Comedy with songs and dance.
Originally written to accompany a panorama, by Harry Grist, of a voyage from New York to Ireland, the Argus describes the work in its review of the 1874 Melbourne premiere as 'an entertainment of a rather unusual character... It consists principally of a panorama of scenes in Ireland, and a dramatic, vocal and terpsichorean performance, illustrative of the national peculiarities' (27 July 1874, p.6). The chief comedy role was taken by blackface minstrel Johnny Cowan, who is described by the same critic as 'an old Melbourne favourite [who] makes one of the most comical of niggers.' Cowan revived his role several times up until at least 1885.
The story begins in a New York hotel where the protagonist, Charles Peabody Doolittle, an accredited agent of the Pennsylvania Society of Investigating Idiots, decides in the interests of humanity to discover the perfect potato. He engages the services of a servant, a 'smart darkie' by the name of Julius Fluffendorf Cuffee, to be his travelling companion through Ireland. They cross the Atlantic by steamer to Cork and employ an Irish guide, Barney O'Hooligan. His love affairs and differences with Cuffee constitute the fun of the affair. During their quest, they also meet up with Mollie O'Connor (O'Hooligan's sweetheart).
The original 1874 production included at least six songs (including the finale 'Home Sweet Home'), two dances (a 'Grand Barn-door Jig' and 'Grand Challenge Dance'), and an operatic scene titled 'Barney's Courtship'. The various scenes included the Lakes of Killarney, the town of Bray, Dublin Bay, Donnybrook Fair, and Devil's Glenn.
The 1883 production included the songs 'Crossing Over the Ferry', 'What a Wicked Young Man You Was', 'Darling Coal', 'Skating Rink Song', 'Dear Little Shamrock', 'My Own Mary Jane', 'Pretty Katrina', and 'Kaiser, Do You Want to Buy a Dog?' The 'Dance of All Nations' is also said to have been a highlight.
Several changes appear to have made to the original plot by 1875. The names of the characters Charles Peabody and Barney O'Hooligan become Charles Doolittle and Barney O'Neil respectively, while Peabody/Doolittle's daughter (aka Charlotte Doolittle) also seems to have been either introduced or had her role in the play expanded (since the character is not mentioned in reviews or advertisements in 1874). According to the Sydney Morning Herald critic, the1883 production, which was staged under the title Teuto Hibernico, also contained 'a few alterations' (21 May 1883, p.8).
A number of composers contributed original songs and incidental music to the various productions. Those identified to date are Ainsley Scott and C. A. Boyd (aka Professor Boyd), whose compositions were included in the 1874 Sydney and Melbourne seasons, and Charles Thoms, who contributed new material to the 1875 Brisbane season.
1874: School of Arts, Sydney, 16 June - 15 July (twenty-nine performances). Manager/Director Ainsley Scott ; Music Director Professor C. A. Boyd ; Stage Manager Barry O'Mara ; Scenic Art Harry Grist ; Costumes Demarest and Co. ; Cast incl. Shaw Cross (Peabody), Johnny Cowan (Cuffee), Kate D'Lacey (Mollie O'Connor, belle of Killarney), Helen Smart (Bridget O'Connor, Mollie's maternal relation), John O'Neil (O'Riley, landlord of the Pig and Whistle Hotel), William Johnston (Abe Lilleywhite, a waiter in the Fifth Avenue Hotel), Barry O'Mara (Barney O'Hooligan (the Irish Guide) ; Musicians G. Gagliardi, W. J. Chatley, T. Minton, A. G. Thomas, Owen Conduit.
The director, Ainsley Scott, was an ex-principal member of the Californian Minstrel Troupe.
1874: St George's Hall, Melbourne, 25 July - 15, 18-22, 24-29 August (twenty-seven performances). Manager/Director Ainsley Scott ; Music Director Professor C. A. Boyd ; Stage Manager Barry O'Mara (Johnny Cowan from 24 August onwards) ; Scenic Art Harry Grist ; Costumes Demarest and Co. ; Cast incl. Bessie Harrison, Kate D'Lacey; Essie Shankster, Lulu Smart, Helen Smart, Julia Moulton, Johnny Cowan (Cuffee), Shaw Cross, William Johnstone, Barry O'Mara, P. Gilhooley, H. Coal, W. Chotley, G. Thomas, Frank Richardson, John O'Neil, Mr Lacey, H. Franklin, John Dunn, H. Gardner, J. Brown ; Musicians incl. G. Gagliardi, T. Minton, A. G. Thomas.
1874: Ballarat (Victoria), 1 September -*.
1874: St James Hall, Sandhurst (Victoria) ca. November.
1875: School of Arts, Brisbane, 17-30 July (thirteen performances). Manager W. Francis Buecke ; Music Arranger Charles Reginald Thoms ; Stage Manager John Patrick O'Neil ; Cast incl. W. Francis Buecke (Charles Doolittle), John Patrick O'Neil (Barney O'Neil/Bridgit O'Connor), Charles Vincent Wallace (Cuffee), Lizzie Dixon (Mollie), Jessie Dixon (Charlotte Doolittle), Little Wallie (The Leprechaun).
1878: Queensland Theatre, Brisbane, 2-10 September. Lessee James Thynne and Gerald Dillon ; Music Director Herman Fleurac [aka Florack]; Stage Manager Gerald Dillon ; Cast incl. Alick Andrews (Doolittle), Tom Buckley (Barney), James Thynne (Cuffee), Fanny Rogers (Miss Doolittle), May Vivian (Molly), George R. Melville (Snow).
1883: Academy of Music, Sydney, 19 May - 10, 23 August (seventy performances). Lessee M. Hegarty ; Stage Manager Walter Carle ; Troupe Great Hibernicon Variety Company and Court Minstrels ; Cast incl. Vesta Amor, May Vivian, Shaw Cross, Johnny Cowan (Cuffee), Tom Buckley.
1885: Academy of Music, Brisbane, 16-30 May (thirteen performances). Lessee Tom Buckley ; Troupe Buckley's Great Hibernicon and Court Minstrels ; Cast incl. May and Virginia Vivian, Tom Buckley, Johnny Cowan (Cuffee), Alexander Andrews.
This version was staged under the title Teuto Hibernico.
This entry has been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian-written music theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.
Details have also been derived in part from Annotated Calendar of Plays Premiered in Australia: 1870-1890 (q.v.).