Before writing "LAST OF THE MOHICANS," James
Fenimore Cooper wrote "THE SPY," based on experiences of
real people, some his wife's own family. "THE SPY," published
in 1821, was one of the first widely read novels about the American Revolution,
receiving immense popularity in England and Europe by being translated into
a dozen foreign languages more quickly than any book by an American author
had been before.
It became of particular interest to the French, since a young
Frenchman, Marquis de Lafayette, inspired by the idea of people governing
themselves, had recruited French military aid for the North American colonists,
and turned the tide of the war during the time of this story; thus, Victor
Hugo could have read "THE SPY" before writing his great novel,
"LES MISERABLES."
PLAYS, including an OPERA, based on "THE SPY":
Data from James Fenimore Cooper Society website
Though not seeming applicable for stage production, with so
many horses, battles and fires appearing essential to the story, and difficult
to portray in live theater, "THE SPY" was adapted for the stage
both in the United States and Europe soon after the book was published in
December 1821.
In 1822, "The Spy - A Tale of Neutral Ground," this
dramatic romance in three acts was written by Charles P. Clinch.
In 1828, "L'Espion" played in Paris Theatre Francaise;
Mme. Mars, famous French actress, starred as Frances Wharton; manager of
Odeon Theatre staged "L'Espion" at same time.
In 1829, "Der Spion" played on the Dresden stage,
Germany
In 1847, "Der Spion oder George Washington" saw repeated
performance of "The Spy" on the Dresden stage, Germany
In 1856, "La Spia [THE SPY] A Grand Opera in Three Acts"
included libretto based on Cooper's great romance.
In 1925, "The Spy, A Dramatization of J. Fenimore Cooper's
novel," was produced in 3 acts by N.J. Catholic Dramatic Co.
In 1950, "The Spy," a one-act play, was included with
others adapted for Radio Plays for Young People
In 1956, "Cooper's 'THE SPY' on the French stage,"
was in University of Tennessee Studies in Humanities.
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In 1999, 1/15 "THE SPY" again was revived, in the
Internet Musical on this website as "Songs of the Neutral Ground."
In 2000, a revision began on "Songs of the Neutral Ground"
adapting it for use as a stage musical, "THE SPY OF THE NEUTRAL GROUND,"
in three lengths for school levels.
Enlisting a new concept in musicals, as versus operas and other
stage productions created for orchestral or light accompaniment to vocalization
of lyrics, this rendition designs most songs to be sung in A Cappella "talk-music,"
which hopefully will keep audiences awake and in suspense, wondering if
the next lines will be spoken dialogue or be sung.
Students learning to sing or play an instrument in this musical,
mostly piano, but trumpet as for "TO ARMS," may come to practice
with the melody and timing for most songs on this site:
http://www.extremezone.com/~songsong
SONGS of the NEUTRAL GROUND
is projected to be what readers might conceive, in their
imagination, as a four-part television series. Quotation marks set apart
all the words of each song, but only words in italics will fit the
melodies. Opinions expressed were that added chords were distracting for
this type use.
this fantasy movie, can only come alive in the mind of the viewer.
Try to imagine, in both sight and sound, the characters played by singers
renowned, - or yourself.
Imagining one, singing as lead, gave inspiration to try
and succeed - retelling "THE SPY" in song-poetry, not guessing
that tunes would come along, and words of the poems would merge into song.
This website claims to have the First Internet Musical of its
kind on the World Wide Web, one with singalong dialogue.
E-mail can be sent to website creator through:
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