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Written, adapted and arranged by Bert Royle with 'music largely derived from Ancient Oriental Sources, and with Modern Music Hall Melodies' composed and arranged by H. T. Harrison, this version of the popular Forty Thieves story begins in Toadstool Swamp where a conclave of Mephistos plan the overthrow of the thieves. The narrative's humorous intent is demonstrated in the scene that follows the grand ballet (set in the Temple of Terpsichore). Ali Baba and his wife arrive on the scene in a tandem dog cart drawn by two eccentric and humorous donkeys. The cart falls to pieces and the occupants are thrown out just as Ali's son turns up in the company of a policeman, Cerulo. This leads to 'all sorts of amusing repartee and funny antics [which keeps] the action briskly moving until the arrival of Hassarac and his band of desperados' (Age 27 December 1892, p.6).
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
Notes
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The Age critic writes of this version of 'the juvenile classic' that it 'is not impeded by any slavish adherence to the original, and this is fortunate because if it were we might have been deprived of the comic donkey, many passably funny topical allusions and some rollicking coster songs, besides any amount of clever fooling by Messrs Lonnen, Snazzle and Bolder, and dancing in every graceful variety' (27 December 1892, p.6).
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Songs incorporated into the production included: 'The Flag of the Forty Thieves' (Hassarac), 'The Fat Boys Chorus' (juvenile chorus), 'I've Chucked up the Push for my Donah' (a larrikin song by Little Nipper), 'Stand to your Guns,' and 'Down the Bay' (Little Nipper and E. J. Lonnen).
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The Argus records that one of the features was George Gordon's scenic art. 'The only fault to be found with these,' writes the critic, is 'that they are too good to be appreciated by that demonstrative section of the audience which will howl its applause at the brainless inanities of a concert-hall song, and will fail to perceive, or will only regard with frigid indifference, such a succession of beautiful pictures as those which this gentleman presented to them on Saturday evening. These were worthy indeed of any theatre in Europe' (27 December 1892, p.7).
Gordon's illustrations included a rocky promontory in Greece crowned by a Doric temple and the monument of Lysicrates (Sc 2); the Grand Bazaar in Bagdad (Sc 4); and in Act 3, the interior of Cassim Baba's house, described as a 'triumph of scenic composition in the sumptuousness of its construction and decoration [and] its suggestions of space and oriental opulence.' The transformation scene is said to have involved five pictures illustrative of as many divisions of the globe - the churchyard of Stoke Pogis (Europe); dome-like pagodas and choultries rising up from the banks of a river (Asia); the colossal temples of Egypt (Africa); Mirror Lake, Yosemite Falls (America); and Stevenson Falls (Australia). -
Another pantomime version of the Ali Baba/Forty Thieves tale was staged in Sydney in 1891 by George Musgrove. Although the libretto was adapted by a different writer (director, Frank Emery), that production also saw H. T. Harrison engaged as music director/composer, and George Gordon commissioned to produce the scenic artist. These connections, in addition to the presence of George Musgrove, suggest that some similarities between the two productions occurred. They are, however, treated as separate works due to variations in the titles, scenic settings, harlequinade and the likely differences in topical/local allusions and songs/dances.
Production Details
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1892: Princess's Theatre (Melb); 24 December1892 - 15 February 1893
- Director John Wallace; Producer Williamson and Musgrove; Music Director/Conductor H. T. Harrison; Orchestra Leader H. Weinberg; Scenic Art George Gordon and J. Gordon.
- Troupes incl. London Gaiety Burlesque Company, and the Faust Family
- Cast incl. E. J. Lonnen (Ali Baba), Katie Barry (Ganem, his son), Alice Lethbridge (Morgiana), W. Reid (Cassim), Harry Daniels (Mustapha), Miss Holbrooke (Florabella, Queen of the Fairies), Leila Rose (Abdullah), G. H. Snazzle (Hassatac), Mary Knight (Ahmed), Alice Austin (Mirza), Addie Capper (Stubbs), Miss Clitherow (Dot), S. Lyme (King Furgi, guardian of the Mushroom Glade); Political Mushrooms - Mr Edwards (Wildcat), Mr Browne (Pot Hat), Mr Whitehead (Tarantula), and Mr Flavel (Applebob); Linda Henry (Inspector Know-all), H. W. Gribben (Cerulo); Bagdad Force - Mr Tremble (Ali Huzz), Mr Clearquick (Ali Buzz); and Harry Zetter (Little Nipper), Robert Bolder (Cogia, Ali's wife), Mr Hassan and Mr Hart (The Two Assess); The Nations - Miss Clitherow (France), Miss Darbyshire (Germany), Miss McKay (Italy), Miss Bacchus (Austria), Miss Downward (America), Miss Knight (Africa), Miss Gardiner (South Africa), Miss Austin (Britannia), Miss Capper (Federated Australia); Harlequinade - Ted Faust (Clown), E. Faust (Pantaloon), Eugene Faust (Harlequin), Daisy Faust (Columbine), Victor Faust (Madame Bonnyface), D. Tective (Policeman), Mr Cane (Schoolmaster).
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Related Works
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y
Harlequin and the Forty Thieves
Alfred Plumpton
(composer),
H. T. Harrison
(composer),
Sydney
:
George Musgrove
,
1891
Z1252871
1891
single work
musical theatre
pantomime
fantasy
Advertised as a 'New, Grand, Great, Gorgeous, Glittering, Glorious Xmas Annual, illustrating ... the most popular of Eastern Legends, with unprecedented regard for strict accuracy of Oriental manners and customs' (Sydney Morning Herald 26 December 1891, p.2), the exact authorship of the pantomime remains somewhat unclear, although director Frank Emery no doubt had a hand in the final version. The production, which also introduced Fred Mason and Rose Dearing to Australian audiences, contained a cast of special overseas artists, including the Wonderful Craggs (acrobats), the Almonte Troupe (who performed the Harlequinade), The Fairy Four, and Amanda Noel.
The story is told in three acts and proceeds through the following scenes:
Act 1: Scene 1 The Mushroom Glade;
Scene 2 Mount Olympus;
Scene 3 Ali Baba's 'Umble 'Ome;
Scene 4 The Grand Bazaar of Bagdad.
Act 2: Scene 1 Through the Wood, Across the Lake, Up the Hill;
Scene 2 Secret Entrance to the Banyon Forest;
Scene 3 The Robber's Cave.
Act 3: Scene 1 Cassim Baba's House;
Scene 2 Grand Terrace and Entrance to Palace, Bridal Procession, and Joyous Revels;
Scene 3 A Corridor in the Palace; Grand Finale
(Transformation Scene; The Elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water; Triumph of Spring; and Harlequinade).
The score is described in advertising as having been 'largely derived from ancient oriental sources, with modern music hall melodies... [with original music] composed and arranged by Messrs. Alfred Plumpton and H. T. Harrison' (Sydney Morning Herald 26 December 1891, p.2).
Songs incorporated into the narrative include 'A Hard Day's Work' (sung by Harry Shine), 'He was Whistling this Tune all Day and all Night' (sung by Rose Dearing), 'Knocked 'Em in the Old Kent Road' (a coster song sung by Fred Mason), 'The Fat Boy's Song' (sung by chorus), 'The Rather Girl' (Pattie Browne), 'A Villain I Live and Die' (John Gourlay), 'I Don't Think it's Ever Been Done' (a topical duet sung by Fred Mason and Harry Shine), and the vivacious finale 'Stand by your Guns' (company).
Works about this Work
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Princess's Theatre : 'The Forty Thieves'
1892
single work
review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1892; (p. 7)
— Review of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves 1892 single work musical theatre -
The Princess's Pantomime : 'The Forty Thieves'
1892
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1892; (p. 6)
— Review of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves 1892 single work musical theatre
-
The Princess's Pantomime : 'The Forty Thieves'
1892
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1892; (p. 6)
— Review of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves 1892 single work musical theatre -
Princess's Theatre : 'The Forty Thieves'
1892
single work
review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1892; (p. 7)
— Review of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves 1892 single work musical theatre
PeriodicalNewspaper Details
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Baghdad,
cIraq,cMiddle East, Asia,
