The Miller and the Sweep ; Or, The People of the Mist single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Adaptation of People of the Mist H. Rider Haggard , 1893 single work novel
Issue Details: First known date: 1895... 1895 The Miller and the Sweep ; Or, The People of the Mist
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

The 1895 Brisbane season advertised the pantomime as 'the most interesting and mythical production ever placed before the public because it is fresh and new. The variety throughout the pantomime is brilliant ... [and includes] new and sparkling songs introduced for the first time in Brisbane' (Brisbane Courier 25 December 1895, p.2). The Courier's theatre critic reports that while the subject was 'perhaps, a welcome change from the more familiar tales of the nursery [The Miller and the Sweep] had the disadvantage of not being so well told. The dialogue is weak and the development of what little plot can be traced is not ingenious' (27 December 1895, p.6).

Haggard's original story concerns the penniless Leonard Outram, who attempts to redress the loss of his family fortune by seeking a new one in Africa. During the course of his adventures, he and his Zulu companion Otter save a young woman and her nursemaid from slavery and eventually sets out to find the legendary people of the mist, who are said to possess a fabulous hoard of jewels.

Songs known to have been interpolated into the 1894 version were 'I Won't Play in Your Yard', 'All in a Row', 'What Will You Do in the Winter', 'I Love My Love, Boo Boo', 'One More Drink, Then Bye-Bye', 'I Do Love You', 'She's the New Woman on the Bicycle', 'Girl Wanted', 'Ah Henrietta, Don't Scratch the Paint', 'Mr Lord Knows Who', 'Hard Times', 'Love Sweet Love', and 'The Fellow that Played the Drum.' Advertising in the days leading up to the Brisbane premiere also states that the production would introduce 'solos, duets, trios, quartettes, violin and harp obligatos [and] quaint and varied jubilee melodies as sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers' (Brisbane Courier 21 December 1895, p.2).

A review of the 1898 Fremantle production published in the West Australian indicates that this revival contained a large number of localisms and topicalities, and that the harlequinade had been written by a local (28 December 1898, n. pag.). Speed had previously been in partnership with Martyn Hagan for a season at Fremantle, but this had dissolved sometime during the week 3-10 December. The Miller and the Sweep therefore marked the first major production under Speed's solo management.

Notes

  • A production of a similarly titled black-face pantomime is known to have been staged by the American Coloured Minstrels at the Haymarket Theatre (Sydney) beginning 3 January 1890. Interestingly, while there would appear to be no relationship between the two pantomimes (since Haggard's novel wasn't published until 1893), Billy Speed was one of the members of the American troupe around 1890. His 1895 adaptation may, therefore, have contained elements from both works.

Production Details

  • 1895: Gaiety Theatre, Brisbane, 26 December 1895 - 4 January 1896.

    • Lessee/Producer W. H. Speed, Delohery, Craydon and Holland; Business Manager W. H. Speed.
    • Troupe Speed, Delohery, Craydon and Holland Elite Company.
    • Cast incl. Ted Holland (The Miller), W. H. Speed (The Sweep), Tom Delohery (Dennis O'Hooligan, and Irish showman and orator), Amy Rowe (Prince Octoroon), Alice Speed (Mad Meg), Carlotta May (Rosebud, the star of the village), Fred Duncan (Lord Senseless), James Craydon (Mrs Lippy O'Hooligan, the model new woman), Fred Garnet (Ko-Koo, the dwarf guide of the mountains), Ernest Brinkman (Horatio), Trivio Brothers (The Imps of Satan), Addie Barton (Prince Quadroon), Lyola Thompson (Ko-Ko, Mad Meg's spy), Amy Sherwood, Cora Arlington, Miss Fenton, Miss Sutton, Miss Thompson, Cissy Grey, Paul Manfred, Alice Davis, Millie Downer.

    1898: Ye Olde Englysh Fayre, Fremantle, 26 December - ca. January 1899.

    • Director/Producer W. H. Speed ; Troupe W. H. Speed's Silk and Satin Star Vaudeville and Burlesque Company.
    • Cast incl. W. H. Speed, Bert Leopold, Tom Leopold, George Leopold, Kingsley and Kerr.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Ye Olde Englyshe Fayre : Christmas Pantomime 1898 single work review
— Appears in: West Australian , 28 December 1898; (p. 3)

— Review of The Miller and the Sweep ; Or, The People of the Mist W. H. Speed , 1895 single work musical theatre
Gaiety Theatre 1895 single work review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 27 December 1895; (p. 6)

— Review of The Miller and the Sweep ; Or, The People of the Mist W. H. Speed , 1895 single work musical theatre
Gaiety Theatre 1895 single work review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 27 December 1895; (p. 6)

— Review of The Miller and the Sweep ; Or, The People of the Mist W. H. Speed , 1895 single work musical theatre
Ye Olde Englyshe Fayre : Christmas Pantomime 1898 single work review
— Appears in: West Australian , 28 December 1898; (p. 3)

— Review of The Miller and the Sweep ; Or, The People of the Mist W. H. Speed , 1895 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
Last amended 4 Apr 2014 10:49:30
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