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Adaptations
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y
The White Fawn; Or, The Loves of Prince Buttercup and the Princess Daisy : An Entirely New Spectacular Extravaganza (in prologue and two acts)
Harwood, Stewart, Hennings and Coppin
,
Melbourne
:
Harwood, Stewart, Hennings and Coppin
,
1874
Z859025
1874
single work
musical theatre
burlesque
fantasy
humour
Adapted from Francis Cowley Burnand's extravaganza of the same name (1868). The Age critic writes of Walch's adaptation: The general dissatisfaction resulting from [the company's] efforts must be accounted for on the principle of ex nihlo nihil fit. Burlesque writing, in fact, seems a lost art, and must remain so til another Planche becomes famous... [but] the ladies of the company were well received as they appeared on the scene, and the approval of the audience was frequent during the evening as song after song was given, and tableau followed tableau" (8 June 1874, 3).
The plot sees Princess Daisy is cursed by Furibund so that she will be turned into a white fawn if she sees daylight before her sixteenth birthday. The Prince unwittingly wounds her in that shape, and so she becomes a fawn at night. After many adventures the curse is lifted. The production contained references to Melbourne politics and personalities.
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
Notes
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The White Fawn is included in AustLit because it was either produced in its original form or adapted/localised for Australian audiences during the colonial era.
Production Details
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Especially written for and produced at the Holborn Theatre Royal, London, on 13 April 1868.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Last amended 10 Oct 2014 13:03:16
