"The Gold-Bug" was both the most popular of Poe's works as well as the most lucrative for the author himself. The story follows the seemingly insane William Legrand in a search for buried treasure left behind on a South Carolina island by the pirate Captain Kidd. In his quest for the lost pirate gold, he solves a series of riddles, the first of which was in the form of a golden-colored scarab beetle. The initial publication of this innovative story in June 1843 earned Poe an impressive $100 award. was widely reprinted after its initial publication. It is believed to be Poe's widest-circulated work during his lifetime.
More surprisingly, it was the first of Poe's works adapted for the stage. On August 8, 1843, "The Gold-Bug" premiered at Philadelphia's American Theatre. Written by Silas Steele, the play was not as successful as the fictitious hero Legrand. A review in the local newspaper The Spirit of the Times by its editor John Du Solle noted: "Mr. Steele had a good house at his benefit on Tuesday night, and the performances were generally good. The Gold Bug, however, dragged, and was rather tedious. The frame work was well enough, but wanted filling up."
In truth, "The Gold-Bug" could not be easily replicated on stage. The most novel aspect of the story was its riddles, with which readers could play along, including the famous cryptogram in the form of a substitution cypher. To solve it, one might need a paper and pencil (as well as some thoughtful time) which, presumably, the American Theatre did not provide that day.
Just a slight correction. The writer of this play was Silas Sexton (S, not B) Steele (c. 1812-84), who was a rather successful Philadelphian "dramatist" of over 80 plays by 1860 (also a songwriter/ librettist). He had given up acting before 1843, so he didn't "star" in any roles. Black man Jupiter was played, ironically, by a Mr. White. Poe's piece was not the prime performance of that benefit evening. Steele later wrote the lyrics to "The Rose of Alabama." A musical from 1896, performed at the NY Casino, also bore the title "The Gold Bug", but had nothing to do with Poe's story.
ReplyDeleteFrom Holland.
Thanks for correcting that typo! I'm not sure where I read that he performed in the play as well but, to be honest, I wasn't there...
ReplyDeleteRob, you had it right the first time in your Poe Calendar Blog (2009).
DeleteThere were only four characters in The Gold Bug, none of them played by Steele himself. J.H. 'Coal' White was "the best negro dandy on the boards," read: a black minstrel.
S.S. Steele also didn't feature as an actor in the play preceding The Gold Bug, "Clandare." The actor at the time, J. Proctor, appropriated Clandare as "a new melodrama" in 1858, performed as an Indian show in New York City, without much success it seems.
From Holland.
Because Poe's environmental descriptions play such a large part in his writings, it does not surprise me that the first stage production of his novel was not received well. The few film adaptations of his works which I have seen have also been lackluster in comparison to the original text. The most successful adaptation of his work, I believe, is the Simpsons "Tree House of Horror" episode retelling his poem, "The Raven." While there is a comedic element to this adaptation, it is still very spooky and remains faithful to the original text. I think because the entire poem is read aloud, in James Earl Jones's rich baritone no less, the retelling is able to remain faithful to the original poem. With animation, one can also create any environment, change in lighting, and other elemental factors which contribute to the overall tone, which might be limited in a stage production.
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