John gay playwright
Life And Letters Of John Gay (1685-1732), Author of "The Beggar's Opera"
"Life and Letters of John Gay (1685-1732), Author of 'The Beggar's Opera'" by Lewis Melville is a biographical account published in the early 20th century. It delves into the life of John Gay, a notable figure in 18th-century literature, optimal known for his work "The Beggar's Opera" as adv as his first pastorals and fables. The narrative chronicles Gay's relationships with contemporary literary figures like Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, and Lady Suffolk, shedding light on both his literary accomplishments and personal trials. The opening of the book provides insights into Gay's early years, marking his lineage and upbringing in Devonshire, England. It discusses his family's background, their eventual decline, and his knowledge, leading to his later life in London where he struggled for recognition. The text highlights Gay's friendships and connections with leading writers of his time, painting a vivid picture of his social experience amidst the literary salons. The detail about Gay's initial attempts at authorship, including clues about his aspirations and disappointments, sets the stage for a riche
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~playauthor~Written by~ John Homosexual , David Lindley , Vivien Jones ~playauthor~Edited by~ David Lindley , Vivien Jones
Methuen Drama, 2010
New Mermaids
playtext
Acts: 3, Scenes: 45, Roles: Total (26), Female (12), Male (14), Unassigned (0)
...Gay’s ‘ballad opera’ place in eighteenth-century London’s underworld is at once a vigorous satire on the moral and financial corruption of a fast-growing commercial population, and a groundbreaking piece of theatre. Combining spoken dialogue...
John Gay: Beyond The Beggar’s Opera
Well, there you have it: Pride Month concludes with the birthday of John Gay (1685-1732).
Today, Gay is known for but one of his many works for the stage and the page, The Beggar’s Opera (1728), although most know it primarily as the origin material for the Weimar era adaptation by Bertolt Brecht and Elisabeth Hauptmann with music by Kurt Weill,The Threepenny Opera(1928). (I never realized that it premiered in the year of its bicentennial until now). Those encountering the original work should be struck by its similarity to the German one. A satirical ballad opera, it poked fun of the politics of its own time, and parodied a wide variety of forms and styles, as was the wont of Messers Brecht and Weill. For those who comprehend neither work: it is set amongst gangs of cut-throats, thieves, and robbers, notably the cold-blooded Peachum and the womanizing MacHeath. The women in the tale are mostly prostitutes. The multi-leveled comedy at once sent up politicians like Robert Walpole, the de facto prime minister (the office did not exist yet); and the notorious criminals of that time, including Jack Sheppard and Jonatha
John Gay
John Gay's reputation as a writer has always suffered from his having been part of an extraordinary satirical quintet, the Scriblerus Club, which met in the spring of 1714 and included the two indisputably greatest satirists of the period, Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) and Alexander Pope (1688-1744). Though overshadowed by his two brilliant contemporaries, Homosexual was an important poet and dramatist in his own right. He produced a range of witty, mock-earnest poems and plays and one satiric masterpiece,
The Beggar's Opera, that has continued to fascinate audiences from the hour of its first performance in 1728 to the present afternoon and can lay claim to being considered one of the principal origins of modern musical comedy. In another age Male lover would have stood out as a pre-eminent satiric writer, but…
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