Issue Details: First known date: 1866... 1866 The Four Champions ; Or, Harlequin of the Crystal Globe and the Spirits of the Demon Dell
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Adapted from Henry Bellingham and William Best's burlesque Princess Primrose and the Four Pretty Princes, which had been staged in London for the first time in January the same year. The Argus records that The Four Champions had 'local subjects plentifully interspersed and liberally treated by everybody' (24 December 1866, p.8), while the Age critic writes that 'The local hits introduced, and their name was legion, were generally smart and pungent. Mr Greville's song is not, however, framed so as to hit the most polite taste' (24 December 1866, p.5).

The story concerns Princess Primrose, the daughter of King Ninnyhammer, who was abducted as an infant by the Fairy Queen, Beautee. Now seventeen, the princess is to be escorted back to her father on the Fairy Queen's orders, accompanied by four champions: Amrus (devoted to the fairer sex), Turfi (a sporting man), Hassard (a gambler), and Pecki (a gourmand). In the meantime, however, the ruffian Dubbuldeye conceives a plan to foist his daughter Redwig on the king and claim that she is his missing daughter. In order to carry out his plan, he entreats the aid of the Demon Uglee and his attendant spirits of the Demon Dell. Thus, Princess Primrose and her four champions are waylaid by Dubbuldeye and his supernatural associates. To further complicate matters, the champions are lured from their task during their sleep by other spirits. Left unprotected, the princess and the champions' valet Zimon are abducted by Uglee and sent to a distant land, where the young girl is to be offered for sale as a slave. With the real princess out of the way, Dudduldeye presents his daughter to the king. The champions, by this time, have escaped and arrive at the court to announce Redwig as a fake. The king demands they prove their allegation and holds two of the champions (Pecki and Hassard) as hostages. His command is that the other two must return within twelve months or their friends will lose their heads. The princess is saved from slavery through the Fairy Queen's inexhaustible purse and she arrives back at her father's palace just in time to save her friends.

Production Details

  • 1866: Royal Haymarket, Melbourne, 22 December 1866 - 11 January 1867.

    • Manager George Coppin ; Music Arranger Frederick Coppin; Scenic Art J. H. Flexmore and Henry Holmes (Transformation Scene - Mr Fry); Stage Manager J. R. Greville; Costumes Mrs Hancock and Mrs Crouch; Chorus Mr Samwells and J. H. Flexmore.
    • Cast incl. Mrs J. R. Greville (Prince Amrus), Miss Montague (Prince Turfi), Kate Corcoran (Prince Pecki), Miss Bush (Prince Hassard), Garry George (Queen Beautee), G. H. Rogers (King Ninnyhammer), Julia Milne (Princess Primrose), H. Daniels (Dubbuldeye), W. B. Gill (Zimple Zimon); Spirits of the Demon Dell: J. R. Greville (Uglee), Mr Williams (Squint), Mr Thompson (Fright), Mr McIver (Face), Mr Clare (Pimple), Master Herbert (Spirit of the Ring), Fred Leotard (Spirit of Love), R. H. Nelson (Spirit of the Table), John Lauri (Spirit of Specs); Attendent Fairies - Miss Noble (Brunette), Blanche Bray (Golden Blonde), Miss Rogers (Lovely Black), Louisa Bray (Pretty Blue), Miss Carey (Merry Eye), Alice Bray (Roguish Twinkler), Mrs Woolridge (Redwig); King Ninnyhammer's Court - Mr Merton (Marquis Whine), Mr Train (Lord Grumble), Richard Stewart (Justice Sniff), Mr Phillips (Duke of Snivel), Mr Dybold (The Honourable Mr Groan), Mr Clarke (Count Whimper), T. Noble (Caliph Roli Poli), Mr Granati, Mr Newton, Mr Burns, Mr Finch; Harlequinade - J. H. Flexmore (Harlequin), H. Stanley (Pantaloon), Leon Samwells (Clown), Kate Corcoran (Harlequina), Julia Milne (Columbine).
    • 17 performances.
    • Presented as a double-bill programme, along with Frederick of Prussia.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

The Pantomime at the Haymarket 1866 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 24 December 1866; (p. 5)

— Review of The Four Champions ; Or, Harlequin of the Crystal Globe and the Spirits of the Demon Dell 1866 single work musical theatre
Haymarket Theatre : The Christmas Pantomime 1866 single work review
— Appears in: Argus , 24 December 1866; (p. 5)

— Review of The Four Champions ; Or, Harlequin of the Crystal Globe and the Spirits of the Demon Dell 1866 single work musical theatre
Haymarket Theatre : The Christmas Pantomime 1866 single work review
— Appears in: Argus , 24 December 1866; (p. 5)

— Review of The Four Champions ; Or, Harlequin of the Crystal Globe and the Spirits of the Demon Dell 1866 single work musical theatre
The Pantomime at the Haymarket 1866 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 24 December 1866; (p. 5)

— Review of The Four Champions ; Or, Harlequin of the Crystal Globe and the Spirits of the Demon Dell 1866 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 28 Mar 2014 16:12:30
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