Cirrus@Austlit

The first known production of this pantomimic adaptation of Defoe's classic novel was in Charters Towers in late August 1915. It was likely staged earlier than that, however. Describing it as an 'all-round capital show' the Townsville Daily Bulletin's theatre critic further notes: 'Cinderella or "the girl who put her foot in it" is a tuneful medley of songs and dances, diversified with extremely clever acrobatic and comedy work of a high description (29 August 1915, p.5)'

The 1915 production's musical programme opened with two lilting choruses 'A Hunting We Will Go' and 'Back, Back to Tipperary' (featuring Phyllis Faye). Other known songs were 'I'll Meet You by the Mississippi River,' 'Dreaming of You' (both performed by Phyllis Faye), 'Neath the Shadow of the Pyramids' (Ivy Marsden), 'When They Get Old' (Bruce Drysdale), 'Three Little Maids are We' (Marie Wilmot, Florrie Horan and Bruce Drysdale), 'When the Pigs begin to Fly' (Bruce Drysdale and Harry McDonna) and 'The Skies Will Be Blue If You Say You'll Be Mine,' and 'Do You Remember.'

Subtitled The Girl Who Lost Her Sheep and billed as a gorgeous adult pantomime in two acts, the story 'deals with the love episodes of Bo-Peep, who in this instance has not suffered the loss of sheep, but of a worthy wooer ... Jack Straw, the two fond hearts [having been] kept apart by the orders of the Shah'. He eventually relents, on the condition that Jack perform a heroic deed: the recovery of a watch stolen by the witch Fly-By-Night (Sydney Morning Herald 26 December 1910, p.3).

The settings were as follows: Scene 1. The Witch's Haunt; Scene 2. The Home of Widow Bumpkin; Scene 3. The Palace of the Shah; Scene 4. The Enchanted Castle; Scene 5. Under the Waves (transformation scene).

The music for the songs and dances was performed by the tour's own orchestra. One of the songs written for the pantomime, 'It's Cheap at Half the Price' (sung in 1910 by Drysdale and Francis), included topical hits at the new State Labor government: 'when we double their screw, what a lot they'll do' (Sydney Morning Herald 26 December 1910, p.3).

Songs incorporated into the 1914 productions included 'Oh! The Sea,' 'I'm Little Bo-Peep' (Webb), 'Down a Shady Lane' (Mack and Webb), 'On the Farm,' 'Pearl of Persia' (Terry) 'Throwing Myself Away,' 'I'm the Shah, Tarantara' (Cornock), 'My Bo-Peep' (Mack), 'Arcadia,' 'The Fowls in the Farmyard,' 'Lotus Land,' 'How Are You?' and 'Little Miss Turpentine.'