y separately published work icon The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Hawkins' Hill Gold Mines ; Or, The Desert Fairy of Despair, the Gigantic Bon-Bon and the Princess of Pure Delights single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy   humour  
Adaptation of The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Gold Mines James Robinson Planche , 1854 single work musical theatre
Issue Details: First known date: 1872... 1872 The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Hawkins' Hill Gold Mines ; Or, The Desert Fairy of Despair, the Gigantic Bon-Bon and the Princess of Pure Delights
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

This one-act pantomime, adapted from James Robinson Planché's extravaganza The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Gold Mines (1854), contained numerous topical references and local allusions (including unruly MLAs, John Long Innes's pending Sharebrokers' Bill, the Sydney scene, and local personalities) and a burlesque of Shakespeare's tragedy Richard III.

Set to operatic and other music, the pantomime begins in the Hawkins' Hill gold mine, where the Yellow Dwarf Gambogie makes a pact with the mine manager to swindle the owner. Each resolves, however, to swindle the other. The Fairy Queen Indulgenta, en route to the Desert of Lyons, crosses paths with the dwarf, who forces her to promise him Princess Allfair (who has refused all suitors). The princess decides, upon meeting the dwarf, that she is now willing to marry Meliodorus, but the two young lovers are kidnapped. Meliodorus is given a magic sword by the Mermaid Syrena, but is nevertheless killed. Princess Allfair suicides, but Syrena is still able to procure a happy ending.

One song known to have been incorporated into the pantomime the duet 'What Will it Go to the Ton?' (sung by S. H. Banks and W. B. Gill).

Production Details

  • 1872: Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, 26 December 1872 - 26 January 1873

    • Director W. B. Gill; Manager John Bennett; Scenic Art W. J. Wilson; Chorus Minnie Stanley and E. McLean; Music Arranger Walter Rice; Costumes Mrs Stapleton.
    • Cast incl. W. B. Gill (Gambogie), Mrs W. B. Gill (Princess Allfair), Miss Benson (Queen Indulgenta), Maggie Oliver (King Melodious), J. J. Welsh (Von Boltermann), Charles Lascelles (Prince Bonbon), Miss Lambert, Marion Saunders, Miss Winston, Heloise Duvalli (Columbine 1), Mrs E. McLean (Columbine 2), Miss Bennison, Minnie Stanley (dancer), A. H. Bell (Harlequin), Mr Darbyshire (Clown), W. P. Morrison (Pantaloon), Miss Rachael (Harlequina), Mr Melville, Mr Milner, Mr Sweeney, Mr Hourigan, Oliver 'Olly' Deering.
    • 27 performances.
    • The Royal Victoria Theatre Company presented the harlequinade from this production at the Sydney Exhibition Building on 28 January.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Works about this Work

Theatrical and Amusements 1873 single work review
— Appears in: Sydney Mail , 4 January 1873; (p. 15)
— Review of The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Hawkins' Hill Gold Mines ; Or, The Desert Fairy of Despair, the Gigantic Bon-Bon and the Princess of Pure Delights Samuel Hawker Banks , W. B. Gill , 1872 single work musical theatre
Dramatic and Musicval Review 1872 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Town and Country Journal , 28 December 1872; (p. 853)
— Review of The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Hawkins' Hill Gold Mines ; Or, The Desert Fairy of Despair, the Gigantic Bon-Bon and the Princess of Pure Delights Samuel Hawker Banks , W. B. Gill , 1872 single work musical theatre
Victoria Theatre 1872 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 December 1872; (p. 5)
— Review of The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Hawkins' Hill Gold Mines ; Or, The Desert Fairy of Despair, the Gigantic Bon-Bon and the Princess of Pure Delights Samuel Hawker Banks , W. B. Gill , 1872 single work musical theatre
Victoria Theatre 1872 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 December 1872; (p. 5)
— Review of The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Hawkins' Hill Gold Mines ; Or, The Desert Fairy of Despair, the Gigantic Bon-Bon and the Princess of Pure Delights Samuel Hawker Banks , W. B. Gill , 1872 single work musical theatre
Dramatic and Musicval Review 1872 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Town and Country Journal , 28 December 1872; (p. 853)
— Review of The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Hawkins' Hill Gold Mines ; Or, The Desert Fairy of Despair, the Gigantic Bon-Bon and the Princess of Pure Delights Samuel Hawker Banks , W. B. Gill , 1872 single work musical theatre
Theatrical and Amusements 1873 single work review
— Appears in: Sydney Mail , 4 January 1873; (p. 15)
— Review of The Yellow Dwarf and the King of the Hawkins' Hill Gold Mines ; Or, The Desert Fairy of Despair, the Gigantic Bon-Bon and the Princess of Pure Delights Samuel Hawker Banks , W. B. Gill , 1872 single work musical theatre
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (3)

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 26 Sep 2014 11:25:25
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