Cirrus@Austlit

Localised and adapted by Percy St John, possibly from H. J. Byron's 1868 Cinderella extravaganza, this production was staged over three acts with traditional transformation scene and harlequinade. The amount of local references and topicalities infused into the production is not clear, but the popularity of such practice would likely have seen them included in both the lyrics of the comic songs and the comedy routines.

The storyline can to a certain extent be understood through the scene and song titles:

Act 1: Scene 1. 'The Fairy Chorus'; The Demon appears and is routed by the fairy forces; Cinderella meets the Prince; Dandini offers odds and is accommodated; 'Hunting Chorus'; Dandini puts on side, but is reminded that 'Gently Does the Trick'. Scene 2. At The Baron's, where the audience is once more introduced to beauty, in the shape of two charming sisters; The Baron gets no breakfast; A loud attack on the front door; Cinderella returns ('We Don't Do that in Sandgate Society'). Scene 3. The Baron's Reception Hall; Buttoni is knighted; The Prince is introduced to the Baron's two sweet lambs; Cinderella appears; Oh rapture; Grand Medley ('Australia').

Act 2: Scene 1. The Baron's Kitchen; Cinderella bemoans her fate; An invitation to the ball; Family jars; The Baron and his daughters depart for the ball; Appearance of the Fairy Godmother; Cinderella goes to the ball, drawn in her carriage by the smallest team of ponies in the world. Scene 2. The Demon's Home; Quartz plots revenge on Cinderella; Demon acrobatic fights. Scene 3. The Ballroom; 'Grand Amazon March'; The Prince's Fete; The Prince arrives; Consternation of the Baron and his daughters; Arrival of Cinderella; Extraordinary specialty acts; Sensational juggling act on the rolling globe; Johnny Sharman and his Clever Performing Dogs; 'Grand Minuet'; The clock strikes twelve; Flight of Cinderella; The slipper; Great struggle to compress two feet into six inches; Cinderella claims the slipper. Scene 4. Ante Chamber at The Palace; Betrothal of the Prince and Cinderella; Grand Finale ('True Hearts Across the Sea').Scene 5. Grand Transformation Scene; Harlequinade (Brisbane Courier 25 December 1890, p.2).

‘A four page program published by theatrical agent J. J. Liddy, The Lorgnette was circulated around Melbourne theatres between 1876 and 1898. Each theatre would have its own special edition, with the front page featuring a cast list for its current production. The rest of the playbill comprised a mix of theatrical news and advertisements.’

The Lorgnette ‘initially incorporated the New Idea and Figaro, and from sometime in the 1880s incorporated the Theatrical Courier (Liddy is also known to have published it with free two-page supplement). The playbill, which promoted itself as “The Only Authorised and Correct Programme Circulated in the Theatre Royal, Opera House, Academy of Music, Princess' Theatre, St George's Hall, Town Hall &tc,” was made available at most of the leading theatres in Melbourne. Each venue would have its own special edition, with the front page featuring a cast list for its current production. The rest of the playbill comprised a mix of theatrical news and advertisements...

‘The Lorgnette continued to be published through until 1898, although how long it did so under Liddy's proprietorship is unclear. He is known to have been engaged in Sydney in 1880 as business manager for R. B. Lewis' Georgia Jubilee Singers and by 1890 was living in Brisbane where he ran the Gaiety Theatre.’

Source: ‘The Lorgnette: Journal of Amusements’, Australian Variety Theatre Archive, 2012 (http://ozvta.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/lorgnette-23122012.pdf)

Sighted: 23/09/2013