Cirrus@Austlit

Described as a 'Christmas Grotesque' with songs to operatic and other music, the story begins in Shades Tavern and Unlicensed Spirit Vaults, where Larrikinos, the Demon of Discord, is attempting to brew a new batch of trouble in his cauldron. In order to make a proper broth, some of the contents of the Melbourne gutters, the Times and Mines newspaper, and mining prospectuses are thrown into the pot. A band of fairies enter disguised as witches. Their Queen, Alphabetta, changes the cauldron into a bowl of punch before driving the demons off. She then foretells that Larrikinos's schemes will be defeated.

The audience is introduced to Bluebeard as he is about to have a bath in preparation for his marriage to the beautiful Fatima (who will be his twelfth wife). Finding the water too hot for his liking, he demonstrates his tyrannical personality by boiling a score of attendants for his own amusement. The next scene, set in the abode of virtue, sees Fatima (who is really in love with the handsome Selim) being led against her will to her wedding. Following the nuptials, Bluebeard carries her off triumphantly to his castle. Meanwhile, Selim is filled with despair at his loss. Not long after being taken to Bluebeard's castle, Fatima, left alone while her husband away, opens the mysterious Blue Chamber against his express command. When Bluebeard returns and finds out that his new wife has disobeyed him, he is furious and orders her execution. As Bluebeard sharpens his sword in preparation for his bride's beheading, Selim and his two brothers enter the castle and rescue Fatima, after first defeating the tyrant in a 'terrific' scene of combat. This leads to a grand transformation scene.

The settings and effects were as follows:

Scene 1. The placid lakes of pure delight.

Scene 2. The grotto of crystaline columns.

Scene 3. The boudoir of lace.

Scene 4. The corridor of illuminated statues.

Scene 5. The pavilion of flora and Arcadian avenues (including feast of ferns, fruits and flowers).

Scene 6. The temple of jewels enshrining the rainbow cataract and cascade of liquid light.

The harlequinade was followed by a scene titled Christmas in Old England, which was followed in turn by scenes in the realms of darkness and the grand finale of the halls of dazzling delight and realms of bliss.

The pantomime contained many topical and local references, including the Melbourne scene, personalities, and issues such as the Education Bill, water conservation, Victorian railways, and the corruption of liquor licensing. The harlequinade was also played out in various local settings, notably the Prince of Wales Hotel and a well-known pawnbroker's.