Edmund Finn Edmund Finn i(A50968 works by) (a.k.a. Edmund Finn Jnr)
; Died: Ceased: 1922
Gender: Male
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Works By

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1 Three Years i "She stands beside the river,", Edmund Finn , 1916 single work poetry
— Appears in: Punch Annual , 5 December 1916; (p. 7)
1 A Ghost's Holiday; and How I Spent a Week-end with my Great-Aunt Edmund Finn , 1910 single work short story
— Appears in: Punch Annual , 6 December 1910; (p. 38)
1 "And That Was the End of the Story" Edmund Finn , 1910 single work short story
— Appears in: Punch Annual , 6 December 1910; (p. 4-5)
1 The Land of 'It-Has-Been' i "There is a land, as Eden fair,", Edmund Finn , 1909 single work poetry
— Appears in: Punch Annual , 7 December 1909; (p. 29)
1 A Baronet from the Bush Edmund Finn , 1907 single work short story
— Appears in: Punch Annual , 10 December 1907; (p. 4-6)
1 The Development of Punch Edmund Finn , 1907 single work essay
— Appears in: Punch Jubilee , 27 August 1907; (p. 10-11)
1 Toys! Toys! : A Christmas Phantasy Edmund Finn , 1905 single work short story
— Appears in: Melbourne Punch , 21 December vol. 103 no. 2630 1905; (p. 902-903)
1 The Sundown Gang: A Forgotten Incident of the Fifties Edmund Finn , 1904 single work short story
— Appears in: Punch Annual , 6 December 1904; (p. 31)
1 2 y separately published work icon Dick Whittington and His Cat ; Or, Harlequin, the Demon Rat, and the Good Fairies of the Bells Edmund Finn , George Gardiner (composer), Holloway and Anderson , 1897 Melbourne : Holloway and Anderson , 1897 Z861190 1897 single work musical theatre pantomime fantasy

Advertising indicates that Edmund Finn cribbed, adapted, localised and brought up-to-date this pantomime version of the popular children's tale, presented as a vehicle for Maggie Moore and her partner, H. R. Roberts. Interestingly the Age reviewer criticised Moore for her 'singular lack of spirit.' Her defects, it was suggested, were possibly brought about by the company "having worked night and day" to get the production ready. In this respect it was noted that the pantomime 'showed hasty preparation." The critic notes further that "some of the scenery worked badly, and there were faults in the 'business' which such performances rely upon for much of their interest' (28 December 1897, p.6). Nevertheless, the season apparently picked up, possibly through the efforts of H. R. Roberts, whom reportedly held the opening night show together. The season in fact went on to play a very respectable 7 weeks.

Presented in three acts the plot unfolded through the following scenes:

Act 1. Scene 1. The Belfry of Old Bow Bells;

Scene 2. Exterior of Fitzwarren's Shop;

Scene 3. Fitzwarren's Kitchen;

Scene 4. Highgate Hill, 'Flower Pot Ballet?' 'Sowing the Seed.' 'The Growth.' 'The Blossom.'

Act 2. Scene 1. Wapping Old Stairs;

Scene 2. Deck of the Lively Polly;

Scene 3. Storm at Sea. The Wreck. The Raft;

Scene 4. The Coast of Morocco;

Scene 5. The Imperial Palace of Morocco. "Grand Pageant";

Act 3. Scene 1. Guildhall;

Scene 2. An Ante Room in the Guildhall.

Transformation Scene - the Four Seasons;

Harlequinade (written and directed by Tom Queen).


The orchestral, vocal and incidental music was composed and selected by George Gardiner. Original musical numbers included: 'The Flower Pot Ballet,' 'The Merry Children' (a new coon dance), a Toreador dance (performed by Nellie Osgood), a La Diablo dance (James Watts), and a skipping rope dance (Ethel Clifford). Other musical numbers known to have been incorporated or written into the narrative were the songs: 'That's Interfering, Marm, Downstairs' and 'The Spinster That's Looking for a New Husband' (sung by H. R. Roberts), 'Just a Plain Australian Girl,' Sydney Turnbull's song 'Somewhere' (Maggie Moore), and 'Turn Again, Whittington, Thrice Mayor of London.'

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

1 y separately published work icon The Hordern Mystery Edmund Finn , Melbourne : Alex McKinley and Co. , 1889 Z893501 1889 single work novel crime
2 2 y separately published work icon A Priest's Secret : Under Seal of Confession Edmund Finn , Melbourne : Alex M'Kinley, Melb , 1888 Z503072 1888 single work novel crime
1 5 y separately published work icon Cinderella, Her Sisters, Her Sorrows and Her Little Glass Slipper ; Or, The Fairy Godmother Who Wouldn't Let the Bad Step-Farther Edmund Finn , Melbourne : Williamson Garner and Musgrove , 1884 Z861250 1884 single work musical theatre pantomime fantasy

A pantomime based on the popular fairytale of Cinderella, the highlights were reportedly the grand procession (purchased from the 1883 Drury Lane production), an opening modelled on Macbeth, and scenes of Christmas cards ranging from Bethlehem to England to a fern-tree gully picnic. The Melbourne production also alluded to the bootmakers' strike.

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