The Beggar's Opera

Fiction & Literature, Drama, Nonfiction, Entertainment
Cover of the book The Beggar's Opera by John Gay, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: John Gay ISBN: 9781408143834
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: June 13, 2014
Imprint: Methuen Drama Language: English
Author: John Gay
ISBN: 9781408143834
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: June 13, 2014
Imprint: Methuen Drama
Language: English

Mr. and Mrs. Peachum are horrified when they learn of their daughter Polly's secret marriage to the rebellious and notorious highwayman, Macheath. However, their fear is soon mitigated when they decide to kill him for his money. When Macheath is in the tavern, surrounded by women of 'ill repute', he discovers that he has been rumbled: two of these women are in cahoots with the Peachums and plan to kill him.

He finds himself in Newgate and, worse than that, in the company of the jailer's daughter, Lucy, to whom he is also betrothed. Although Macheath is captured and destined to be hanged, Gay's action-packed and entertaining play subverts audience expectations by letting Macheath off the hook and not punishing its villains.

John Gay's satirical opera, written in 1728, was revolutionary because it took poverty and corruption as its subject, and paupers and villains as its characters. The lyrics were set to famous songs of the day making it hugely popular with audiences and a radical departure from traditional opera.

The introduction puts the play in its historical and theatrical contexts and details its stage history in modern times too. David Lindley is an expert on theatrical music and the new dramatic form of ballad opera this play created. The music for the songs is included in the text, making this an edition to be used for performance as well as for study.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Mr. and Mrs. Peachum are horrified when they learn of their daughter Polly's secret marriage to the rebellious and notorious highwayman, Macheath. However, their fear is soon mitigated when they decide to kill him for his money. When Macheath is in the tavern, surrounded by women of 'ill repute', he discovers that he has been rumbled: two of these women are in cahoots with the Peachums and plan to kill him.

He finds himself in Newgate and, worse than that, in the company of the jailer's daughter, Lucy, to whom he is also betrothed. Although Macheath is captured and destined to be hanged, Gay's action-packed and entertaining play subverts audience expectations by letting Macheath off the hook and not punishing its villains.

John Gay's satirical opera, written in 1728, was revolutionary because it took poverty and corruption as its subject, and paupers and villains as its characters. The lyrics were set to famous songs of the day making it hugely popular with audiences and a radical departure from traditional opera.

The introduction puts the play in its historical and theatrical contexts and details its stage history in modern times too. David Lindley is an expert on theatrical music and the new dramatic form of ballad opera this play created. The music for the songs is included in the text, making this an edition to be used for performance as well as for study.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book The British Army 1939–45 (3) by John Gay
Cover of the book Design Anthropology by John Gay
Cover of the book Enhancing Learning with Effective Practical Science 11-16 by John Gay
Cover of the book The Inflatable Woman by John Gay
Cover of the book Re-Viewing the Past by John Gay
Cover of the book Bill Veeck by John Gay
Cover of the book An Italian Visit by John Gay
Cover of the book Everybody's Jane by John Gay
Cover of the book Innovations in Evidence and Proof by John Gay
Cover of the book Fighting Ships of the Far East (1) by John Gay
Cover of the book The Roman Army from Hadrian to Constantine by John Gay
Cover of the book The School for Scandal by John Gay
Cover of the book The Soccer Goalkeeping Handbook 3rd Edition by John Gay
Cover of the book Heidegger, History and the Holocaust by John Gay
Cover of the book An Inspector Calls GCSE Student Guide by John Gay
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy