Comic Opera (in three acts).
Fayette is said to be loosely based on incidents that occurred during the Victorian gold rush era. Its story tells of a digger who goes to Melbourne to celebrate striking it lucky and while there invites a variety troupe to return with him to the goldfields. 'The only return that he asks the troupe for their passage to the diggings is that they shall keep him amused on the way'. At the close of one of their little plays, which they call 'Bush Revels,' the company spot a dazed and aimless traveler coming towards them and decide to play a trick on him. They leave their camp with all sorts of good things (including champagne) in plain sight and conceal themselves in the undergrowth to watch. Thinking he is hallucinating, a situation made worse by the fact that he becomes a little drunk, the traveller looks into a mirror and sees the reflection of what he thinks is an angel. The vision, which causes him to collapse, is only that of one of the actresses who has sneaked up behind him. When he regains consciousness the traveller continues on to the diggings where he soon has an extraordinary change of luck and becomes a wealthy man. Unable to get the angel out of his mind he refuses to look at any women lest their faces distort his memory of her image. His friends rally around him and find the antidote to his misery by replaying the camp scene to him (essentially a play within a play). When he looks into the mirror once again and sees the features that have enchanted him he is cured. The play ends with word coming to him that he has struck an even richer vein of gold. By now content ('his spirit love has become a mortal fact') - he tells his mates to share the find (Table Talk 12 February 1892, pp.5-6).
Subtitled 'An Original Comic Opera in Three Acts' the first (and perhaps only) staging of Fayette was in Brisbane in 1892 when it was presented at a benefit for its composer G. B. Allen. With a cast of principal singers numbering almost twenty, and a chorus of forty, the rehearsals began well over a month prior to its premiere. Such a long pre-production period (unusual for an essentially amateur production) had been forced upon it after the initial performance date was cancelled due to wild Queensland storms. The extra time afforded its cast and musicians is perhaps one reason for the largely positive reviews of the production. The musicians were also said to be the best available in Brisbane at the time.
The songs known to have been composed for the opera are: 'In Such an Hour' (duet), 'If this it is to Dream' (aria) and 'We are Spendthrift Prodigals.' One particular criticism of the musical score, however, was the 'great absence of chorus singing.' The Brisbane Courier review records, for example : 'The music as a whole is bright, sparkling and attractive... it needs the finishing stroke of the master's hand here and there, particularly as regards the orchestration, which is palpably weak in many places' (24 Mar. 1892, p5). With regard to the libretto, the same critic records : 'the scenes portrayed are purely Australian and for that reason it appeals to the sympathies of all colonial audiences; but it may fairly be asked whether it was worth while to include in it colloquialisms which do not redound to the credit of our country... [however], both libretto and music are a credit alike to the authors and to the colony with which they are associated' (p5).
A professional production was to be staged in Sydney at the Opera House from the 17th February 1900. The season was cancelled, however, apparently due to the sudden and serious indisposition of leading man Howard Vernon (the production and cast details as published prior to the cancellation are presented below ).
1892 : Centennial Hall, Brisbane; 23 March (benefit). Cond. G. B. Allen. - Cast incl. Mrs Kelly, Mrs Menser, Mrs Robinson, Mrs Lewis, Mrs Pole, Miss Gardner, C. R. Jones, Denbigh Newton, Mr McSwaine, Mr Alpin, Mr Hausemann, Mr Yorston, Mr Stewart, J. Faulds, W. Kaye. - Musicians incl. R. T. Jefferies (Orchestra Leader), Mrs Buzzacott (harp). A public recital/dress rehearsal was held on 22 March.
1900 : Opera House, Sydney; 17 February (season cancelled). Cast was to include Julie Davies, Howard Vernon, Maud Hewson, Alice Howard Vernon, Frank H. Weekes.