Cirrus@Austlit

Described as an 'original extravaganza' on the Turandot theme, with songs, ballet, lavish spectacle, transformation scene, and harlequinade, the pantomime was written expressly for the Opera House by Garnet Walch. The production also contained numerous references to the current Melbourne scene, personalities, and issues (including Free Trade and Protection, strikes, and railways). The Age theatre critic records that while many of the topical hits furnished a good deal of fun for the audience, 'the impression left by the first performance [was] that the majority of the puns [were] far fetched and the brilliancy of [Walch's] wit obscured' (24 December 1874, p.4).

The story begins in the Royal Observatory near the city of Romanta, where Phokuss, the Royal Astronomer, has been commanded by the king to forecast the wedding day of his daughter, Princess Adamanta. An upholder of women's rights, the young woman does not believe in marriage, much to the consternation of her parents and the court. Complications arise when a declaration of war is made between Venus (Goddess of Love and Beauty) and Argentiextenibronides (the Spirit of Evil). Venus believes that all the princess needs is to find love, and decides that a hungry traveller, the Pilgrim of Love, will be her champion. Knowing that he will be in danger, she gives the pilgrim magic tokens that help protect him on his quest. Argentiextenibronides, in the meantime, orchestrates a plan that sees the Court Riddler put forward a challenge, the winner gaining the hand of the princess. Six suitors 'bearing extraordinary resemblance to well-known Melbourne celebrities' are beheaded for failing to guess the answers to riddles. According to the Age, these personalities included Mr Butters, the ex-king of Fiji, a well-known bookmaker, the Commissioner of Customs, a popular Collins-street doctor, and the importer of the first donkey. Not surprisingly, the pilgrim succeeds in answering the riddle. Intrigued, the princess attempts to find out his identity, but she is not the only one interested. Argentiextenibronides is also angered by the pilgrim's victory and he has his demons torture Phlunki so that they can find out who he is. When Phlunki accidentally reveals the pilgrim's name, both he and the pilgrim are imprisoned, along with Phokuss. All ends happily, however, when the princess realises she loves the mysterious stranger and announces that she will marry him. This leads to the Transit of Venus and the transformation scene, titled 'Vision of Ecstatic Bliss'.

The musical aspects of the production saw numerous popular songs introduced, along with incidental compositions by John Hill and a number of operatic airs. Advertising for the pantomime claimed, too, that 'for the first time in the annals of Australian Theatricals a full operatic orchestra and chorus [would be used] thus rendering the work as complete from a musical point of view' (Age 24 December 1874, p.4).

The harlequinade was played out in three scenes: Scene 1 Stafford's Sewing Machine Warehouse, Scene 2 The Interior of a Lodging House, and Scene 3 The Grotto of Despair.