The Hipster's Opera

I can’t help but find it interesting that Gay was doing something pretty original with The Beggars Opera. The idea of high class citizens watching a play about low class citizens is something that’s intrigued me since the first day of lecture concerning the play. Gay used his cast of thieves and murderers as a showcase for satire of 16^th century English culture as well as a stage to experiment with other forms of entertainment (i.e. musical elements). I can’t help but imagine how shocked the audience must have been during the first act or how many paying customers must have demanded their money back after the introduction from the odd beggar and the mysterious player. I imagine that the audience soon fell in love with the mother/daughter relationship of Ms. Peachum and Polly as well as the protective father Mr. Peachum and the scandalous marriage of his daughter to the highwayman Macheath, which the audience does not see until Act two. In thinking like this, I expected act two of The Beggars Opera to be shot out of a cannon, and I wasn’t disappointed… sort of. While Act two may not be as exciting as plays by today’s standards, it must’ve been an interesting sight for the audience on opening night in the 16^th century. Act two begins in a tavern near Newgate where members of Peachum’s gang discuss current events within their company. Matt of the Mint has just lost his brother Tom who was hanged. His body was given to the surgeons who performed an autopsy for research, I suppose. The thieves discuss this amongst themselves and conclude that while they hope that they are not dissected after death, they simply can’t do anything about it because they will be dead. To this, they drink (and sing). Gay’s writing here brings the audience into the mindset of the thieves; that life is short and that they should try to enjoy what they have while they have it. This must’ve been a shock to the high class citizens; they live in such a rich manner that they themselves would never be so humble as to stop to think that they should appreciate what they have. But Gay hold's nothing back in presenting his ideology, wrapped up in a satirical criticism of 16th century surgery, no less. I like this passage because it reminds me that The Beggar's Opera broke new ground when it came out. It may well have been more edgy than anything our generation may ever see on performed on stage or screen.