AustLit

Although Nagel and Nathan completed Merry Freaks in Troublous Times in 1843 and indicated on a number of occasions that they planned to produce it at the Royal City Theatre (and later at the Royal Victoria Theatre), only extracts were ever performed in public.

In 1843, the editors of the New South Wales Magazine, or, Journal of General Politics, Literature, Science, and the Arts twice stated that they had seen a copy of Merry Freaks. In the Colonial Literature section the editors record: 'We have been favoured with a copy of an 'Historical Operatic Drama,' in two Acts, entitled Merry Freaks in Troublous Times, written by a gentleman named Nagel. The plot, founded upon the adventures of Charles II., when escaping the Puritans, is well written, some of the scenes being highly humorous. Mr Nathan has composed the music for the songs, and we understand that it will shortly be performed. The type, and appearance of the book, are by no means creditable to the printer' (p.565). No copy of this puiblication has yet been located.

Isaac Nathan later published the vocal score, set up by himself in moveable type, in Sydney. It was also published that same year, 1851, in London by Cramer, Addison and Beale.