y separately published work icon Australia Felix ; Or, Harlequin Laughing Jackass and the Magic Bat single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Is part of UQP Drama series - publisher
Issue Details: First known date: 1873... 1873 Australia Felix ; Or, Harlequin Laughing Jackass and the Magic Bat
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Described in advertising in 1873 as an 'Original Extravaganza' with ballet, spectacle, and songs to operatic and other music, the story opens with the Centre of Gravity and Salamanders' Retreat where Kantankeros, the Demon of Dullness, holds court amid rocks, in a general state of confusion. He and his ally Boblo (a determined minister of the state) plot to render Australians as dull and dispirited as their English brethren have become under the censorship of the Lord Chamberlain. In the second scene, set in 'the Willow Glen by Moonlight' amid invisible fairies, elves, and the Queen of Night, Mirth announces that he will sever his partnership with King Mischief. When the king arrives with his warriors, he is unphased by the news, causing Mirth to vent his rage upon the midnight air. A telegram then arrives from Kantankeros and Boblo, and Mischief decides to emigrate to Australia so as to join his confederates in Melbourne. Mirth overhears his plans, however, and puts into action a plan that he hopes will 'rescue that fair land from the clutches of three such arrant knaves'.

The story then moves to Bungaree Forest where Felix (Young Australia) lives with his parents, Old Australia and the Missus, and his sister Victoria (with whom he is very close) in a settler's hut. When his parents reveal that Victoria was found under a gum tree and is not their child, Young Australia and Victoria realise that they can unite their love through marriage. Just as they begin to celebrate, Kantankeros, Boblo, and Mischief arrive and weave a spell around him. Mirth, however, has conjured up a magic cricket bat to foil their schemes. He presents it to Felix and all adjoin to the MCC, where he is to take part in the match between England and Australia. When King Mischief learns of Mirth's plan, he responds by calling on Mosquito to plague and irritate his enemies. Felix also forgets Mirth's warning and allows the demon trio to trick the bat from him (along with all his money) in an under-and-over game. Kantankeros tells Mosquito to fly off to the Isle of Monkeys with the bat and then taunts Mirth over Felix's failure. He then dictates a challenge. If the bat is not returned within thirty-six hours, Mirth must agree to abandon Australia to its fate. However, Mirth has a staunch ally in Laughing Jackass, Felix's pet (and 'a very useful bird'), who overhears where Mosquito has gone. Mirth gives Felix's parents seven-league boots and, together with Laughing Jackass, they pursue Mosquito. Arriving on the island, the trio are captured by Simius, the King of the Apes, but Mirth sends his own warriors after them, and using a magic mirror they manage subdue the monkeys, release the captives, and regain the magic bat.

The next day finds Kantankeros, Boblo, and Mischief at Breakneck Gully, on the road to Hangman's Flat. With no news, the demonic allies begin gloating over what they believe is their triumph. The following scene, set at the Post Office Tower, sees Felix's parents rush in with the bat with seconds to spare, however. Kantankeros, in a desperate bid to escape, turns himself into a snake, thinking no one will notice if he slides away. He has forgotten one thing, though: Laughing Jackass is partial to reptiles, and dispatches his foe in double-quick time.


(Plot synopsis cited in Age 25 December 1873, p.3; Age 27 December 1873, p.6; and Argus 27 December 1873, p.6).

A good deal of local colour and topicalities were included in the pantomime (including references to Victorian politics, events, and personalities, such as anti-Chinese riots, the Tichbourne case, and W.G. Grace).

The musical element included a song written to the tune of the 'Gendarmes' duet from Genevieve, which was introduced during the cricket-match scene.

Notes

  • An advertisement placed in the Age (24 December 1873, p.4) notes:

    'In the production of this great original idea, the management have had the courage to try the experiment of introducing for the first time within the recollection of the oldest inhabitant, a pantomime in which all allusion to either Mr L. L. Smith, or Mr John Thomas Smith's donkey has been studiously avoided'.

Production Details

  • 1873: Opera House, Melbourne, 26 Dec. 1873 - 31 Jan. 1874.

    • Director Garnet Walch; Scenic Art Alexander C. Habbe; Music Arranger/Director/Conductor Thomas Zeplin; Chorus Henry Leopold and Fraulein Fannie [Mrs Tom Leopold]; Costumes Mr Ford.
    • Cast incl. James Hogan (Old Australia, an ancient squatter of 'Italian' extraction), Mr Ford (The Missus), Jeannie Winston (Felix - Young Australia, their son), Alice Wooldridge (Victoria, their adopted daughter), Lydia Howarde (Mirth, the genius of Laughter and Good Humour), Jenny Wren (Miss Collins Treeter), Charles Lascelles (Kantankeros), Harry Daniels (Boblo), Mr Rowley (The Lord Chamberlain), J. F. Kitts (Grogblossom, Mirth's chief attendant), Fraulein Fannie [Mrs Tom Leopold] (Queen of Night / Columbine), Blanche Leopold (Earlymorn), Miss Colson (Appleblossom), Miss Lynch (Rosebloom), G. P. Carey (Wooroohoonoo, the Laughing Jackass / Policeman), A. H. Bell (Mosquito), George Leopold (King Mischief / Clown), G. Hodson (Scoriax, the Demon's head torch-bearer), Mr Sullivan (Squintext), Mr Fitzgerald (Asbestos), Mr O'Toole (Scorpios), Master Albert Leopold (Simius the Millionth, King of the Apes), Henry Leopold (Harlequin), W. P. Morrison (Pantaloon); Elves of the Willow Glenn - Miss Holmes (Nimblefoot), Miss Crawford (Lightheels), Miss E. Higgins (Sweetface), Miss Leslie (Saucipet), Sarah Ford (Shapely), Miss C. Ford (Nicey-Nicey), Miss H. Forde (Pretty-Pretty), Miss Parker (Stunna), Miss Angus (Tootsy-Pootsy), Miss Ward (A1), Miss Rollins (Perfecta), Miss N. A. Higgins (Innosenta), Miss Collins (Glorietta), Miss Knight (Exquisitta), Miss Douglas (Nunbetta), Miss Royal (Sweetlips), Miss Smith (Nectarina), Miss Johnson (Truelove), Miss Kennedy (Kissi-Kissi); The Monkeys - performed by the Simian Troupe: Gibber, Chatter, Jabber, Splutter, Mouther, Squeaker, Sqealer, Sneaker, Grinner, Gnawer and Tweaker; All England Eleven - incl. Masters W. G. and G. F. 'Gracekin' and Master A. J. 'Bushkin'; Australian 18 - (their country's hope) incl. Mesdames Allena, Bishops, Boyles, and Campbella; Juvenile Company of Pantomimists - Hettie Lee (Columbine), Master Charles Rollins (Pantaloon), Blanche Leopold (Harlequin), Master Albert Leopold (Clown).
    • Musicians incl. members of the Italian Opera Band.
    • 30 performances.
    • Thirteen-year-old Sarah Ford briefly replaced Jeannie Winston and Lydia Howarde when they were unable to to perform due to illness.

Contents

* Contents derived from the St Lucia, Indooroopilly - St Lucia area, Brisbane - North West, Brisbane, Queensland,:University of Queensland Press , 1988 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Australia Felix : Introduction, Veronica Kelly , single work criticism biography (p. 1-45)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Melodrama, an Australian Pantomime, and the Theatrical Constructions of Colonial History Veronica Kelly , 1993 single work criticism
— Appears in: Journal of Australian Studies , September no. 38 1993; (p. 51-61)
Reviews Ken A. Stewart , 1989 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , May vol. 14 no. 1 1989; (p. 122-126)

— Review of Australia Felix ; Or, Harlequin Laughing Jackass and the Magic Bat Garnet Walch , 1873 single work musical theatre ; In Australia; Or, The Old Selection 'Steele Rudd' , 1916 single work drama ; Steele Rudd's Australia Peter Putnis , 1988 selected work criticism prose short story biography ; Shadow and Shine : An Anthology of Gippsland Literature 1988 anthology poetry short story ; The Unsparing Scourge : Australian Satirical Texts 1845-1860 1988 anthology poetry short story criticism biography ; Stalwart the Bushranger, with, The Tragedy of Donohoe Charles Harpur , 1987 selected work drama
Australia Felix : Introduction Veronica Kelly , 1988 single work criticism biography
— Appears in: Australia Felix ; Or, Harlequin Laughing Jackass and the Magic Bat 1988; (p. 1-45)
Garnet Walch's 'Australia Felix' : A Reconstruction Paul Richardson , 1983 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , April vol. 1 no. 2 1983; (p. 63-81)
The Opera House 1873 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1873; (p. 5)

— Review of Australia Felix ; Or, Harlequin Laughing Jackass and the Magic Bat Garnet Walch , 1873 single work musical theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre 1873 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 25 December 1873; (p. 3)

— Review of Australia Felix ; Or, Harlequin Laughing Jackass and the Magic Bat Garnet Walch , 1873 single work musical theatre
The Prince of Wales Opera House 1873 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1873; (p. 6)

— Review of Australia Felix ; Or, Harlequin Laughing Jackass and the Magic Bat Garnet Walch , 1873 single work musical theatre
The Opera House 1873 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1873; (p. 5)

— Review of Australia Felix ; Or, Harlequin Laughing Jackass and the Magic Bat Garnet Walch , 1873 single work musical theatre
Reviews Ken A. Stewart , 1989 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , May vol. 14 no. 1 1989; (p. 122-126)

— Review of Australia Felix ; Or, Harlequin Laughing Jackass and the Magic Bat Garnet Walch , 1873 single work musical theatre ; In Australia; Or, The Old Selection 'Steele Rudd' , 1916 single work drama ; Steele Rudd's Australia Peter Putnis , 1988 selected work criticism prose short story biography ; Shadow and Shine : An Anthology of Gippsland Literature 1988 anthology poetry short story ; The Unsparing Scourge : Australian Satirical Texts 1845-1860 1988 anthology poetry short story criticism biography ; Stalwart the Bushranger, with, The Tragedy of Donohoe Charles Harpur , 1987 selected work drama
Melodrama, an Australian Pantomime, and the Theatrical Constructions of Colonial History Veronica Kelly , 1993 single work criticism
— Appears in: Journal of Australian Studies , September no. 38 1993; (p. 51-61)
Garnet Walch's 'Australia Felix' : A Reconstruction Paul Richardson , 1983 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , April vol. 1 no. 2 1983; (p. 63-81)
Australia Felix : Introduction Veronica Kelly , 1988 single work criticism biography
— Appears in: Australia Felix ; Or, Harlequin Laughing Jackass and the Magic Bat 1988; (p. 1-45)

PeriodicalNewspaper Details

Note:

This entry has been sourced from research undertaken by Dr Clay Djubal into Australian-written popular music theatre (ca. 1850-1930). See also the Australian Variety Theatre Archive

Details have also been derived in part from the Annotated Calendar of Plays Premiered in Australia: 1870-1890.

Last amended 1 Apr 2014 06:58:27
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