#the beggar's opera

[beggars-opera]

Down a vintage Defunctland rabbit hole this fine Saturday and found one relevant to my interests

[theoutcastrogue]

Britain's Outlaws: Highwaymen, Pirates and Rogues

"3-part BBC documentary series. Few figures in British history have captured the popular imagination as much as the outlaw. From gentleman highwaymen, via swashbuckling pirates to elusive urban thieves and rogues, the brazen escapades and the flamboyance of the outlaw made them the antihero of their time - feared by the rich, admired by the poor and celebrated by writers and artists. In this three-part series, historian Dr Sam Willis ... shows that, far from being 'outsiders', outlaws were very much a product of their time, shaped by powerful national events."

Episode 1 - Knights of the Road: The Highwayman's Story

"In 1714, Captain Alexander Smith's book The Complete History of the Lives and Robberies of the Most Notorious Highwaymen caused a sensation. It set the bar for colourful and slightly dubious accounts of the big names in highway robbery. But whilst the public might find them romantic, the elite weren't so keen. They represented a threat to the social order: not only were they attacking property with impunity without any regard to the rank of their victims, but the robberies were giving them wealth and pretensions of status.

To satirists, there was a delicious irony to the howls of outrage about highwaymen. For them, politicians in the Georgian government were even worse thieves. In 1728, John Gay penned The Beggar's Opera, using a highwayman called Macheath as a central character in his stage satire. Macheath was the theatrical incarnation of the gentleman robber, but he wasn't the villain of the peace. He was moral, he was noble, and it was set against the rapaciousness of the elite. His character was used to dissect the hypocrisy of the ruling classes, who were losing more at the gambling tables than they were on the roads. Then there was the corruption. In John Gay's eyes, highwaymen were more honest thieves than the government. The ruling class were committing robberies of their own, but they were getting away with it. Prime Minister Robert Walpole spirited away thousands of pounds, and when the Chancellor, the Earl of Macclesfield, took a hundred thousand pounds in bribes, all he got was a fine."

[ethanfreemanappreciation]

In 1983 Ethan starred in The Begger’s Opera in Vienna.

Followed by the German tour of Timuria, Kinder-Musical as die Freude in 1986

(Picture of Timuria shared by Ethan last year.)

With Ethan's birthday coming up next month we thought it would be nice to look back on all the incredible roles he has performed over the years.

[hampal]

People saw Captain Macheath and Mack the Knife and said “I could fix him.”

[rwpohl]

the empty space, peter brook 1968, alexander verlag berlin 1994 (excerpt.pdf)

[merripestin]

Raul Julia plays Macheath in the 1989 movie version and he is as good as you think he's going to be. The movie is a bit uneven and I see why some people don't love it, but it has William Nighy as Tiger Brown and the rest of the cast is equally fab and you should go watch it at least once because again RAUL JULIA.

Also, Pirate Jenny is sung by Jenny and I get why people hate that but also it is great and I love it.

Down The (Writing) Research Rabbit Hole, [n] in a series

I can't (meaning "won't") tell you why. But sheesh, what a ride.

Links investigated:

Executed Today

Mack The Knife (Wikipedia)

Die Dreigroschenoper (Wikipedia)

Mack the Knife (Mackie Messer) lyrics in German

The Beggar's Opera

Best unexpected nugget so far: "In 1976, a brand-new interpretation of 'Mack the Knife' by Ralph Manheim and John Willett was used in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of The Threepenny Opera, starring Raul Julia as Macheath." ...HOLY COW FIRE UP THE TIME MACHINE AND DROP ME OFF AT THE tkts BOOTH, I WANT TIX.

[zralokx]

I decided to make this challenge too x)

Thanks to all guys on instagram for suggesting me all these musicians <3

[everythingnydolls]

Unknown girl, David Johansen, Nina Hagen, Johnny Thunders, Kate Simon, and Syl Sylvain at The Begger's Opera in Queens, NY. March 15, 1980. By Bob Gruen.

[dimity-lawn]

Originally, this was an 18th century print of John Gay, who wrote the immensely popular ballad opera known as The Beggar’s Opera in 1728. That being said, I saw “Mr. Gay” and thought of this scene:

[flea-palace]

alert alert ive been reading susan kay again and it's got me mentally volatile !!

[dadrockconfessions]

[ethanfreemanappreciation]

In 1983 Ethan starred in The Begger’s Opera in Vienna.

Followed by the German tour of Timuria, Kinder-Musical as die Freude in 1986

(Picture of Timuria shared by Ethan last year.)

With Ethan's birthday coming up next month we thought it would be nice to look back on all the incredible roles he has performed over the years.

[james-stark-the-writer]

Macheath is such a piece of shit like utterly insufferable, i kinda love him

listening to John Gay's The Beggar's Opera and this is so fucking funny. i love the drama.

[hammill-goes-fogwalking]

2023 (January - early August) my favourite albums

[eddie-rifff]

have any of yall ever heard of this band????

i discovered them like friday bc they were on my daylist or something on spotify and this album is okay but this song totally fucks. the dude has an incredible voice

[tricornonthecob]

help I'm hyperfixating on this old-ass song from People Suck: The Musical Beggar's Opera because it shows up in my fic in a way that has nothing to do with early 18th century satire of British culture.

Also how the fuck does this song about a married rich guy hitting on a hot chick have anything to do with Christmas except that it takes place in winter and there's snow.