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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

A pantomime in five scenes, the story begins in the submarine world ruled by Ichthyologia, who causes a storm that wrecks Robinson Crusoe on an island. After falling asleep on a bank, Crusoe is discovered by Coralline, a water nymph, who falls in love with him. She subsequently has him carried off to a romantic dell in the island. This displeases Ichthyologia, and he threatens to turn Coralline into water if she persists in loving Crusoe. Complications set in, however, when Crusoe meets the octoroon Zoe, who inhabits the island with Friday and a company of Christy-style negro minstrels. He falls in love with her, not knowing that she is married to Friday. This relationship is a burlesque on Dion Boucicault's The Octoroon, while the Crusoe/Coralline relationship comments on the Pageant of British Worthies, including Shakespeare, Drake, Dickens, and Punch.

Containing a number of local references, the pantomime also includes songs of operatic style and other forms. The Argus critic notes that the production is treated in a thoroughly burlesque style, particularly the negro minstrel scenes. 'To make the the thing still more incongruous', writes the critic:

'Friday ... before his capture makes a stump speech in which allusions to Victorian politics and all sorts of events, occurs. The end of it all is that Crusoe is changed into Harlequin, Zoe into Columbine, Ichthyologia into Pantaloon and Friday into Clown, after which comes the transformation scene' (25 December 1868, p.5).

Production Details

  • 1868: Theatre Royal, Melbourne, 24 December 1868 - 30 January 1869.

    • Manager/Producer Harwood, Stewart, Hennings and Coppin; Music Arranger Frederick Coppin; Scenic Art John Hennings, Alfred Clint, and Richard Little; Costumes Mde Jager.
    • Cast incl. John Dunn (Ichthyologia, the Fish King), Henry R. Harwood (Robinson Crusoe), Richard Stewart (Friday), Anna Forde (Zoe), Docy Stewart (Coralline), Mde Vieuxulles (Mrs Crusoe), Kate Ryder, Laura Wiseman, Maggie Stewart (Sammunella), G. R. Ireland, Mlle Therese (Columbine), M. Schmidt (Harlequin), T. Wieland (Sprite), J. Wieland (Sprite), Tom Lewis (Pantaloon), Harry Stanley (Clown), Corps de Ballet.
    • 32 performances.

    1869: Theatre Royal, Melbourne, 25 March (benefit).

    • Cast and production team mostly as for 1868 Theatre Royal season.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1868

Works about this Work

Theatre Royal : Pantomime of 'Robinson Crusoe' 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 25 December 1868; (p. 5)

— Review of Harlequin Robinson Crusoe ; Or, The Nimble Naiad, the Lonely Squatter, and the Lively Aboriginal W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre
The Pantomime at the Royal - 'Harlequin Robinson Crusoe' 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 26 December 1868; (p. 3)

— Review of Harlequin Robinson Crusoe ; Or, The Nimble Naiad, the Lonely Squatter, and the Lively Aboriginal W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre
The Pantomime at the Royal - 'Harlequin Robinson Crusoe' 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 26 December 1868; (p. 3)

— Review of Harlequin Robinson Crusoe ; Or, The Nimble Naiad, the Lonely Squatter, and the Lively Aboriginal W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre
Theatre Royal : Pantomime of 'Robinson Crusoe' 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 25 December 1868; (p. 5)

— Review of Harlequin Robinson Crusoe ; Or, The Nimble Naiad, the Lonely Squatter, and the Lively Aboriginal W. M. Akhurst , 1868 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 16:17:16
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