Beggar's Opera

The Beggar's Opera is a ballad opera written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. The piece satirises Italian Opera, which had become popular in London, by telling a story of beggars, highwaymen and "women of the town" rather than the classical or mythological figures of grand opera. The Airs in the opera were set to popular street ballads, hymns, folk songs of the time and some tunes from operas by Handel and others.



The Beggar's Opera ran for 62 performances, a record for any play in England in the 18th century. It was revived in 1920 and enjoyed further popularity leading to it being used by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill as the basis for their Die Dreigroschenoper.



(Summary by Alan Mapstone)



Cast List



Beggar: ToddHW

Player: Chuck Lavazzi

Mr Peacham: Beeswaxcandle

Mrs Peacham: Leanne Cvetan

Polly Peacham: valroth

MacHeath: Greg Giordano

Filch: Nigel Kerr

Lockit: Tomas Peter

Lucy Lockit: Sonia

Diana Trapes: Lynette Caulkins

MacHeath's Gang:
Matt of the Mint: Chuck Lavazzi

Ben Budge: Chuck Williamson

Jemmy Twitcher: Ehsan Ahmed Mehedi

Crook Finger'd Jack: redrun

Wat Dreary: Alan Mapstone

Robin of Bagshot: Elijah Fisher

Harry Paddington: Larry Wilson

Nimming Ned: Alan Mapstone

Women of the Town:
Mrs Coaxer: Jenn Broda

Dolly Trull: Inkell

Mrs Vixen: Agnes Robert Behr

Jenny Diver: Kelly S Taylor

Mrs Slammerkin: ToddHW

Suky Tawdry: Newgatenovelist

Molly Brazen: Cat Sadler

Drawer: Chuck Lavazzi

Servant: David Purdy

Jailer: Inkell

Stage Directions: Alan Mapstone