AustLit

Adapted from James Robinson Planché's burlesque extravaganza The Bee and the Orange Tree, or, The Four Wishes (1845), the story concerns Prince Amiable (a son of King Blook), Baron Spout (the king's brother), and Princess Amy (the only daughter of King Cole). Lost at sea as an infant, Princess Amy was taken in by the ogre Ravagio (the sole owner of the last pair of seven league boots and a violent opponent of the march of intellect), who subsequently raised her to be the family's hard-working maid. The story unfolds with Prince Amiable eventually rescuing Princess Amy and vanquishing Ravagio. Other characters include Tourmentine (Ravagio's wife), their only son Croquemitain, and Princess Einda, described as 'an independent locomotive sovereign' (Brisbane Courier 4 April 1865, p.p.2).

The scenes presented were:

Scene 1. The Hall of Trades in the Regions of Darkness.

Scene 2. The Sea Shore.

Scene 3. Ravine near Ravagio's Dwelling.

Scene 4. The Haunt of the Ogres / 'Leap for Life' (Leon Samwells).

Scene 5. Ravagio's Kitchen.

Scene 6. The Verdant Valley.

Scene 7. The Gardens of Delight.

Transformation Scene The Fairy Forum of Festal Flowers and the Perpetual Palace of Perennial Pleasure.

Harlequinade.

The pantomime was written expressly for Lady Don. The Brisbane Courier's 'Drama' column reports on her performance as Prince Amiable at her farewell benefit in Brisbane in 1865 that 'As a whiskerless and fast sprig in unapproachable knickerbockers (which Thackery so much admired), she was perfectly irresistible' (p.2).

Frank Howson and Frederick Coppin composed the incidental music and arranged the songs, comprising both traditional and popular tunes of the day.