Cirrus@Austlit

A localised adaptation of James Robinson Planché's burlesque pantomime Beauty and the Beast, this version was presented 'for the first time in these colonies' during a season of theatricals starring the Gougenheim sisters, Josephine (aka Joey) and Adelaide. The Age records that the local hits, written by Mr Fawcett, were 'plentifully interspersed throughout the piece, and many of them were very smart and pointed' (18 January 1858, p.5). The critic, however, put forward one particular criticism about the local allusions, namely the obvious want of judgment displayed:

In putting them all into the mouth of one performer, and in modernising a portion of the extravaganza so as to render the dialogue a curious jumble of allusions to two distinct epochs and to antipodean localities with nothing whatever to justify the forcible association of the defunct George Robins with the living Samuel Bottomley; or of Imperial incidents many years old with Mr Fellows and the squatters (p.5).

The Argus review also notes that two or three new songs had been introduced, among them a parody on 'Old Dog Tray' (18 January 1858, p.5). Performed by Joey Gougenheim, who presented a 'capital imitation of [George Coppin] our favourite comedian', the song was described by the Age theatre critic as 'inane and as pointless as the original, [and] elicits a corresponding amount of applause.' The lyrics of the song, which paraphrased a recent speech by Coppin, are said, on the other hand, to have been 'received with such shouts of applause and laughter' that it had to be repeated. In another scene, Joey Gougenheim is reported to have 'especially served out to our ministry some admirably new views for petticoat government'. The scenery for the Princess Theatre season (described as excellent despite the limited area of the stage, and as 'reflecting great a credit on the pencil of Mr Hennings') included a 'capitally arranged' snow storm (18 January 1858, p.5).