The Enchanted Isle single work   musical theatre   burlesque   humour  
Adaptation of The Enchanted Isle William Brough , Robert Brough , 1848 single work musical theatre
Issue Details: First known date: 1859... 1859 The Enchanted Isle
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Written in verse and containing songs and dances, this localised burlesque was adapted from William and Robert Brough's extravaganza The Enchanted Isle, or, Raising the Wind on the Most Approved Principles (1848), itself a burlesque of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

One of the features of the production was George Fawcett's impersonation of 'a well-known medical practitioner' (Age 25 Apr. 1859, n. pag.). A critic writing for Bell's Life in Victoria records, 'Mr Fawcett... gives the jokes entrusted to him with solemn gravity. He has refined, in some degree, upon the design of the authors, and identifies himself very funnily with a person in our local pill interest. The hits levelled at the individual in question are racy, although they occasionally approach the broad in their reference to the aperient qualities of the vegetable specific which is profusely commended by its inventor to the Victorian stomach.' Concerning the other local hits, the critic goes on to write, 'Many of them are cleverly strung together and judiciously interpolated' (30 April 1859, p.2).

A similarly titled pantomime written by Thomas Pavey (and subtitled Harlequin the Mysterious Prince and the Magician Father) is not believed to be related to Rowe's burlesque. The Pavey production was staged in Melbourne in December of the same year as Rowe's burlesque.

Notes

  • 1859: Princess's Theatre, Melbourne, 25 April - 7 May.

    • Music Arranger Mr Kohler ; Scenic Art John Hennings.
    • Cast incl. George Fawcett (Prospero), Harry Sefton, Miss Herbert (Ariel), Miss Green, Harry Jackson, Mr Jackson (Caliban).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

The News of the day 1859 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 26 April 1859; (p. 5)

— Review of The Enchanted Isle George Fawcett , 1859 single work musical theatre
Princess's 1859 single work review
— Appears in: Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle , 30 April 1859; (p. 2)

— Review of The Enchanted Isle George Fawcett , 1859 single work musical theatre
Princess's 1859 single work review
— Appears in: Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle , 30 April 1859; (p. 2)

— Review of The Enchanted Isle George Fawcett , 1859 single work musical theatre
The News of the day 1859 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 26 April 1859; (p. 5)

— Review of The Enchanted Isle George Fawcett , 1859 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: 1850-1869.

Last amended 9 Oct 2014 12:49:42
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