image of person or book cover 4443648904820814143.jpg
Source: Sydney Morning Herald 24 December 1873, p.10.
y separately published work icon Harlequin Man in the Moon ; Or, Luna the Lovely, Phaeton the Fair and the Hagravating Hag Hof the Hupper Hatmosphere single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy   science fiction  
Issue Details: First known date: 1873... 1873 Harlequin Man in the Moon ; Or, Luna the Lovely, Phaeton the Fair and the Hagravating Hag Hof the Hupper Hatmosphere
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Written expressly for the occasion by the lessee of the theatre, Mr W. B. Gill,' Harlequin Man in the Moon is a pantomime with songs set to operatic and other music which is said to have introduced 'any amount of local jokes, squibs and pasquinades' (Sydney Morning Herald 27 December 1878, p.5).

The narrative sees Queen Luna set to be ousted from her kingdom by Larrikinos, late of a Woolloomooloo push, unless she marries somebody more powerful than herself. He is controlled by Malignanta, a witch. Luna rejects Larrikonos's crass advances and falls instead for Prince Phaeton. Malignanta conjures up the future in a prolonged burlesque of Macbeth with heads of contemporaries including Walter Cooper. The wedding is interrupted by Larrikinos and his troops but Fairy Glistena routs them. Luna later introduces Phaeton to her Parliament, but to much abuse. The Premier (Henry Parkes) gives a speech indicating that self-interest should be an MLA's first aim. Luna responds with a speech suggesting that 'if manners such as these disgrace our seats, no wonder larrikins infest our streets.' The MLA's meet their match when Larrikinos returns, and the sun king Splendacious oversees a happy ending.

Advertising in the Sydney Morning Herald records that the pantomime was 'an entirely new and original burlesque stuffed full of local hits at existing shams - absurdities in low life and high' (20 December 1873, p.4). Topical references and local allusions known to have been incorporated focused on the Sydney scene, politics, personalities, and issues such as lawyers, Wentworth, and Buchanan's Divorce Bill.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

Production Details

  • 1873: Queen's Theatre, Sydney; 24 December 1873 - 16 January 1874.

    • Director/Producer/Lessee W. B. Gill; Scenic Art W. J. Wilson; Music Arranger W. Radcliffe; Choreographer E. McLean; Costumes Mrs Stapleton.
    • Cast incl. W. B. Gill, Mrs W. B. Gill (Prince Phaeton), Maggie Oliver, H. A. Douglass (Henry), Lizzie Dixon (Glistena), W. H. Seagrave (Honest Jack), Oliver "Olly" Deering (Malgnants), James Hasker, Mr Martin, Miss Chambers, Miss Horton; Harlequinade: E. McLean (Harlequin), Mrs E. McLean (Columbine 1), Amy Chambers (Columbine 2), Oliver 'Olly' Deering (Clown), Master Murphy (Mephistophelian Sprite), Master Milano (Monkey Sprite), Joe Tolano (Policeman X1873).
    • Principal scenes from the pantomime were also presented on 29 January 1874.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Theatre Royal 1873 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1873; (p. 6)

— Review of Harlequin Man in the Moon ; Or, Luna the Lovely, Phaeton the Fair and the Hagravating Hag Hof the Hupper Hatmosphere W. B. Gill , 1873 single work musical theatre
Theatre Royal 1873 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1873; (p. 6)

— Review of Harlequin Man in the Moon ; Or, Luna the Lovely, Phaeton the Fair and the Hagravating Hag Hof the Hupper Hatmosphere W. B. Gill , 1873 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
Last amended 1 Apr 2014 07:05:18
X