Goodness Gracious!
Music Score
late 19th century (published), 1880-1881 (performed)
late 19th century (published), 1880-1881 (performed)
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Front cover of music sheet for Goodness Gracious!, sung by Arthur Roberts and James Fawn in the pantomime Mother Goose at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, ca. 1880-1881. Words by E.V. Page and music by E. Jonghmans. Dedicated to the actor Augustus Harris. Published in London by Willey & Co., ca. late 19th century.
Arthur Roberts and James Fawn were music hall comedians who made a hit in Drury Lane pantomimes in the 1880s, singing topical duets. This one, from Mother Goose, 1880, satirised a very topical theme: the power of the media. In it, Roberts and Fawn sang alternating verses about some particular piece of news, to which the other replied 'Goodness Gracious!'. Each verse told a different story, which was obviously false, such as 'all cabmen are civil', 'spiritualism is perfectly true', and 'our clergymen never do wrong'. They agreed in the end that although they were telling stories, that 'that's what the papers do every day', mentioning The Telegraph and The News by name.
Arthur Roberts and James Fawn were music hall comedians who made a hit in Drury Lane pantomimes in the 1880s, singing topical duets. This one, from Mother Goose, 1880, satirised a very topical theme: the power of the media. In it, Roberts and Fawn sang alternating verses about some particular piece of news, to which the other replied 'Goodness Gracious!'. Each verse told a different story, which was obviously false, such as 'all cabmen are civil', 'spiritualism is perfectly true', and 'our clergymen never do wrong'. They agreed in the end that although they were telling stories, that 'that's what the papers do every day', mentioning The Telegraph and The News by name.
Object details
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| Materials and techniques | Lithograph on paper |
| Brief description | Front cover of music sheet for Goodness Gracious!, performed in the pantomime Mother Goose, words by E.V. Page and music by E. Jonghmans, published in London, ca. late 19th century |
| Physical description | Front cover of music sheet for Goodness Gracious!, performed in the pantomime Mother Goose, words by E.V. Page and music by E. Jonghmans, published in London. Illustrated in colour with scene from the pantomime, featuring the two comedians Arthur Roberts and James Fawn, leaning on a barrel. Front cover only. The full song lyrics are printed at the back of the front cover. |
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| Credit line | Gabrielle Enthoven Collection |
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| Summary | Front cover of music sheet for Goodness Gracious!, sung by Arthur Roberts and James Fawn in the pantomime Mother Goose at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, ca. 1880-1881. Words by E.V. Page and music by E. Jonghmans. Dedicated to the actor Augustus Harris. Published in London by Willey & Co., ca. late 19th century. Arthur Roberts and James Fawn were music hall comedians who made a hit in Drury Lane pantomimes in the 1880s, singing topical duets. This one, from Mother Goose, 1880, satirised a very topical theme: the power of the media. In it, Roberts and Fawn sang alternating verses about some particular piece of news, to which the other replied 'Goodness Gracious!'. Each verse told a different story, which was obviously false, such as 'all cabmen are civil', 'spiritualism is perfectly true', and 'our clergymen never do wrong'. They agreed in the end that although they were telling stories, that 'that's what the papers do every day', mentioning The Telegraph and The News by name. |
| Other number | PPUK 243 - PeoplePlay UK number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.336-2012 |
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| Record created | April 26, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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