y separately published work icon Riquet with the Tuft ; Or, Harlequin Old Mother Shipton, the Silver Champions and Darwin's Genealogical Tree! single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy   - Ten scenes.
Adaptation of Riquet with the Tuft ; Or, Harlequin and Old Mother Shipton Edward Litt Leman Blanchard , 1863 single work musical theatre
Issue Details: First known date: 1872... 1872 Riquet with the Tuft ; Or, Harlequin Old Mother Shipton, the Silver Champions and Darwin's Genealogical Tree!
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

The story concerns a stupid but good-hearted princess, Amouretta, who prefers the deformed Riquet to the swell Prince Paragon. However, in choosing Riquet, she gains increased intellectual capacities. The 1872 production included an historical parade of characters and political allusions.

Notes

  • Although advertised as 'an entirely novel, original, burlesque, grotesque, metrical, musical, magical, grand comic Christmas pantomime ... written especially for [the] management by E. L. Blanchard and Frank Edwards', it was most likely adapted and localised by Edwards from Blanchard's Riquet with the Tuft, or, Harlequin and Mother Shipton (1863). That pantomime was itself based on J. R. Planché and Charles Dance's grand allegorical, magical, musical, fairy tale Riquet with the Tuft, or, Mother Bunch and the King of the Green Islands.
  • The earliest production of the Planché/Dance pantomime in Australia is believed to have been at the Royal Victoria Theatre (Sydney) on Boxing Night 1848, produced under the direction of Messrs. Wyatt and Knight.

Production Details

  • 1872: Theatre Royal, Melbourne, 26 December 1872 - 7 February 1873.

    • Director J. R. Greville and Richard Stewart ; Lessee/Producer Harwood, Stewart, Hennings and Coppin; Music Director/Arranger Frederick Coppin ; Scenic Art John Hennnings, Henry Holmes, H. Grist, and Mr Pincott ; Costumes Mrs Jager ; Chorus Henry Leopold ; Director of Comic Scenes George Leopold and M. F. Forde.
    • Cast incl. Anna Forde (Riquet with the Tuft); J. R. Greville (Mother Shipton); Jenny Bryce (Mother Bunch); Alice Wooldridge (Queen Mab); Richard Stewart (Numbustical the Rampageous); Mrs Wooldridge (Devilovatempa); Docy Stewart (Amourette); The Rival Princes - Maggie Stewart (Prince Paragon), Harry Leston (Prince Gogmagog), John Dunn (Prince Mannikin), Charles H. Taylor (The Chamberlain), Master Alfred Leopold (Chief Fungus); The Silver Champions - Nellie Stewart, Miss Rollin, Miss Chalmer, Miss Watson, Miss Maynard, Miss Holmes, Miss Ford, Miss Wallace, Miss O'Donnell, Miss Wilson, Miss Acheson, Miss Patterson; Harlequinade - Henry Leopold (Harlequin), Fraulein Fannie [Mrs Tom Leopold] (Columbine), K. Douglas (Sprite), Harry Sefton (Pantaloon 1), J. Forde (Pantaloon 2), George Leopold (Clown 1), Martin Forde (Clown 2).
    • 38 performances.

    1873: Alfred Hall, Ballarat, Victoria, 14 April.

    • Troupe Melbourne Theatre Royal Company.
    • Cast incl. Anna Forde, Mrs Collins [Docy Stewart], Miss Stewart, Alice Wooldridge, J. R. Greville, Richard Stewart.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

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Works about this Work

The Theatre Royal : The Christmas Pantomime 1872 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1872; (p. 6-7)
— Review of Riquet with the Tuft ; Or, Harlequin Old Mother Shipton, the Silver Champions and Darwin's Genealogical Tree! Frank Edwards , Edward Litt Leman Blanchard , 1872 single work musical theatre
The Theatre Royal 1872 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1872; (p. 3)
— Review of Riquet with the Tuft ; Or, Harlequin Old Mother Shipton, the Silver Champions and Darwin's Genealogical Tree! Frank Edwards , Edward Litt Leman Blanchard , 1872 single work musical theatre
The Theatre Royal 1872 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1872; (p. 3)
— Review of Riquet with the Tuft ; Or, Harlequin Old Mother Shipton, the Silver Champions and Darwin's Genealogical Tree! Frank Edwards , Edward Litt Leman Blanchard , 1872 single work musical theatre
The Theatre Royal : The Christmas Pantomime 1872 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1872; (p. 6-7)
— Review of Riquet with the Tuft ; Or, Harlequin Old Mother Shipton, the Silver Champions and Darwin's Genealogical Tree! Frank Edwards , Edward Litt Leman Blanchard , 1872 single work musical theatre
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (2)

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 09:47:17
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