L'Africaine ; Or, The Fickle Geographer and the Fair Aboriginal single work   musical theatre   burlesque   humour  
Adaptation of L'Africaine Eugene Scribe , 1865 single work musical theatre
Issue Details: First known date: 1866... 1866 L'Africaine ; Or, The Fickle Geographer and the Fair Aboriginal
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Written expressly for the touring Christy's Minstrels troupe, this operatic burlesque is based on A. E. Scribe and G. Meyerbeer's opera L'Africaine (The African Girl) depicting fictional events in the life of the explorer Vasco da Gama. The opera itself had been staged in Sydney for the first time in May that year (Prince of Wales Theatre), and had been given a Melbourne season prior to the Christy's burlesque production in that city.

In critiquing Akhurst's role in adapting the work, the Age theatre critic writes, 'The local hits were racy and pungent.... [and] the music of the opera has, in some instances, been adhered to' (13 August 1866, p.5). The Bell's Life in Victoria critic agreed, noting, 'The new burlesque is almost too faithful a copy of the original and it is little short of sacrilege to smuggle the music of Meyerbeer into such a laughable travesty. The adapter has shown great talent in being able to present such a grand work in such comical guise... The dialogue sparkles with local witticisms' (18 August 1866, p.2).

The character of Sélika is portrayed in the burlesque as an Aboriginal woman.

Production Details

  • 1866: Polytechnic Hall, Melbourne, 11-24 August and 1 September.

    • Troupe Christy's Minstrels.
    • Cast incl. Geraldine Warden, Mr Abecco, Thomas H. Rainford, E. Harvey, R. Sandford, H. Raynor, H. Leslie.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Editorial 1866 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 13 August 1866; (p. 5)

— Review of L'Africaine ; Or, The Fickle Geographer and the Fair Aboriginal W. M. Akhurst , 1866 single work musical theatre
The Metropolitan Stage 1866 single work review
— Appears in: Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle , 18 August vol. 11 no. 433 1866; (p. 2)

— Review of L'Africaine ; Or, The Fickle Geographer and the Fair Aboriginal W. M. Akhurst , 1866 single work musical theatre
The News of the Day 1866 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 13 August 1866; (p. 5)

— Review of L'Africaine ; Or, The Fickle Geographer and the Fair Aboriginal W. M. Akhurst , 1866 single work musical theatre
The News of the Day 1866 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 13 August 1866; (p. 5)

— Review of L'Africaine ; Or, The Fickle Geographer and the Fair Aboriginal W. M. Akhurst , 1866 single work musical theatre
The Metropolitan Stage 1866 single work review
— Appears in: Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle , 18 August vol. 11 no. 433 1866; (p. 2)

— Review of L'Africaine ; Or, The Fickle Geographer and the Fair Aboriginal W. M. Akhurst , 1866 single work musical theatre
Editorial 1866 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 13 August 1866; (p. 5)

— Review of L'Africaine ; Or, The Fickle Geographer and the Fair Aboriginal 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 9 Oct 2014 13:14:32
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