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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
Especially adapted and localised for Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove by Alfred Maltby, 'the London comedian and litterateur'. The Sydney Morning Herald theatre critic suggests that although it contained the traditional harlequinade (invented and performed by the Faust Family), Sleeping Beauty was more a burlesque than pantomime. 'It is not exactly the kind of pantomime which is best suited to children', writes the critic, even though 'there is no trace of vulgarity in it. Maltby has written a very bright piece, full of puns and smart sayings and comical conceits... [and] for a modern pantomime [it] is a remarkably good one, and should fill the Theatre Royal for many weeks to come' (28 December 1886, p.3). Characters include Prince Austral (the Champion of Federation) and his fairy godmothers, the seven sisters of Australasia.
One of the hits of the production is said to have been 'I'm a Marquis, You Know,' sung by six-year-old Daisy Faust.
Production Details
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1886: Theatre Royal, Sydney, 27 December 1886 - 4 February 1887
- Lessee Samuel Lazar; Producers/Managers Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove; Scenic Art George Gordon.
- Cast incl. Emma Chambers (Prince Austral), Amy Horton (Princess Beauty), Pattie Brown (Fairy Progressa), Ella Fortesque (Queen Amora), R. Watson (Maligna, the Wicked Fairy), Samuel Nelson (Apple Sauce), J. R. Greville, George Leopold, Fred Dark, Miss Fredericks, Mde. Pasta Moore, Mary Weir, Ethel Gray, Carrie Davy, Miss Sinclair, Miss Tennyson, Miss Barry, Little Edith, Miss Moore, Gertrude Powys, Miss Mortyne, Miss Denville, Miss Tennyson, Miss Morgan, Miss Davey, Miss Brooke, Amy and Nellie Vaughan, Lena Saunders, Mlle. Bulter, Mlle. Zeplin, Miss I. Moore, Misses Eugene and Louise Faust, Mr Bartlett, Mr Stanford, Herr Von der Mehden (Leader of the Royal Zylephontiats), Charles and Harry Raynor, Fred, Robert and E. Faust, Arthur Farley.
- 41 performances.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Theatre Royal
1886
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 28 December no. 15212 1886; (p. 3)
— Review of The Sleeping Beauty ; Or, Harlequin Mother Goose and the Seven Champions 1886 single work musical theatre
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Theatre Royal
1886
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 28 December no. 15212 1886; (p. 3)
— Review of The Sleeping Beauty ; Or, Harlequin Mother Goose and the Seven Champions 1886 single work musical theatre
PeriodicalNewspaper Details
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.
