Dulcamara, otherwise known as The Little Duck and the Great Quack, was W.S. Gilbertās first piece of stage-work. It came about through a chance conversation between Tom Robertson and Miss Herbert, lessee of Saint Jamesās Theatre in London. Miss Herbert was after a Christmas piece – the only downside was she needed it written in a fortnight!Ā Dulcamara, or The … Read More
W.S. Gilbert and the accomplishment of a lifelong dream
On 13th February 1878, W.S. Gilbert finally got to realise his lifelong dream. That date was the Gaiety Theatreās Wednesday Matinee performance of a pantomime Burlesque, entitled The Forty Thieves. It was a charity production that listed, among other amateur and professional actors, W.S. Gilbert ā playing the part of Harlequin. The Forty Thieves was created as a charity benefit, … Read More
W.S. Gilbert, writer of Victorian burlesque?
W.S. Gilbertās first solo success came in 1866. It came about after his friend and mentor, Tom Robertson, was asked to write a pantomime but declined, due to the timescale ā two weeks. He recommended Gilbert. The pantomime āDulcamara, or the little duck and the great quackā was the end result. The pantomime was a Victorian burlesque, based on Gaetano … Read More