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Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive
Bernard Espinasse Bernard Espinasse i(A617 works by)
Also writes as: Zoo
Born: Established: 5 Dec 1868 Gravesend, Kent,
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England,
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United Kingdom (UK),
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Western Europe, Europe,
;
Gender: Male
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Works By

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1 With This Ring (A Slightly True Story) Bernard Espinasse , 1902 single work short story humour
— Appears in: Australasian Stage Annual , vol. 3 no. 1902; (p. 8)
1 y separately published work icon Ned Kelly or the Bushrangers : An Original Dramatisation of Incidents in the Life of Ned Kelly, the Australian Bushranger Bernard Espinasse , Harry Leader , 1902 (Manuscript version)9184470 9184464 1902 single work drama
1 Consider the Lilies i "I looked out on an idle crew", Bernard Espinasse , 1901 single work poetry humour
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 20 July vol. 22 no. 1118 1901; (p. 15)
1 Ivy Leaf Bernard Espinasse , 1901 single work drama
1 5 y separately published work icon Australis; Or, The City of Zero : A Spectacle of a Hundred Years Hence The City of Zero J. C. Williamson , Bernard Espinasse , Leon Caron (composer), Frederick Weierter (composer), Sydney : J. Andrew , 1900 Z859896 1900 single work musical theatre science fiction fantasy Written especially for Federation, the story is a fantasy set 100 years in the future - the year 2000 - after a war of the world has wreaked havoc on the planet. Only Australia has escaped the devastation. The country is being run badly by an ex-Trade Union leader, however. The Boss, as he likes to be called, is about to annex the City of Zero, which is located at the South Pole, and ruled by an evil wizard, Azeemath. The play begins as the Queen of Antarctica, Dione, arises from one hundred years sleep in a petrified condition. A legend has foretold that when she loves a mortal that the wizard's powers must forever pass away. The wizard of course has his own plan to counter this.... But this is doomed to fail when Dione drinks from the magic pool, and true to its legend falls in love with the first person she sees - Valentine.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
1 The Children i "In my dream the Great Mother", Bernard Espinasse , 1900 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Australian Town and Country Journal , 15 September vol. 61 no. 1597 1900; (p. 43)
1 4 y separately published work icon Little Red Riding Hood ; Or, Keeping the Wolf from the Door Bernard Espinasse , Leon Caron (composer), Frederick Weierter (composer), J. C. Williamson , Sydney : J. C. Williamson , 1899 Z957903 1899 single work musical theatre pantomime fantasy

Coming as it did so close to the advent of Federation, there is little surprise to find the Sydney Morning Herald critic writing of the pantomime that 'the warlike spirit of the hour has been met and in sounding the blast of patriotism the adapters have contrived a stirring appeal to Australian hearers. It is at this point that the pantomime is at its best, and here Mr Bernard Espinasse who is responsible for the book and lyrics, has somewhat adroitly bent the legend to what may be described as topical purposes' (p.8). Espinasse's libretto also dispenses with the usual demon scene introduction, opening instead with a glow-worm dell people by pixies and old-fashioned fairies. The demon element was presented later, in the phantom first scene, where the wicked wolf's stronghold is captured by an army representing the naval brigade, the Grenadier Guards, the Enniskillen Dragoons, the Gordon Highlanders and the NSW Lancers. The pantomime closed with a tableau titled 'The Land of Arcadia.'

The original vocal numbers and incidental music were composed by Frederick Weierter, with Leon Caron contributing the overture, ballets, marches and Grand Finale. Songs incorporated into the narrative included Weierter's grand patriotic number, 'Children of the Empire, Hear Britannia Call' and 'The Absent-Minded Beggar' based on the poem by Rudyard Kipling and with music by Arthur Sullivan (arguably the biggest hit of the year, both in Australia and internationally, it was sung in this production by Dorothy Vane). Other songs known to have been performed were Vane's 'Hush Little Girl Don't Cry' (it had first been introduced to Australians by Antoinette Sterling) and "If You Show Me the Way" (duet by Vane and Moore). One of the brightest musical highlights, according the Sydney Morning Herald review, a minuet by Caron: He 'has composed a beautiful measure in the antique style for this ballet,' writes the critic, and it 'is one of the gems of the entertainment' (p.6).

The scenes staged were:

Act 1. Scene 1. Glow-worm Dell;

Scene 2. Exterior of Mother Hubbard's Kindergarten;

Scene 3. The Village of Happy-go-lucky - Grand Wolf Hunt;

Act 2: Scene 1. The Schoolroom (including dancing classes);

Scene 2. On The Way To The Forest;

Scene 3. The Phantom Forrest;

Scene 4. The Wolf's Stronghold;

Act 3: Scene 1. Mother Hubbard's Humble Home;

Scene 2. Prince Valiant's Palace;

Scene 3. The Golden Pavilion;

Scene 4. The Land of Arcadia.

The 1900 Melbourne season was presented as the premiere production for the newly refurbished Princess's Theatre. The Age theatre critic records that the Wolf's Stronghold scene afforded the pantomime the opportunity to present a stirring military pageant on the Boer war using several hundred auxiliary actors:

'In the background [was] a representation of a South African kopje, and the scene that [followed]... a reproduction of the storming of Elands Laagte. Headed by bands of music, troops of supernumeraries in the uniforms of famous British regiments [marched] on the stage. The Naval Brigade was made up of a number of mites in blue jackets, with cutlasses and full marching kit; then came the Grenadier Guards, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, the Gordon Highlanders, the Australian Artillery and finally the New South Wales Lancers... After a number of evolutions the enemy makes an appearance, and the troops attack the kopje, which [was] carried by a brilliant assault, amid bustle and movement... [with] the final tableaux showing the Gordon Highlanders scaling the heights and carrying the Boer position' (26 February 1900, p.9).

From 17 March during the 1900 Melbourne season, Williamson presented his Anglo-American Bio-Tableaux series of Boer War pictures as part of the production. The pictures included representations of 'some of the most famous regiments of the Empire.' Williamson also advertised that he had arranged for a 'continued supply of fresh war pictures by every mail' (Age 17 March 1900, p.2).

1 An Idiom i "Her freckled face", Zoo , 1899 single work poetry humour
— Appears in: The Bulletin (Xmas edition) , 9 December vol. 20 no. 1034 1899; (p. 15)
1 3 The Three Musketeers George Rignold , Bernard Espinasse , 1899 single work drama historical fiction

'The plot is the effort of D'Artagnan, the Gascon gallant, to serve the, Queen, and so save her from the snares of Richelieu, who is pictured as endeavouring to compass the downfall of her Majesty in order to promote his ends with the King. To accomplish his purpose the Cardinal employs Milady, an adventurous, beautiful, but unscrupulous woman whose purpose it is the duty of D'Artagnan to frustrate. The hero fulfills his mission, after many exciting and sensational adventures, which help to create a plot of intense interest and graphic impressions. In some respect, the authors do not adhere closely to the book, but the departure may be justified inasmuch as it adds to the melodramatic effect... ('Three Musketeers at the Criterion', p.2).

1 Lovely Woman is Peculiar : A Matter of Sex Bernard Espinasse , 1898 single work short story humour
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 4 June vol. 19 no. 955 1898; (p. 32)
1 A Theory i "All the fields of Heaven glittered as the Night let down the bars,", Bernard Espinasse , 1898 single work poetry humour
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 30 April vol. 19 no. 950 1898; (p. 11)
1 "Dunno!" i "'Member Jim? Long, lanky slab,", Bernard Espinasse , 1898 single work poetry humour
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 29 January vol. 19 no. 937 1898; (p. 3)
1 A Dream of Thumbo i "Consider B., that potentate", Bernard Espinasse , 1898 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 16 April vol. 19 no. 948 1898; (p. 3)
1 Beyond i "Columbus of the Worlds, I felt that Night's embrace,", Bernard Espinasse , 1898 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 31 December vol. 19 no. 985 1898; (p. 11)
1 The Day When I Shall Die i "Amid the streets' discordant hum,", Bernard Espinasse , 1897 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 22 May vol. 18 no. 901 1897; (p. 3)
1 ? i ""This life," we say, and check the sceptic's laughter", Bernard Espinasse , 1897 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 20 February vol. 18 no. 888 1897; (p. 11)
1 The Cemetery Girl : A Modern Love Idyll i "She's the daughter of the sexton ("Kick-the-bucket-Bill"), and hence,", Bernard Espinasse , 1896 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Free-Lance , 18 June vol. 1 no. 9 1896; (p. 7)
1 The Shadow of the Doubt Bernard Espinasse , 1896 single work short story mystery
— Appears in: The Free-Lance , 4 June vol. 1 no. 7 1896; (p. 14)
1 His One Virtue Bernard Espinasse , 1895 single work short story
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 28 September vol. 16 no. 815 1895; (p. 27)
1 To a Ballet-Dancer i "Diaphanous in tulle and gauze,", Bernard Espinasse , 1894 single work poetry humour
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 11 August vol. 14 no. 756 1894; (p. 15)
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