Cirrus@Austlit

Described as a 'fairy extravaganza' with songs to operatic and other music, the plot outline, as published in the Australasian, shows an abundance of satire aimed at topical issues and events. Notable references were the Franco-Prussian War, Melbourne politics, personalities, and issues such as debased currency and financial swindlers (17 December 1870, p.786). Margaret Williams notes, too, that although this is one of Clarke's happiest works, cynicism about the stockbroking world became a recurring theme throughout the pantomime (Australia on the Popular Stage, p.9).

The story concerns Goody Two Shoes, whose dearest wish is to become a Collins Street belle, and who has been given a lucky sixpence by the fairy Prudence. Speculation (a witch) also gives Goody Two Shoes a gift (self-conceit) in order to counteract the good gift of Fairy Prudence. Speculation then trades a pair of shoes for the sixpence after appealing to Goody's vanity and, as a consequence, the young lady finds herself being forced into marrying the witch's son, Rumbuskin. The marriage is postponed, however, by the actions of King Heydiddle-diddle-'em (Monarch of Swindles, Shares and Shams; Head of the Counterfeit Family; and a very bad Sovereign). Supported by his Army of Shams, he wars with and finally defeats King Gold, 'first cousin to the Almighty Dollar, and called familiarly the Great Spondulick' (aided by his Army of Coins). Prudence then steps in and, with the help of Little Boy Blue, attempts a rescue of King Gold (using a magic mirror). Counter-attacking, Speculation turns off light and causes the mirror to become useless.

The advertised Synopsis of Scenery and Incidents is as follows:

Scene 1. Glowworm Gully.

Scene 2. A Mysterious One.

Scene 3. Cottage of Goody Two Shoes.

Scene 4. The Valley of Fairy Ferns and Grand Ballet (introducing the pets of the ballet and a galaxy of Coryphees).

Scene 5. The Realm of Toys: Peace.

Scene 6. Pavilion of King Gold in the Kingdom of Coins.

Scene 7. The Gates of the Palace of Hey Diddle Diddle-'Em.

Scene 8. The Capital (without cash) of the Realm of Shams.

Scene 9. The Everlasting Staircase in the Empire of Gravity, seen through the pane of the bowels of the Earth.

Transformation Scene comprising A Chaotic Conglomerate of Circumfluent Clouds dissolving into the Glen of Gloom; The Appearance of Oberon the Fairy King; The Invocation; Coruscations of the Crystal Cataract; Fairy Forms of Florescent Fantasy reposing upon the Garden of Gossamer in Gayest Glittering Garb; and A Fascinating Fanciful Floral Fete, disclosing the Home of the Spirit of the Rose.

Harlequinade

(Synopsis of scenes from Argus, 26 December 1879, p.8).

Advertised as an 'entirely novel, original burlesque; grotesque, poetical, pastoral, pictorial, grand comic pantomime… [with] new local hits [and] new topical songs,' Goody Two Shoes was adapted by a person or person's unknown from E. L. Blanchard's 1862 Drury Lane pantomime (original music by John Barnard). The 1880 Melbourne production was also specially adapted by Mr and Mrs G. B. W. Lewis to accommodate both adult performers and more than a hundred juvenile performers. In reporting on the production in early January the Australian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil records:

The pantomime enables a large number of Mrs G. B. W. Lewis's juvenile company [more than 100 children] to take part, and as the play is woven of two nursery stories, there is a particular fitness in their doing so. The ballet is supported by representatives of the different flowers, and is declared the most beautiful thing of its kind ever attempted on the Melbourne stage. The transformation scene is painted by Mr Grist, and is received with great applause nightly (1 Jan. 1881, 11).

The scenes, as recorded in an Argus advertisement on Christmas Eve 1880 indicates the following settings. Act 1; Sc 1. Village School of Goody Two Shoes; Sc 2. Hunting Lodge on the Borders of the Forest (sunset); Sc 3. The Bramble Brake in the Depth of the Forest; Sc 4. Haunt of the Wood Nymphs in the Enchanted Dell; Grand Tableaux (including ballet); Act 2; Sc 1. Avenue Leading to Buttercup Mead; Sc. 2. Who Killed Cock Robin?; Transformation Scene; Harlequinade ("Grand Double Lilliputian Harlequinade").

Songs included: 'Kiss Me Darling' (sung by Mrs G. B. W. Lewis), 'The Cuckoo' (Baby Flora Graupner), 'Farmer's Song' (Fred Thorne and children), 'Poppies in the Corn' (Mrs G. B. W. Lewis and children), 'He's Got Em On' (topical song by Fred Thorne), 'I Cannot Say Goodbye' (Little Annie May), 'Jack and Jills' (Tiny Amy Brooks), and 'The Repentant Schoolboy' (Mrs G. B. W. Lewis and Fred Thorne).

Other features included a skipping-rope hornpipe (performed by Baby Alice Browning, aged five), 'The Vertiginous Birds of Prey' (comic dance), a comic swing scene (Master Stevenson), Grand Juvenile Floral Ballet (children aged 3 - 13), and a Maypole Dance.