The Swedish Fop by Carl Gyllenborg — Swedish Comedy’s Secret of Success as a Theatre (1737–1754)

Abstract

The article examines two interrelated subjects: the history of Sweden’s first national theatre, the Swedish Comedy (1737–1754), and Carl Gyllenborg’s play The Swedish Fop (1737), which was successfully performed on the stage of this theatre and became the company’s calling card. Without understanding the reasons for this comedy’s success, it is impossible to explain the popularity of the newly formed theatre, which was taking its first steps and seemed aesthetically quite imperfect, although it did receive professional status. An analysis of The Swedish Fop, the first Swedish comedy, in the context of the of the first national theatre, which was supported by the “Hat” political party, reveals the close relationship between theatrical art and the sociopolitical trends of this period. During the Age of Freedom, Sweden, a country of “belated” culture, assimilated the theatrical traditions of other European countries that were ahead of it in cultural development. But against the background of these processes, there was also the strong intention of the Swedish theatre to defend its national identity. The comedy, The Swedish Fop, which glorified the love of the Motherland, native language and national traditions, greatly contributed to this intention and that is supposedly why it found a lively response from the audience and ensured the theatre’s popularity.

Keywords

The Swedish Fop, Swedish Comedy, Carl Gyllenborg, fop, Swedish theatre, Swedish drama.

For citation

Berlova M. S. The Swedish Fop by Carl Gyllenborg — Swedish Comedy’s Secret of Success as a Theatre (1737–1754). Theatre. Fine Arts. Cinema. Music. 2024, no. 1, pp. 121–139.

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2024-1-121-139

EDN OGDIYA

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Received: 05.12.2023

Revised: 16.01.2024

Accepted: 06.02.2024