The British Musical Theatre: 1865-1914From the pre-Gilbert and Sullivan 1860s to the 1980s, this important reference surveys more than a century of British light musical theatre, including its writers and composers. Gänzl provides a wealth of information on the book, lyrics, and music of over 800 London musicals, including contemporary reviews, cast lists, performances, plus pertinent notes gleaned from a study of surviving scores and libretti. Volume 1 traces the development of the genre between 1865 and 1914, describing its roots in burlesque and opéra-buffe, and discussing the comic opera tradition and the Gilbert and Sullivan partnership, the flowering of the so-called musical comedy under George Edwardes, and the important influence of the British musical theatre around the world, particularly in America. Volume 2 covers, among other topics, the reciprocal influences on the British musical theatre of the American style, the advent of the dance-and-laughter musicals of the 1930s, the rock operas of the 1970s, and the subsequent development of the modern British musical in its second period of international prominence, highlighted by such hits as Evita and Cats. |
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Alfred Reed Alice Arthur Roberts audience ballad Billee Taylor British Broadway burlesque Captain cast Cellier Charles chorus comic opera composer Corney Grain Daly's dance December dialogue disguised Dorothy duet Edith Ethel extravaganza Fanny Holland Florence Frank Fred French George Edwardes George Grossmith German Reed Gilbert and Sullivan Girl Harry Harry Paulton Henry Ivan Caryll James Jessie John Jones Kate Kate Santley King Kitty Lady Leslie libretto London Lord Mabel Maid Marie matinée Maud Meyer Lutz Miss Mlle musical comedy Nellie night November October Opera Comique Opera Company operetta original Paulton Percy performances closing piece Pinafore played plot popular Princess Produced at St repertoire Richard D'Oyly Carte role Rose Rutland Barrington scene score season second act show's Solomon song St George's Hall stage star story success three acts toured Violet Walter weeks West End William Withdrawn York young