image of person or book cover 323129168486902944.jpg
Source: The Argus 17 January 1880, p.12.
The Happy Land single work   musical theatre   burlesque   satire   fantasy   humour  
Adaptation of The Happy Land W. S. Gilbert , Gilbert à Beckett , 1873 single work musical theatre
Issue Details: First known date: 1880... 1880 The Happy Land
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Adapted by Marcus Clarke from W. S. Gilbert and Gilbert A' Beckett's burlesque of the same name (1873), The Happy Land is a two act satire in blank verse and prose, which targets a tinder-dry political subject - the row between Graham Berry's Liberal government and the Legislative Council. Clarke's text, which adheres fairly closely to the English play in all but the local detail, contains explicit and controversial references to Melbourne politics, personalities and issues, was not surprisingly banned in Melbourne by the government censor.

The story begins with reports being brought to Fairyland from Melbourne which indicate that Victoria must be the Eldorado as claimed in the press. The fairies send Victoria three of their most popular 'statesmen' to teach the government the principles of 'Popular Government.' The fairy statesmen form into government and opposition and examine the former's suitability for office by distributing portfolios to the most venal and incompetent. The opposition grow discontented and determine to strike a blow for liberty. In the end the Fairies decide that Popular Government is too expensive a luxury.


[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

Notes

  • The 1873 Gilbert and A' Beckett burlesque was itself based on Gilbert's The Wicked World, which was given its debut production earlier that same year.
  • There has long been some conjecture over who actually wrote The Happy Land, a matter which Veronia Kelly argues has been the result of an 'elaborate game of cover-up and cover-blowing' that developed 'to a farcical extent' prior to and in the weeks after the premiere (p.74). This confusion has been compounded by the fact that the published text (printed within the production program) credits actor Henry Walton as author. According to Kelly, Clarke also helped instigate the confusion through his Leader column, 'Under the Verandah' (which he contributed under the pseudonym 'Atticus'). She notes that in the 10 January edition he not only leaked 'some tantalising advance publicity for the "new and grand burlesque of great local and Victorian interest",' but also named Walton as the adaptor (p.74): 'Rumour has it that Mr Walton has written some very pungent lines applicable to present politicians' (ctd Kelly 74). Kelly notes that Walton also named himself as the author on several occasions. The first of these was in a letter to the Argus (published on 15 January). That same day he also accepted responsibility in a statement made to the police when they served prohibition notices at the Academy of Music. Kelly argues, however, that while Walton. 'the star actor... who joined the company to play The Major,' may have made contributions or suggestions during the rehearsal stages, the manuscript held by the Mitchell Library (written entirely in Clarke's handwriting) shows that he "certainly 'wrote' no lines at all' (p.75).

    Robert Percy Whitworth's association with the burlesque is similarly unclear. His name certainly appears as author on the manuscript submitted to the Patent Office on 13 January, the registration for which was officially cancelled two days later by the Attorney-General Sir Bryan O'Loghlen. In his letter to the Argus (17 January) Whitworth claims however, that the writing was a collaboration: 'The fact is that I, representing Mr Walton and myself, did register the piece of our adaptation of it... ' (ctd Kelly, p.78). In their statements to the police at the theatre on 15 January, however, Aarons and Walton both denied that Whitworth anything 'whatever to do with the writing of the play' (ctd. Kelly, p.79).

    Evidence supporting Clarke's role as primary, if not sole, author comes from several sources - notably the handwritten manuscript held by the Mitchell Library. A comprehensive analysis of the handwriting indicates that Clarke was responsible for the entire manuscript (Kelly, p.75). The first newspaper to unequivocally name him as the adapter was the Argus in its 16 January issue (Kelly, p.79). The following day the Leader's 'Amusements' column also put his name into the mix: 'The adaptor is said to be Mr Marcus Clarke. If such is the fact, he is to be congratulated on the production, as it is one of the most pungent, and at the same time humorous political skits contributed to the colonial stage' (ctd. Kelly, p.85). Other papers to credit him as author include the Sydney Morning Herald (22 January), Sydney Mail (24 January) and Daily Telegraph (29 January).

    Another puzzling aspect of the authorship issue is that Clarke's hand (using a different ink) is identified as having written 'M. Clarke &' over the initial inscription 'R. P. Whitworth' on the cover of the Office of Copyright manuscript. The same handwriting (and same ink) has also cancelled the copyright stamps. Veronica Kelly believes that this indicates that 'it was Clarke who undertook the mental and physical labour of adapting the Gilbert work; that he originally ascribed his own work to his friend Whitworth; and that at some time subsequent to this he added his own name on the title page' (p.108).

  • The Portland Guardian echoed the sentiments of most critics and political observors of the time, when in its 20 January edition its editor wrote:

    The following is a fair sample of the most objectionable part of the dialogue which Mr Berry says is unfit for a colonial theatre. The only wonder is that Punch is allowed to exist, and that the proprietors have not long ago been indicted under the Newspaper Statute for treason, blasphemy, heresy and every other iniquity (p.2).

  • Henry Walton, whose name appears as the author of the published text, played the role of the Major in the Melbourne production. He is attributed co-authorship with an inidentified writer (possibly Clarke) of Agapemone. First staged in Melbourne a month after The Happy Land, Acapemone, can be viewed as essentially a sequel.
  • Veronica Kelly has compiled the 'Annotated Checklist of Comments on the Performances and Banning of Marcus Clarke's The Happy Land in Melbourne and Sydney' (1985). See also her 1983 paper, 'The Banning of Marcus Clarke's The Happy Land: Stage, Press and Parliament.'
  • The Mitchell Library manuscript (C 449) includes a newspaper clipping disputing the authorship and (erroneously) claiming that H. E. Walton was in fact R. P. Whitworth. The holding is also accompanied by a handwritten note by historian Brian Elliot, and a typed letter from L. Buck (dated 1910), who claims the manuscript was given to him by Clarke.

    Veronica Kelly argues that Ludwig Bruck (a clerk with publisher and medical agent Ferdinand Francois Bailliere) has erred in his recall of certain events pertaining to the banning of The Happy Land. She writes:

    Bruck's assertion that the McKinley libretto was seized by the police is untenable. There is no report of such a sensational development in any contemporary source... There was furthermore no point in taking such action merely to suppress the play text; the Age, Argus, Sydney Mail, Australasian Sketcher, Ballarat Courier and Portland Guardian all published the text in full or in part. Although Bruck was close to the events and participants of the events of January and February 1880, forty years later he may have confused the prohibition of the Happy Land performances with the withdrawal of the January issue of the Melbourne Punch (p.109).

  • The Happy Land was also staged in several cities in New Zealand, beginning around late February. The last known production was in September. The text for this version was localised by a local journalist/editor as a means of burlesquing that country's statesmen (Kelly p.101).

    The full text of the New Zealand version of The Happy Land, published in the Star (Christchurch) 3 March (1880), p.3, is available on line through Papers Past.

  • Further Reference:

    • Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil 31 January (1880) p.190.

Production Details

  • 1880: Academy of Music, Melbourne; 17, 19 January

    • Manager Joseph Aarons; Lessee James O'Meara.
    • Cast incl. Marie Gordon, Tilly Earle [Mrs John Edouin], Kate Vernon, Miss Chalmers, Miss Fisher, Miss Maynard, Miss Evans, J. Nunn, Miss Harrington, Miss Russell, Hans Phillips, C. Newton, John Dunn, Oliver 'Olly' Deering, Henry E. Walton, Mr Dark, Thomas Bent.
    • A public rehearsal was presented on 15 January.

    1880: Kelly and Leon's Opera House, Sydney; 31 January - 13 February

    • Manager Dave Hayman; Lessee Edwin Kelly and Francis Leon.
    • Cast incl. Nellie Henry, Emma Wangenheim, Fanny Rogers, Lucy Fraser, Annie Hughes, Amy Fraser, Vernon Read, C. Frisco, Edwin Lester, E. Osbourne, William Ball, Edwin Kelly, Fred Dark.
    • 15 performances.

    1880: Frankston, Victoria; 6 February

    • Director Garnet Walch.
    • Cast incl. Oliver 'Olly' Deering, H. E. Walton, E. B. Russell.
    • The production is said to have been staged either in a temporary venue, or as a clandestine beach performance.

    1880: Bijou Theatre, Brisbane; 9 February

    • Manager/Lessee Arthur L. Inglis.
    • Cast incl. Kate Douglas, Annie Wilson, Miss F. Douglas, Maude Douglas, Miss K. Locrine, J. D. Marsh, Arthur Inglis, C. A. Tyrell.

    1880: Academy of Music, Wellington (New Zealand); 17 March.


    1880: Theatre Royal, Wellington (New Zealand); 5-8 July

    • Troupe: Byronic Comedy Company.

    1880: Princess Theatre, Dunedin (New Zealand); 3-4 September.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Notes:
The text, either in part or in full, is also known to have been published in the Sydney Mail and Ballarat Courier.
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Age 17 January 1880 Z1888247 1880 newspaper issue 1880
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Argus 17 January 1880 Z1888249 1880 newspaper issue 1880 pg. 9
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Portland Guardian 20 January 1880 Z1889231 1880 newspaper issue 1880 pg. 2
    Note: Extract.
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil 31 January 1880 Z1889233 1880 periodical issue 1880 pg. 190
    Note: Extract
    • Melbourne, Victoria,: 1880 .
      Note/s:
      • Production program, includes text. Henry Walton's name is attributed authorship on the cover.

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Local Id: PR8201.C55 H37 1880

      Holdings

      Held at: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW
      Local Id: DSM/A827/W

      Holdings

      Held at: State Library of Victoria
      ca. 1880 .
      Extent: 46p.
      (Manuscript) assertion

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Local Id: H1920
      Note:
      Photocopy of Mitchell Library holding

      Holdings

      Held at: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW
      Local Id: C 449
    • Fortitude Valley, Fortitude Valley - New Farm area, Brisbane - North East, Brisbane, Queensland,: Playlab , 2013 .
      image of person or book cover 4720442228312439872.jpg
      Extent: 1vp.
      Note/s:
      • Available as an PDF download.
      Series: y separately published work icon Playlab New Vintage Playlab (publisher), Fortitude Valley : Playlab , 2013- 16932703 2013 series - publisher drama
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Star 3 March 1880 Z1888367 1880 newspaper issue 1880 pg. 3

Works about this Work

'The Happy Land' Clay Djubal , 2010 2010 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australian Variety Theatre Archive : Popular Culture Entertainment: 1850-1930
y separately published work icon Annotated Checklist of Comments on the Performances and Banning of Marcus Clarke's The Happy Land in Melbourne and Sydney Veronica Kelly , Melbourne : Monash University , 1985 Z146389 1985 single work bibliography
The Banning of Marcus Clarke's "The Happy Land" : Stage, Press and Parliament Veronica Kelly , 1983 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , October vol. 2 no. 1 1983; (p. 71-111)
The Theatres 1880 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil , 31 January 1880; (p. 194)

— Review of The Happy Land Marcus Clarke , 1880 single work musical theatre
The Happy Land 1880 single work review
— Appears in: The Evening Post , 18 March 1880; (p. 2)

— Review of The Happy Land Marcus Clarke , 1880 single work musical theatre
Academy of Music – 'The Happy Land' 1880 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 19 January 1880; (p. 6)

— Review of The Happy Land Marcus Clarke , 1880 single work musical theatre
The Academy of Music 1880 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 19 January 1880; (p. 3)

— Review of The Happy Land Marcus Clarke , 1880 single work musical theatre
Kelly and Leon's Opera House 1880 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 2 February 1880; (p. 5)

— Review of The Happy Land Marcus Clarke , 1880 single work musical theatre
'The Happy Land' 1880 single work review
— Appears in: The Star , 21 February 1880; (p. 3)

— Review of The Happy Land Marcus Clarke , 1880 single work musical theatre
The Happy Land 1880 single work review
— Appears in: The Evening Post , 18 March 1880; (p. 2)

— Review of The Happy Land Marcus Clarke , 1880 single work musical theatre
The Chief Secretary as Lord Chamberlain 1880 single work column
— Appears in: Portland Guardian , 17 January 1880; (p. 3)
The Banning of Marcus Clarke's "The Happy Land" : Stage, Press and Parliament Veronica Kelly , 1983 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , October vol. 2 no. 1 1983; (p. 71-111)
y separately published work icon Annotated Checklist of Comments on the Performances and Banning of Marcus Clarke's The Happy Land in Melbourne and Sydney Veronica Kelly , Melbourne : Monash University , 1985 Z146389 1985 single work bibliography
'The Happy Land' Clay Djubal , 2010 2010 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australian Variety Theatre Archive : Popular Culture Entertainment: 1850-1930

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
Last amended 16 Oct 2014 07:09:27
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