Cirrus@Austlit

The Age theatre critic wrote of Garnet Walch's revised version of his 1878 pantomime:

'At one time it is said that pantomimes used to have plots, but then it is alleged about almost everything that some time or another it had something which it has not got now. For our part, we are heartily glad that any semblance of a connected story in pantomime has long been voted unnecessary, and we join with those who like to see Mr Stanley, the railway management, sewerage schemes and prodigious sly hits at social evils blended in delightful harmony with the story of Jack the giant killer' (26 December 1891, p.10).

As the review goes on to record, Walch's treatment of the famous fairytale included numerous hits at local and topical subjects. One particularly popular segment was apparently a burlesque of Mr Stanley's recent lecture at the Opera House, which the critic described as 'an admirable piece of foolery conceived of in an Artemus Wardean strain [that] so tickled the house that it was some minutes before the performance could go on'. Local scenes included in the Grand Harlequinade were 'A Street in Melbourne' and 'A Well-Known Spot.'

The instrumental and vocal music was either composed or arranged by H. Percy Kehoe, with the non-original compositions including some of the more popular airs of the day. The Age review notes, too, that one of the many good songs performed by Aggie Kelton was 'Sparkling Wine' (sung with the chorus). A topical duet, 'I Vote for That', and the 'Ballet De La Rage' were also viewed as being among the show's highlights. The latter is said to have been 'planned on an elaborate scale [with] some truly gorgeous dance movements' (p.10).