Australis; Or, The City of Zero : A Spectacle of a Hundred Years Hence

y Australis; Or, The City of Zero : A Spectacle of a Hundred Years Hence single work musical theatre science fiction fantasy - Three acts

Alternative title: The City of Zero

Authors:agent J. C. Williamson , Bernard Espinasse .
Composers: Leon Caron , Frederick Weierter .

Issue Details: First known date: 1900... 1900 Australis; Or, The City of Zero : A Spectacle of a Hundred Years Hence

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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Written especially for Federation, the story is a fantasy set 100 years in the future - the year 2000 - after a war of the world has wreaked havoc on the planet. Only Australia has escaped the devastation. The country is being run badly by an ex-Trade Union leader, however. The Boss, as he likes to be called, is about to annex the City of Zero, which is located at the South Pole, and ruled by an evil wizard, Azeemath. The play begins as the Queen of Antarctica, Dione, arises from one hundred years sleep in a petrified condition. A legend has foretold that when she loves a mortal that the wizard's powers must forever pass away. The wizard of course has his own plan to counter this.... But this is doomed to fail when Dione drinks from the magic pool, and true to its legend falls in love with the first person she sees - Valentine.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

Notes

Billed as : 'An Entirely Original, Musical and Spectacular, Pantomimic Extravganza of the Future'

Production Details

1900: Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney; 26 December 1900 - 8 February 1901
Producer J. C. Williamson; Music Director George Hall; Stage Manager Gerard Coventry; Scenic Art John Gordon and George Dixon; Costumes Emily Nathan; Lighting F. Watts; Choreography Minnie Everett.
Cast incl. Ruby Bowring (Dione), William Wolff (Azeemath), Maud Beatty (Valentine), W. S. Percy (The Boss), H. A. Quealy (Mrs Truck), Alf Stephens (Big Tom Truck), Beatrice Lennox, May Beatty, Little Gulliver, Tilly Woodlock, Dora Wallace, Grace Moore, Miss L. Wilson, Miss N. Wilson, Miss O. Davis, Miss Metcalf, Miss Ericson, Miss Ford, Blanche Wallace, Elsie Moore, Nellie Borthwick, Ada Page, Minnie Hooper, Violet Sylvester, Tottie Bennett, Miss B. Lewis, Fred Sinclair, D. O'Connor, T. Middleton, J. Robinson, Syd Carden, C. Albert, L. Chessman, Mr Spence, Mr Sweeney, Mr Bracy, and Irene Franklin (specialty scenes), Professor Godfrey's Wonderful Troupe of Trained Animals, and The Little McLean.
Entries connected with this record have been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian popular theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

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J.C. Williamson's Vision for Australia : 'Australis ; Or, The City of Zero' (1900) Josephine Fantasia , 1993 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , October no. 23 1993; (p. 82-91)

Sundry Shows 1901 single work column
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 26 January vol. 22 no. 1093 1901; (p. 8)

Sundry Shows 1901 single work column
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 5 January vol. 22 no. 1090 1901; (p. 18)
— Review of Australis; Or, The City of Zero : A Spectacle of a Hundred Years Hence J. C. Williamson , Bernard Espinasse , 1900 single work musical theatre

Her Majesty's - 'Australis' 1900 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 December 1900; (p. 6)
— Review of Australis; Or, The City of Zero : A Spectacle of a Hundred Years Hence J. C. Williamson , Bernard Espinasse , 1900 single work musical theatre

Her Majesty's Theatre 1900 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 8 December 1900; (p. 12)
— Review of Australis; Or, The City of Zero : A Spectacle of a Hundred Years Hence J. C. Williamson , Bernard Espinasse , 1900 single work musical theatre