y separately published work icon Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy single work   musical theatre   burlesque   fantasy   humour   - Six scenes
Alternative title: The Siege of Troy
Issue Details: First known date: 1868... 1868 Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Described as a 'classical burlesque extravaganza on the theme of the Trojan War', the story begins with Cupid and Hymen arranging the fate of Helen amidst the splendour of the Spartan King's palace. Helen then appears with Paris and they decide to elope, making their way to a Phrygian galley moored off the Eurotas, with the 'traviata-singing Cassandra's prophecies of doom [going] unheeded'. The voyage scene that follows, staged in representation of 'the Duke of Edinburgh's outward voyage' (including comments by several characters), allowed John Hennings, the original scenic artist, the opportunity to create a number of exquisite panoramic views. Notable were the Rock of Gibraltar, the peak of Teneriffe, Rio De Janeiro, Tristan da Achuna, and the Cape of Good Hope, the last of which gave way to a scenic representation of Helen and Paris being welcomed into Troy by Priam and the Trojans. A later scene played out the well-known story of the Trojan horse, from which the Greek soldiers emerge to open the gates of the city. This was followed by the triumphant entry of the army and the capture of Ilium, followed by the finale, a grand tableau set amidst the ruins of the burning city (details from Argus 13 April 1868, p.5).

The music was of both of an operatic and popular nature, and included accompaniment for the ballet scenes. The overture was composed by Julius Siede. Nellie Stewart, in her autobiography My Life's Story, records that 'Akhurst was responsible for the introduction of all the latest comic opera successes from Paris and London in The Siege of Troy long before the operas were staged in Australia' (p.22).

Production Details

  • 1868: Theatre Royal, Melbourne, 11-25 April and 25 May-13 June

    • Lessee/Stage Manager Charles Vincent; Assistant Manager Henry R. Harwood; Music Arranger B. Levy; Scenic Art John Hennings, Alfred Clint, and Richard Liddle; Costumes Mde Jager.
    • Troupe Royal Star Company.
    • Cast incl. Marion Dunn (Paris), Margie Chester (Helen), Maggie Stewart (Hymen), Docy Stewart (Cupid), C. Warde (Menelaus), Miss McFarlane (Archilles), Alice Bray (Ajax Telamon), Richard Stewart (Patrocious), John Dunn (Priam), Henry R. Harwood (Cassandra), Mrs Woolridge (Hecuba), Blanche Bray, Miss Lester, Miss Maughan, Miss Sinclair, Miss Dick, Mr Gladstone.
    • 28 performances.

    1868: Alfred Hall, Ballarat (Victoria), 7 June.

    • Cast and production mostly as for previous Melbourne season.

    1868: Theatre Royal (Melb), 18-29 August


    1868: Theatre Royal (Melb), 12-19 December

    • Producer/Lessee Harwood, Stewart, Hennings and Coppin; Scenic Art John Hennings.
    • Troupe Royal Star Company ; Cast incl. Marion Dunn, Docy Stewart, Maggie Stewart, Margie Chester, Mrs Woolridge, Henry R. Harwood, R. Dunn, Con Ward, George Darrell.

    1869: Theatre Royal (Melb), 1 February and 6 March (benefits)

    • Producer/Lessee Harwood, Stewart, Hennings and Coppin; Scenic Art John Hennings.
    • Troupe Royal Star.
    • Cast incl. Docy Stewart, Henry R. Harwood.

    1869: Theatre Royal (Melb), 7-19 August

    • Producer/Lessee Harwood, Stewart, Hennings and Coppin; Scenic Art John Hennings, Mr Douglas, and Richard Little; Music Arranger Frederick Coppin; Costumes Mde Jager.
    • Troupe Royal Star Company.
    • Cast incl. Maggie Stewart (Paris), Margie Chester (Helen), Docy Stewart (Cupid), Miss McFarlane (Archilles), Alice Bray (Ajax), Mrs Woolridge (Hecuba), Richard Stewart (Patrocious), C. Warde (Menelaus), John Dunn (Priam), Henry R. Harwood (Cassandra).
    • 11 performances.

    1870: Theatre Royal, Adelaide; 16 February - 4 March [as The Siege of Troy]

    • Producer/Lessee Harwood, Stewart, Hennings and Coppin; Scenic Art John Hennings, Mr Douglas and Richard Little; Music Arranger Frederick Coppin; Costumes Mde Jager.
    • Cast incl. Trojans - Maggie Stewart (Paris), Harry Sefton (Priam), H. R. Harwood (Cassandra), Lizzy Bushe (Hecuba); Immortals - Frances Bentley (Hymen), Docy Stewart (Cupid), Greeks - Charles Coutts (Agamemnon), George Collier (Menelaus), Alice Bray (Achilles), Blanche Bray (Ajax Telamon), Louisa Coppin (Ajax Oileus), Kate Douglas (Idomeneus); Greeks - Ellen Douglas (Diomedes), Agnes Benison (Ulysses), Jessie Newman (Nestor), Richard Stewart (Patroleus), Margie Chester (Helen).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1868
    • Melbourne, Victoria,: R. Bell , 1869 .
      Extent: 34p.
      Note/s:
      • 3rd edition.
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Works about this Work

Theatre Royal : Re-Appearance of Mr Harwood 1869 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 9 August 1869; (p. 5)
— Review of Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 22 August vol. 5 no. 125 (New Series) 1868; (p. 242)
— Review of Willy O'Meara; or, The Days of '98 H. J. D'Emden , 1868 single work drama ; Stage Struck William Dimond , 1835 single work drama ; East Lynne John Oxenford , 1866 single work drama ; Much Ado About Nothing William Shakespeare , 1598 single work drama ; Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre

A review of the performances of H. J. D'Ebden's 'Willy O'Meara', William Dimond's Stage Struck and John Oxenford's East Lynne at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, and of William Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing and W. M. Akhurst's Siege of Troy at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, August 1868.
Our Letter Home 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Australasian , 20 June (New Series) vol. 4 no. 116 1868; (p. 786)

'Our Letter Home' includes information on a range of political and social matters. Included among the latter is a report on Walter Montgomery's farewell performances and W. M. Akhurst's Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy at the Theatre Royal, and on the various theatrical offerings at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre (where James Stark was appearing) and at the Varieties (where Grace Egerton and George Case were appearing).
The Theatre, &c. 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 30 May vol. 4 no. 113 (New Series) 1868; (p. 690)
— Review of Not a Bad Judge James Robinson Planche , 1848 single work drama ; The Iron Chest George Colman (The Younger) , 1796 single work drama ; Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre ; Asmodeus, the Little Demon; Or, The Devil's Share Thomas Archer , 1843 single work drama ; The Creole; Or, Love's Letters Shirley Brooks , 1847 single work drama

A review of the performances of James Robinson Planche's Not a Bad Judge, George Colman's The Iron Chest and W. M. Akhurst's The Siege of Troy at the Theatre Royal Melbourne, and of Thomas Archer's Asmodeus and Shirley Brooks's The Creole at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, May 1868
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 18 April vol. 4 no. 107 (New Series) 1868; (p. 498)
— Review of Caste Thomas William Robertson , 1867 single work drama ; Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre

A review of the April 1868 Duke of Edinburgh Theatre production of Thomas William Robertson's Caste and the Theatre Royal's production of William Akhurst's burlesque Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair.
'The Siege of Troy' at the Royal 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 13 April 1868; (p. 5)
— Review of Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre
The Easter Burlesque 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 13 April 1868; (p. 5)
— Review of Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre
Theatre Royal : Re-Appearance of Mr Harwood 1869 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 9 August 1869; (p. 5)
— Review of Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 18 April vol. 4 no. 107 (New Series) 1868; (p. 498)
— Review of Caste Thomas William Robertson , 1867 single work drama ; Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre

A review of the April 1868 Duke of Edinburgh Theatre production of Thomas William Robertson's Caste and the Theatre Royal's production of William Akhurst's burlesque Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair.
The Theatre, &c. 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 30 May vol. 4 no. 113 (New Series) 1868; (p. 690)
— Review of Not a Bad Judge James Robinson Planche , 1848 single work drama ; The Iron Chest George Colman (The Younger) , 1796 single work drama ; Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair ; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy W. M. Akhurst , 1868 single work musical theatre ; Asmodeus, the Little Demon; Or, The Devil's Share Thomas Archer , 1843 single work drama ; The Creole; Or, Love's Letters Shirley Brooks , 1847 single work drama

A review of the performances of James Robinson Planche's Not a Bad Judge, George Colman's The Iron Chest and W. M. Akhurst's The Siege of Troy at the Theatre Royal Melbourne, and of Thomas Archer's Asmodeus and Shirley Brooks's The Creole at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, May 1868
Our Letter Home 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Australasian , 20 June (New Series) vol. 4 no. 116 1868; (p. 786)

'Our Letter Home' includes information on a range of political and social matters. Included among the latter is a report on Walter Montgomery's farewell performances and W. M. Akhurst's Paris the Prince and Helen the Fair; Or, The Giant Horse and the Siege of Troy at the Theatre Royal, and on the various theatrical offerings at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre (where James Stark was appearing) and at the Varieties (where Grace Egerton and George Case were appearing).
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (7)

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 10 Oct 2014 06:33:38
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