Based on Dion Boucicault and Joseph Jefferson's play Rip van Winkle; or, The Sleep of Twenty Years (1866), which had had several successful seasons on the Australian stage prior to the film's production. The film is relatively unusual for early Australian film, in having a strongly fantastical focus.
First produced at The Adelphi, The Strand, London, 4 September 1865.
Performed at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, May 1868.
In his weekly overview of Melbourne's theatrical life, Jaques concentrates on the return to Melbourne of operatic soprano Anna Bishop and on the farewell performances of actor Walter Montgomery. Jaques also notes the performance of Dion Bouciault's Rip Van Winkle at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, mentions the upcoming production of W. B. Gill's Our City ('having been six weeks in preparation'), and comments briefly on the Gourlay family's entertainments at the Polytechnic.
'Buggins' provided an extensive review and commentary on recent productions at the Royal Victoria Theatre, particularly highlighting the performances of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors.
The final part of 'Buggins's article deals with the availability of art supplies in Sydney, a Queensland Art Union, and news of George Augustus Sala's impending lecture tour of the colonies.
An advertisement for the Royal Victoria Theatre production of Dion Boucicault's Rip Van Winkle and Henry Thornton Craven's My Daughter's Debut on 30 May 1868.
An advertisement for the Royal Victoria Theatre production of Dion Boucicault's Rip Van Winkle and Henry Thornton Craven's My Daughter's Debut on 30 May 1868.
'Buggins' provided an extensive review and commentary on recent productions at the Royal Victoria Theatre, particularly highlighting the performances of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors.
The final part of 'Buggins's article deals with the availability of art supplies in Sydney, a Queensland Art Union, and news of George Augustus Sala's impending lecture tour of the colonies.
In his weekly overview of Melbourne's theatrical life, Jaques concentrates on the return to Melbourne of operatic soprano Anna Bishop and on the farewell performances of actor Walter Montgomery. Jaques also notes the performance of Dion Bouciault's Rip Van Winkle at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, mentions the upcoming production of W. B. Gill's Our City ('having been six weeks in preparation'), and comments briefly on the Gourlay family's entertainments at the Polytechnic.