Resembling 'one of the burlesques of 50 years ago brought up to date, with better music and more modern allusions' (Sydney Morning Herald 30 Apr. 1906, p4), the dramatic action revolves around romance set amidst an exotic background of Arabs, Nubian slaves and rogues. The story begins with the capture of Princess Hashma by La Zara and her brigands and her rescue at the hands of the dashing Prince Omar. Later, whilst recovering from the wounds he received in the battle, the prince sends his steward Gastro as his ambassador to the princess's family to arrange a love match. Gastro assumes his master's identity, however, and aspires to the hand of the princess. Described as an 'over-dressed little wretch, timid and impudent,' the steward is not only already engaged to one woman, Mena, but also finds himself with a third love interest - La Zara. This situation is said to have provided a number of comedic interplays. Vaudeville-style entertainment was also incorporated into the 1906 Sydney production through the presence of the Bovis brothers who presented a skit burlesquing melodrama.
Songs known to have been written for A Moorish Maid are : 'Only Myself to Blame' (Gastro) ; 'A Little Moorish Maid' (Mena) ; 'I've Travelled' (patter song, Gideon Gay) ; 'Gay Paree' (duet, Marie and Gastro) ; 'Loverland' and 'See O'er the Mountains' (La Zara) ; 'Come to the Brigands' Retreat' (Prince Omar) ; 'A Brigand Am I' (Elferino); 'Moorish Carnet Dance and Chorus' (Princess Hashma and chorus) ; and the 'Ly Ly' chorus. A review of the 1910 revival also mentions Princess Hashma's solo song, 'I am Thy Captive.'
