Cirrus@Austlit

Opening with a representation of the Hall of Commerce, complete with a large emu and kangaroo ('which moved about in a natural yet grotesque manner, to the delight of the juveniles'), the story concerns Prince Darling (a 'Queensland boy') and the Queensland adventures of Newchumsee, a new arrival in the colonies who expresses his surprise at everything he sees in the most natural manner and gains his colonial experience with plenty of ups and downs. The libretto is said to have been given 'a strong Queensland aspect', while the dialogue

'which was full of good jokes and puns, had reference to chiefly local celebrities, incidents in Chinese digger life amongst the northern aboriginals, and affairs municipal and parliamentary. The evening concluded with a series of views with moving objects, notable amongst which was HMS Serapis on her voyage to India, accompanied by ironclads.' (Brisbane Courier 28 December 1875, p.5).

Other features included the transformation scene (moving from a dismal cave to a pretty fairy scene), the harlequinade (which introduced numerous mechanical deceptions), and the concluding tableau representing Britannia triumphant. Although the musical highlights included 'I'm a Little Queensland Boy' (sung by Rosa Towers) and a doggerel sung with lyrics set to music from Madame Angot (sung by Frank and Rosa Towers), the Brisbane Courier review was not overly impressed with the music programme. 'In some instances', writes the paper's theatre critic, 'they were too lengthy and the impatience displayed by the audience to see the new scenery proved them not acceptable' (p.5).