y separately published work icon Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Issue Details: First known date: 1867... 1867 Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

A burlesque extravaganza and pantomime in six scenes with songs and dances to both operatic and popular tunes, the 1867 production featured Shakespearian parodies and topical references to the Prince of Wales' recent tour, Victorian politics, and the local theatre industry.

The story begins with the magician Allsortsofvice, chatelaine of the castle Toorakanruin, being defeated by the Fairy Queen and condemned to be a gardener to her daughter, Mary Mary. He falls for the daughter (in a Richard III burlesque), but she is, of course, in love with Tom Tom. The hero is imprisoned, however, for stealing a pig to feed his destitute parents. Mary Mary inspires Tom Tom to study while incarcerated, and he later imbibes history in a Grand Procession of the Sovereigns of England.

According to reviews of the Melbourne production, this was the most extravagant scene (with scenic artist John Hennings presenting the 'Hall of History'), an exhibition of the 'Good Child's History of England'. 'The scene was that of a large magnificent apartment at the further end of which stood a large open book of the History of England', writes the Argus critic. 'It is from this book that Mary Mary undertakes to teach Tom Tom the history of his country. This is done by allowing the kings and queens of England, personated by little children suitably attired in the characteristic costume of the monarchs represented, to issue one by one from the book, the leaves of which are turned for that purpose'. The list commenced with William the Conqueror and finished with Queen Victoria (27 December 1866, p.6).

The remainder of the plot concerns Allsortsofvice and his ally Belformosa attempting to bring Tom Tom down, but to no avail. The story concludes with Tom Tom becoming mayor, and the pantomime then closes with the traditional transformation scene and harlequinade.

Notes

  • The 1869 Sydney production had its localisations updated from Akhurst's original pantomime by an unidentified author. Although it still featured the procession of English monarchs, there was no overt reference to the Prince of Wales tour, which had been undertaken around the time of the original production.

Production Details

  • 1867: Theatre Royal, Melbourne, 26 December 1867 - 23 January 1868.

    • Lessee J. C. Lambert; Music Arranger B. Levy; Assistant Manager Henry R. Harwood; Stage Manager Mr Vincent; Scenic Art John Hennings, Alfred Clint and Richard Little; Director of Harlequinade John L. Hall; Costumes Mde Jager ; Troupe Royal Star Company.
    • Cast incl. Henry R. Harwood (Tom Tom); Emily Wiseman [Mrs John L. Hall] (Mary Mary); Richard Stewart (Allsortsofvice); Docy Stewart (Belformosa, Queen of the Fairies and Mary Mary's mother); Maggie Stewart (Frustrata, Equerry in Waiting); Mr Monro (Kickmar, the Seneschal); Miss L. Coppin (Chignona); Miss A. Bray (Nunbetta); Miss B. Bray (Duckobonetta); Miss Lloyd (Cosmetica); Miss Chester (Pearlpouda); Miss Lester (Prettypetticoats); Miss Graham (Suchadiri); Miss A. Collins (Corsetta); C. Warde (The Piper); Mr Humphries (The Piper's Wife); Mr Benson (Mr Chittlings); Mr Gladstone (Somerays, a police sergeant); Brothers Seagrist (Sprites); Amazonian Army Privates - Miss T. Collins, Miss A. Wallis, Miss L. Wallis, Miss Maughan, Miss Crawford, Miss Reilly, Miss Carolan, Miss Graham; Dregs of Society - Mr Murphy, Mr Wyatt, Mr Lowman, Mr Smith, Mr Bond; Harlequinade - J. H. Flexmore (Harlequin), Mdle Nelli (Columbine), J. Morris (Pantaloon), John L. Hall (Clown).
    • 23 performances.

    1869: Prince of Wales Opera House, Sydney, 24 December - 20 January.

    • Director William Hoskins; Music Arranger W. Rice; Scenic Art Alfred Clint and Andrew Torning; Costumes Mrs Stapleton; Chorus Henry Leopold ; Comic Scenes Tom Leopold.
    • Cast incl. George Leopold (Tom Tom), Miss Corcoran (Mary Mary), W. Andrews (Allsortsofvice), Henry R. Harwood (Cantankeros, the Prime Minister), Master Albert Leopold (Sydney Punch), Henry Leopold (Harlequine), Tom Leopold, Kate Ryder, Fraulein Fannie [Mrs Tom Leopold] (Columbine), Blanche Leopold, J. J. Welsh, James Hasker (Pantaloon).
    • 20 performances.

    1870: Theatre Royal, Adelaide; 21-25 March

    • Producer/Lessee Hennings, Stewart, Harwood and Coppin; Scenic Art John Hennings, Charles Fry and Assistants.
    • Troupe: Royal Burlesque Company.
    • Cast incl. H. R. Harwood (Tom Tom), Maggie Stewart (Mary Mary), Harry Sefton (The Piper), George Collier (Piper's Wife), Mr Chops (Pork Butcher), Docy Stewart (Belformosa), Mr Brown (Kickmar), Ellen Douglas (Pearlpowda), Richard Stewart (Allsortsofvice), Blanche Bray (Duccofabonnetie), Alice Bray (Nunbetta), Louisa Coppin (Chignon) Teresa Collins (Suchaderi), Lizzie Collins (Corsetta), Jessie Newman (Prettypetticoats), Kate Douglas (Firstrata), Agnes Benison (Cosmetica).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Works about this Work

Victorian Pantomimes Joan Maslen , 1972 single work criticism
— Appears in: La Trobe Library Journal , October vol. 3 no. 10 1972; (p. 42-47)
The Prince of Wales Theatre 1869 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 25 December 1869; (p. 4)
— Review of Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England W. M. Akhurst , 1867 single work musical theatre
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 25 January vol. 4 no. 95 (New Series) 1868; (p. 113-114)
— Review of Pizarro, A Tragedy Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan , 1799 single work drama ; Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England W. M. Akhurst , 1867 single work musical theatre

An extensive report on the Lyster Opera Troupe is followed by reviews of the productions of Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan's Pizarro, a Tragedy and the 'burlesque portion' of W. M. Akhurst's Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary; or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England at the Theatre Royal.

Jaques' theatre round-up concludes with some comments on the performances of the Japanese acrobatic troupe at the Princess's Theatre.
The Theatres, &c. 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Australasian , 18 January vol. 4 no. 94 (New Series) 1868; (p. 82)

Jaques writes at length on the operas being performed in Melbourne before turning his attention to the theatre. Jacques briefly notes the productions of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's Pizarro and William Akhurst's Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary; or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England. He then discusses the accomplishments of the Japanese acrobatic troupe, and the literary readings delivered by Walter Montgomery.

Lastly, Jaques comments on progress in establishing a 'Dramatic College' in Melbourne with contributions towards the fund coming from 'the Galatea amateurs', George Selth Coppin, and the proceeds of readings by G. V. Brooke.
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 11 January vol. 4 no. 93 (New Series) 1868; (p. 50)
— Review of Which Is Which? W. B. Gill , 1868 single work drama ; Galatea Secunda [Cantata] R. H. Horne , 1867 single work lyric/song ; Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England W. M. Akhurst , 1867 single work musical theatre

Jaques comments on the new vocalists who have recently joined the Lyster Opera Troupe and on the troupe's production of Verdi's Ernani. He then reviews the production of W. B. Gill's Which Is Which at the Haymarket Theatre, noting that if 'Mr. Gill will give some attention to farce-writing, and will take local materials to work up, he may both profit himself and amuse the public.'

Jaques also remarks on a musical concert at the Exhibition Hall, at which the principal item in the program was 'Mr. Summers's new cantata, "Galatea Secunda", the words of which have been written by Mr. R. H. H. Horne'; on Grace Egerton's amusments; and on W. M. Akhurst's Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England at the Theatre Royal.
The Prince of Wales Theatre 1869 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 25 December 1869; (p. 4)
— Review of Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England W. M. Akhurst , 1867 single work musical theatre
The Pantomime at the Royal 1867 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1867; (p. 6)
— Review of Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England W. M. Akhurst , 1867 single work musical theatre
Theatre Royal 1867 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1867; (p. 6)
— Review of Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England W. M. Akhurst , 1867 single work musical theatre
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 25 January vol. 4 no. 95 (New Series) 1868; (p. 113-114)
— Review of Pizarro, A Tragedy Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan , 1799 single work drama ; Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England W. M. Akhurst , 1867 single work musical theatre

An extensive report on the Lyster Opera Troupe is followed by reviews of the productions of Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan's Pizarro, a Tragedy and the 'burlesque portion' of W. M. Akhurst's Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary; or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England at the Theatre Royal.

Jaques' theatre round-up concludes with some comments on the performances of the Japanese acrobatic troupe at the Princess's Theatre.
The Theatres, &c. Jaques (fl. 1866-1868) , 1868 single work single work review
— Appears in: The Australasian , 11 January vol. 4 no. 93 (New Series) 1868; (p. 50)
— Review of Which Is Which? W. B. Gill , 1868 single work drama ; Galatea Secunda [Cantata] R. H. Horne , 1867 single work lyric/song ; Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England W. M. Akhurst , 1867 single work musical theatre

Jaques comments on the new vocalists who have recently joined the Lyster Opera Troupe and on the troupe's production of Verdi's Ernani. He then reviews the production of W. B. Gill's Which Is Which at the Haymarket Theatre, noting that if 'Mr. Gill will give some attention to farce-writing, and will take local materials to work up, he may both profit himself and amuse the public.'

Jaques also remarks on a musical concert at the Exhibition Hall, at which the principal item in the program was 'Mr. Summers's new cantata, "Galatea Secunda", the words of which have been written by Mr. R. H. H. Horne'; on Grace Egerton's amusments; and on W. M. Akhurst's Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary ; Or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England at the Theatre Royal.
Victorian Pantomimes Joan Maslen , 1972 single work criticism
— Appears in: La Trobe Library Journal , October vol. 3 no. 10 1972; (p. 42-47)
The Theatres, &c. 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Australasian , 18 January vol. 4 no. 94 (New Series) 1868; (p. 82)

Jaques writes at length on the operas being performed in Melbourne before turning his attention to the theatre. Jacques briefly notes the productions of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's Pizarro and William Akhurst's Tom Tom the Piper's Son, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary; or, Harlequin Piggy Wiggy, and the Good Child's History of England. He then discusses the accomplishments of the Japanese acrobatic troupe, and the literary readings delivered by Walter Montgomery.

Lastly, Jaques comments on progress in establishing a 'Dramatic College' in Melbourne with contributions towards the fund coming from 'the Galatea amateurs', George Selth Coppin, and the proceeds of readings by G. V. Brooke.
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (8)

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 4 Sep 2014 10:30:21
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