Harlequin Black Bluebeard ; Or, The Merry Musselman's Mother-in-Law single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Adaptation of Bluebeard Charles Perrault , 1697 single work short story
Issue Details: First known date: 1884... 1884 Harlequin Black Bluebeard ; Or, The Merry Musselman's Mother-in-Law
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Pantomime.

A spoof on Charles Perrault's Bluebeard fairytale and advertised as a 'black pantomime' (i.e., performed in blackface), Harlequin Black Bluebeard was written expressly for the Federal Minstrels and contained numerous local and references and allusions. Some of the highlights of the production are said to have been the song 'Barbe-bleu Brigade', a Turkish Zonave Picture Clog dance, the transformation scene, and a comic scene entitled 'On the Beach at Manly.'

Notes

  • The Sydney Morning Herald theatre critic reports that 'the localisms were good on the whole, and frequently drew forth loud demonstrations of applause' (27 December 1884, p.5).

Production Details

  • 1884: Academy of Music, Sydney, 26 December 1884 - 6 February 1885

    • Producer F. E. Hiscocks ; Troupe Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels and Specialty Union
    • Cast incl. W. Horace Bent, Sam Keenan, W. A. Ball, Alf Moynham, Harry Carroll, Lou Braham, Beaumont Read, E. Amery, J. S. Porter, George Smith, J. Harris, W. Jones, M. Clune, Frank York, James Craydon.
    • 37 performances.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1884
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Works about this Work

Academy of Music 1884 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 December 1884; (p. 5)
— Review of Harlequin Black Bluebeard ; Or, The Merry Musselman's Mother-in-Law W. Horace Bent , 1884 single work musical theatre
Academy of Music 1884 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 December 1884; (p. 5)
— Review of Harlequin Black Bluebeard ; Or, The Merry Musselman's Mother-in-Law W. Horace Bent , 1884 single work musical theatre
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (1)

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 18 Jan 2018 16:27:35
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