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y separately published work icon Shakspericonglommorofunnidogammoniae single work   musical theatre   burlesque   humour  
Issue Details: First known date: 1843... 1843 Shakspericonglommorofunnidogammoniae
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Burletta (in one act).

Advertised as an 'original, laughable, comical, operatical, tragical [and] melodramatical burletta' and described as a 'musical extravaganza', Shakespericonglommorofunnidogammoniae takes several of Shakespeare's characters and presents them in what is essentially a satirical exposé on the economic state of New South Wales, particularly the effects of the 1843 depression. The characters include those from some of Shakespeare's best-known plays: Hamlet, Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Othello, and Richard III. Written in verse, it also included many comic re-writes of popular songs. Margaret Williams, in Australia on the Popular Stage, notes that 'the local allusions are charmingly woven into a fantasy world where Ophelia is a dairy-maid, and Hamlet's duel with Falstaff over Anne Page is prevented by an Irish ghost named Pat Carey' (p.22).

The musical content comprised dances and popular airs of the day. The lyrics to these songs were either wholly or partly rewritten by Charles Nagel.

Production Details

  • 1844: Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, 1, 3 July.

    • Manager John Lazar.
    • Cast incl. J. G. Griffiths (Macbeth), Mr Deering (King Richard III), Mr Fenton (Othello), John Lazar (Shylock), Mr Lee (Sir John Falstaff), Mr Simes (Hamlet), Mr Simmons (The Ghost), Mr Grove (Justice Shallow), Mr James (Prospero), Mde Torning (Ophelia), Mr Mereton (Surgeon), Mr Riley (Constable), Mama Louise (Anne Page).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Sydney, New South Wales,: W. A. Duncan , 1843 .
      Note/s:

      Holdings

      Held at: State Library of Victoria
      Location: Rare Books, La Trobe
      Local Id: RARELT Call Number: 819.91 AU78P

      Holdings

      Held at: State Records, NSW
      Location: CGS 908
      Local Id: SZ 65

Works about this Work

Untitled 1843 single work review
— Appears in: The Weekly Register of Politics, Facts, and General Literature , 14 October vol. 1 no. 12 1843; (p. 180)

— Review of Shakspericonglommorofunnidogammoniae Charles Nagel , 1843 single work musical theatre
Untitled 1843 single work review
— Appears in: The Weekly Register of Politics, Facts, and General Literature , 14 October vol. 1 no. 12 1843; (p. 180)

— Review of Shakspericonglommorofunnidogammoniae Charles Nagel , 1843 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
Last amended 25 Sep 2014 12:25:46
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  • New South Wales,
  • ca. 1843
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