on the Hearth 1868 single work drama

Jaques reviews several plays in production at Melbourne theatres, focusing mainly on the quality of the acting and the scenery.
Royal Victoria Theatre : Acis and Galatea, &c. 1868 single work advertisement
— Appears in: The Empire , 25 April no. 5127 1868; (p. 1) The Empire , 27 April no. 5128 1868; (p. 1) The Empire , 28 April no. 5129 1868; (p. 1) The Empire , 29 April no. 5130 1868; (p. 1)

An advertisement for the Royal Victoria Theatre production of Francis Cowley Burnand's Acis and Galatea and Thomas William Robertson's Chevalier de St George on 25, 27, 28 and 29 April 1868.
Royal Victoria Theatre : Acis and Galatea, &c. 1868 single work advertisement
— Appears in: The Empire , 30 April no. 5131 1868; (p. 1) The Empire , 1 May no. 5132 1868; (p. 1)

An advertisement for the Royal Victoria Theatre production of Francis Cowley Burnand's Acis and Galatea and Thomas William Robertson's Jocrisse the Juggler on 30 April and 1 May 1868.
Our Letter Home 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Australasian , 28 March vol. 4 no. 104 (New Series) 1868; (p. 402)

Among the subjects covered in 'Our Letter Home' is a round-up of recent entertainments. The Australasian notes that 'the burlesque of Acis and Galatea at both theatres [Theatre Royal and Princess's] has been the leading attraction during the month at our places of amusement'. Several other productions and entertainments are mentioned along with death of actor Robert Heir and the recovery from a fall of another actor, Walter Hill.
Victoria Theatre 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Empire , 30 April no. 5131 1868; (p. 2)

A very brief note on the previous evening's performance of Francis Cowley Burnand's Acis and Galatea and mentioning the arrival in Sydney of American actor James Stark.
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Last amended 21 Oct 2014 10:03:53
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