英国音乐剧起源于19世纪末的“音乐喜剧”(Musical comedy)。早期音乐剧以《快活姑娘》(A Gaiety)Girl)为代表,获得了可观的收入,也引发了一系列有关“姑娘”的音乐剧。到了20世纪三、四十年代,涌现了大量根据文学作品改编的音乐剧,《六便士》、《皮克威克》、《奥利弗》等都是代表作品,但这些作品可以明 British musical originated in Musical comedy in the late 19th century. Early Musicals represented “A Gaiety Girl”, which earned considerable income and triggered a series of musicals about “The Girl”. By the 1930s and 1940s, there appeared a great number of musicals based on literary works. Sixpence, Pickwick, Oliver were all representative works, but these works can be clearly described