A pantomime comprising immortals and mortals (good and evil), the narrative of Harlequin in Australia Felix is set both in the heavens and in the Victorian township of Geelong. The earthly scenes involve local establishments of the time, notably the Retreat and Mack's Hotel, while parts of the story were also played out by Clown and Pantaloon along the roads to Corio and South Geelong.
The principal mortal characters include a recently arrived wealthy speculator, a tax-ridden settler in search of a wife, a wealthy storekeeper's widow appropriately named Arabella Shortweight and of course bushrangers. The immortals are headed by Urania, Queen of the Stars and her nemesis, an Rockalda, the Evil Spirit of the Deep.
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
1845: Albert Theatre, Geelong, Victoria; 21 January.
