y separately published work icon Snow White ; Or, Harlequin King Kokahoop and the Damsel Who Never Saw a Glass single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Issue Details: First known date: 1875... 1875 Snow White ; Or, Harlequin King Kokahoop and the Damsel Who Never Saw a Glass
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Described as a terpsichoric, romantic, operatic fairy extravaganza and adapted from F. C. Burnand's original extravaganza, John Bennett's production of Snow White at Sydney's Royal Victoria Theatre, is said to have been 'localised by a gentleman whose name does not appear in the bills and who has studded it with local puns and jokes from one end to the other.' The Sydney Morning Herald critic writes further:

The plot is of that mysterious indefinite nature peculiar to burlesque and extravaganza. There is of course, a king and a queen. Equally of course the king is a tyrant abroad and henpecked at home, and the queen is a vixen of the first water. Kings and queens are always thus - in extravaganza. Then there are two princes - one is good - the other is not. This is equally a matter of course. Then there is a damsel, who having been brought up by wood nymphs, grows up to the age of twenty without ever having been aware of the existence of the sterner sex, and so ignorant of her charms that she has never beheld her 'counterfeit presentment' in a mirror. There are also the usual courtiers, conspirators, a 'man of mystery,' Ozoherit - a scandalous fellow - and fairies in abundance (28 December 1875, p.5).

The production's advertised scenes (painted by William Burbury) were: 1. The Illuminated Garden of King Kokahoop's Palace; 2. The Fairy Glen; 3. The Floral Retreat of the Wood Nymphs and Home of Snow-white; 4. Exterior of King Kokahoop's Palace; 5. The Hall of Mirrors; and 6. Interior of King Kokahoop's Castle.

These were followed by a Grand Transformation Scene made up of a series of tableaus pained by J. R. Setright: 1. Ugolini's Cavern; 2. Galatea's Abode; 3. Australian Flora; 4. Fairy Pagoda; 5. Silver Conservatory; and 6. the Glittering Gorgeous Galaxy of Oriental Splendour (Sydney Morning Herald 27 December 1875, p.8).

Snow White's musical elements, arranged by Walter Rice, comprised selections from various operas and operettas, along with some re-worded versions of well-known ballads (including "The Skidamore Guards). The works named in advertising are: Les Brigands (1870), Chilperic (1868), Princess of Trebizonde (1890), Girofle, Girofla (1832), Grand Duchess (1867), Satanella (1758), Maritana (1845), Les Pres St Gervais (1862) and La Perichole (1829).


[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

Notes

  • Research undertaken for the Annotated Calendar of Plays has identified E. Lewis Scott as the "unnamed" localiser.
  • Advertising and reviews in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1875 often incorrectly refer to the the originator of the pantomime as J. H. Burnand.


Production Details

  • 1875: Victoria Theatre, Sydney; 27 December 1875 - 15 January 1876

    • Producer/Lessee John Bennett; Stage Manager B. N. Jones; Music Arranger Walter Rice; Scenic Art. J. R. Setright, William Burbury;
    • Cast incl. Emma Wangenheim (Snow White), Annie Lyons (Prince Goldenheart), J. J. Welsh (King Kokahoop), J. A. South (Queen Vandakita), Flora Anstead (Prince Sapling), Lizzie Dixon (Rimmillino), J. P. Hydes (Ozokerit), J. Flexmore (Harlequin), Miss Courtenay (Lollabout), Mr Dean (Banco), Mr Addison (Vocalino), Miss L. Cassidy (Portemonnaie), Mr Maguire (Choppitoff), The Masters Perman (The Four Coloureds), Clara Wilson (Extravanaga), Cissy Lloyd (Floraline), Miss Marsh (Heatherbelle), Lillia Holmes (Zephyrina), Joe Tolano (Idlefoot), Jessie Dixon (Waratah), Miss A. Marsh (Native Rose), Miss Murray (Trumpet Flower), Miss Cooper (Cornstalk), Miss Braasham (Geebung), Miss Knox (Fivecorner), Miss Harris (Lily), Miss Buckland (Violet), Mr Albert; Harlequinade - J. A. South (Clown), Joe Tolano (Pantaloon), J. H. Flexmore (Harlequin), Lizzie Dixon (Columbine).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Pantomimes : Victoria Theatre, The 1875 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 28 December 1875; (p. 5)

— Review of Snow White ; Or, Harlequin King Kokahoop and the Damsel Who Never Saw a Glass E. Lewis Scott , 1875 single work musical theatre
Pantomimes : Victoria Theatre, The 1875 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 28 December 1875; (p. 5)

— Review of Snow White ; Or, Harlequin King Kokahoop and the Damsel Who Never Saw a Glass E. Lewis Scott , 1875 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

Details have also been derived in part from the Annotated Calendar of Plays Premiered in Australia: 1870-1890.

Last amended 6 Sep 2019 14:23:21
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