AustLit

Adapted from Jonathon Swift's novel Gulliver's Travels, the plot begins with Argentilla, the Fairy Queen of the Silver Acacias, awaiting the arrival of Old Father Christmas. Unbeknownst to the queen, her law officer Topsyturvey has conspired with Prime Minister Cantankeros to usurp her position. In the meanwhile, Father Christmas arrives, bringing all manner of presents that the conspirators render valueless in the eyes of the queen (the latest fashions are represented by the last new bonnet while a 'parcel' of politicians is turned into a pack of stuff). The last of the boxes to be opened contains an edition of the renowned Gulliver, who has already appeared favourably in the dreams of the queen. She immediately declares herself his protector, causing Cantankeros and Topsyturvey to plot his downfall and so demonstrate that they have greater powers than her. The narrative then shifts to London, where Gulliver has become bored with his surgery and is feeling set upon by his wife and howling infants. In order to escape, he takes up an offer from Captain Bumptous Blowhard to become his ship's doctor. Gulliver's adventure begins when his ship is wrecked in a storm and he is thrown into the sea. Argentilla, who has only just learned of the schemes of her treacherous ministers, sends a dolphin to save Gulliver and carry him to the shore of an island. It is here that Gulliver is captured by the Lilliputians and the plot briefly follows the original storyline until Cantankeros and Topsyturvey arrive, disguised as seamen, in order to complete their plan to destroy Gulliver.

The pantomime unfolds over six scenes. The original production featured several long mime sequences and contained numerous topical references. Margaret Williams notes that as with many the pantomimes being produced in Australia from the 1860s onwards, much of the satirical material in Gulliver on His Travels was firmly located in the Antipodes. Indeed, references to bushrangers, politicians, current political and social issues, historical figures (James Cook, for example), and local landmarks occur frequently within the pantomime's combination of fantasy and local reality (Australia on the Popular Stage).

The music included a good deal of operatic burlesque, especially extracts from Meyerbeer's L'Africaine.