Issue Details: First known date: 1866... 1866 Gulliver on His Travels ; Or, Harlequin Old Father Christmas and the Fairy Queen of the Silver Acacias
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Adapted from Jonathon Swift's novel Gulliver's Travels, the plot begins with Argentilla, the Fairy Queen of the Silver Acacias, awaiting the arrival of Old Father Christmas. Unbeknownst to the queen, her law officer Topsyturvey has conspired with Prime Minister Cantankeros to usurp her position. In the meanwhile, Father Christmas arrives, bringing all manner of presents that the conspirators render valueless in the eyes of the queen (the latest fashions are represented by the last new bonnet while a 'parcel' of politicians is turned into a pack of stuff). The last of the boxes to be opened contains an edition of the renowned Gulliver, who has already appeared favourably in the dreams of the queen. She immediately declares herself his protector, causing Cantankeros and Topsyturvey to plot his downfall and so demonstrate that they have greater powers than her. The narrative then shifts to London, where Gulliver has become bored with his surgery and is feeling set upon by his wife and howling infants. In order to escape, he takes up an offer from Captain Bumptous Blowhard to become his ship's doctor. Gulliver's adventure begins when his ship is wrecked in a storm and he is thrown into the sea. Argentilla, who has only just learned of the schemes of her treacherous ministers, sends a dolphin to save Gulliver and carry him to the shore of an island. It is here that Gulliver is captured by the Lilliputians and the plot briefly follows the original storyline until Cantankeros and Topsyturvey arrive, disguised as seamen, in order to complete their plan to destroy Gulliver.

The pantomime unfolds over six scenes. The original production featured several long mime sequences and contained numerous topical references. Margaret Williams notes that as with many the pantomimes being produced in Australia from the 1860s onwards, much of the satirical material in Gulliver on His Travels was firmly located in the Antipodes. Indeed, references to bushrangers, politicians, current political and social issues, historical figures (James Cook, for example), and local landmarks occur frequently within the pantomime's combination of fantasy and local reality (Australia on the Popular Stage).

The music included a good deal of operatic burlesque, especially extracts from Meyerbeer's L'Africaine.

Notes

  • Akhurst produced another pantomime based on the Jonathon Swift story after returning to England in 1869. While the different subtitles suggests that they are separate works, the author may have incorporated some parts of the earlier Australian pantomime into the English production. Published in 1876 by Rimmel (London) and produced at Sanger's National Amphitheatre around the same year (possibly December 1876), the full title of this version is Gulliver on His Travels, or, Harlequin Robinson Crusoe, His Man Friday, and the Wonderful Spirit of Romance.

Production Details

  • 1866: Theatre Royal, Melbourne, 26 December 1866 - 19 January 1867.

    • Lessee/Manager Mr Hoskins; Music Arranger Julius Siede and B. Levy; Scenic Art John Hennings, William Pitt, Mr Freyberger (comic scenes), and Mr Watts (comic scenes); Costumes Mrs Bennett; Director of Comic Scenes Leopold Brothers; Chorus Henry Leopold and Richard Stewart.
    • Cast incl. Richard Stewart (Dr L. L. Gulliver), Docy Stewart (Argentilla), Henry R. Harwood (Cantankeros), Miss Mortimer (Topsyturvey), Maggie Stewart (Scrumpsheissa), Anna Ford (Rosichick), C. Warde (Old Father Christmas), C. Hall (Mrs Gulliver), Master Pap (Master Gulliver), Mr Stoneham (Captain Blowhard), Mr Keogh (Gingerbeard), Mr Howell (Bitterz), Henry Leopold (Bill Smith, the doctor's shop and sharp boy), George Leopold (Jack Nokes, a newspaper boy), Tom Leopold (Tom Styles, a baker's boy), Elinor Forde (Tinitim the First, King of Lilliput), Master Warde (The Hon. Littlecove Flimnap), Master Albert Leopold (Policeman X), Lydia Leopold (Queen Dinah Jemima Angelina Mary Ann), Mr Johnson (Owotalongun, a land dummy), Mr Jones (Biganburly, proprietor of the Royal Broddinguagian), Mr Smith (Owlincad), Mr Collins (a Yahoo), Mr Loman (another Yahoo), Miss Melville (Osradisch); Court Fairies - Miss McFarlane (Fellakilla); Miss K. Ford (Laffindimpels); Miss Kaye (Tiptoporella); Miss Waghorn (Bonnimoo); Miss L. Howard (Nutzonna); Miss E Collins (Booma); Miss J. Collins (Otokissa); Miss A. Collins (Golupshussa); Miss O'Neill; Miss Levy; Miss S. Daniels; Miss L. Daniels; Miss K. Roberts; Miss A. Roberts; Miss E. Egerton; Nelly Egerton; Flora, Fanny, and L. Cushla; Harlequinade - Henry Leopold (Harlequin), George Leopold (Pantaloon), Tom Leopold (Clown), Albert Leopold (Infant Clown), Fraulein Fannie [Mrs Tom Leopold] (Columbine).
    • 24 performances

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

The Pantomime at the Royal 1866 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1866; (p. 5-6)

— Review of Gulliver on His Travels ; Or, Harlequin Old Father Christmas and the Fairy Queen of the Silver Acacias W. M. Akhurst , 1866 single work musical theatre
Theatre Royal - The Pantomime of Gulliver 1866 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1866; (p. 5)

— Review of Gulliver on His Travels ; Or, Harlequin Old Father Christmas and the Fairy Queen of the Silver Acacias W. M. Akhurst , 1866 single work musical theatre
Theatre Royal - The Pantomime of Gulliver 1866 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1866; (p. 5)

— Review of Gulliver on His Travels ; Or, Harlequin Old Father Christmas and the Fairy Queen of the Silver Acacias W. M. Akhurst , 1866 single work musical theatre
The Pantomime at the Royal 1866 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1866; (p. 5-6)

— Review of Gulliver on His Travels ; Or, Harlequin Old Father Christmas and the Fairy Queen of the Silver Acacias W. M. Akhurst , 1866 single work musical theatre

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: 1850-1869.

Last amended 28 Mar 2014 16:07:37
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