Cirrus@Austlit

Adapted by Thomas Pavey from William and Robert Brough's extravaganza The Enchanted Isle (itself a burlesque on Shakespeare's The Tempest), the pantomime is described in a review by the Age as 'being a picture of life in Victoria some fifty years ago or thereabouts.' Although the production advertised the use of 'elaborate mechanical transformations, tricks, machinery [and] costly decorative appliances never before attempted in this Colony', the Age's theatre critic was not impressed by the production, writing that 'we swallowed our disappointment... [with] the only redeeming feature in the piece [being] the scenery, which we are but too glad to pronounce excellent.' The reviewer then went on to suggest:

We are not unwilling to make every allowance for a first night, but stretching this indulgence to the utmost, we confess we never saw a pantomime go off so ill upon any stage ... some dreary attempts there were at tricks, and a melancholy failure at acrobatism ... the time-honoured "Tippitywichety" was ignominiously hissed ... the stereotyped shaving scene was "goosed," seeing that the barber had mislaid his razor; everything halted and fell short, and the audience loudly expressed their dissatisfaction. Harlequin was nowhere ... Signor Carandini's dancing days are over [and] Pantaloon was a thing not to be laughed at (27 December 1855, p.4).

Local scenes included 'By the Sad, Sea Waves Somewhere near St Kilda', 'The Village Wash-Houses', and 'Tops of the Houses.'

The Age cites a review from the Ballarat Times, which records:

'The Montezuma Theatre was most densely crowded to witness the performance of the first pantomime produced on Ballaarat [sic]... The opening chorus was indicative of the excellent entertainment which was to follow, and the steamboat bearing the royal freight to the enchanted isle made us feel almost seasick from its perfect reality... The scenery was excellent and ably managed. Bath's Hotel was hailed with acclamation; and many a thirsty soul smacked his lips at the sign where he had so often slaked his thirst. The whole concluded with a beautiful tableau, in which the principal characters were artistically grouped, and the 'sprite of the diamond star' descended in her brilliant constellation' (29 Dec. 1856, p.5).

The same Age review reports that the production, which cost £400, contained many local references and allusions. One of the songs incorporated into the story was 'Hot Coddlins.'

Written in verse and containing songs and dances, this localised burlesque was adapted from William and Robert Brough's extravaganza The Enchanted Isle, or, Raising the Wind on the Most Approved Principles (1848), itself a burlesque of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

One of the features of the production was George Fawcett's impersonation of 'a well-known medical practitioner' (Age 25 Apr. 1859, n. pag.). A critic writing for Bell's Life in Victoria records, 'Mr Fawcett... gives the jokes entrusted to him with solemn gravity. He has refined, in some degree, upon the design of the authors, and identifies himself very funnily with a person in our local pill interest. The hits levelled at the individual in question are racy, although they occasionally approach the broad in their reference to the aperient qualities of the vegetable specific which is profusely commended by its inventor to the Victorian stomach.' Concerning the other local hits, the critic goes on to write, 'Many of them are cleverly strung together and judiciously interpolated' (30 April 1859, p.2).

A similarly titled pantomime written by Thomas Pavey (and subtitled Harlequin the Mysterious Prince and the Magician Father) is not believed to be related to Rowe's burlesque. The Pavey production was staged in Melbourne in December of the same year as Rowe's burlesque.

Adapted by an unknown author from William and Robert Brough's burlesque extravaganza The Enchanted Isle, Or, Raising the Wind on the Most Approved Principles (1848). The local references include the proposed new land system, anti-transportation movement, the defense question, the diminution in the strength of the local volunteers, and the proposal to erect a fish market.