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Although possibly adapted from Nelson Lee Jnr's pantomime Harlequin Baron Munchausen (first staged in 1858 at Astley's Theatre, London), the Melbourne Argus (quoting the Haymarket Theatre's manager) indicates that the original source had been produced at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden (27 December 1865, p.6).
The pantomime begins with a scene set in a romantic fairy dell, wherein reside Fairy Pariboo and Queen Aurora. The storyline then shifts to a castellated ruin where the audience is introduced to Lady Ethelinda (daughter of Baron Puffendorf), who is in the power of Aufullicoldandbyteyyurnoso, the Wizard of the Green Isle. She is eventually saved by the swashbuckling Baron Munchausen, but not before he undergoes many adventures and impossible situations, including securing his horse to the church steeple, pulling a wolf inside out, being projected out of a mortar from Tower Hill to Bermondsey, and visiting the moon.
The critic writing for Bell's Life in Victoria notes in relation to the music that Akhurst had 'introduced some parodies and reminiscences of songs and dances brought into favour by "Arrah-na-Pogue" and the Christy Minstrels' (6 January 1866, p.2).
Production Details
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1865: Royal Haymarket Theatre, Melbourne, 26 December 1865 - 20 January 1866
- Director/Lessee William Hoskins; Scenic Art William Pitt and Charles Fry; Costumes Mr Hancock; Chorus J. H. Flexmore.
- Cast incl. Emma Howson (Lady Ethelinda); Richard Stewart (Baron Munchausen), Frank Howson (The Green Wizard), Clelia Howson (Queen Aurora), Docy Stewart (Fairy Pariboo), Julia Nathan (Columbine), Marian Nathan (Puck), Miss Sutherland, Miss Mansfield, Miss Smith, Miss Hope, Miss Kenneth, Miss L. Hope, Maggie Stewart, Miss Bray, Miss Planche, Miss Howard, Miss Ainsworth, Miss Keeley, Miss Fitzgerald, Miss O'Donnell, Miss J. Sutherland, Miss Dyball, Miss Cushla, Miss Stephens, Miss Birtell, Miss Seabridge, Miss S. Lloyd, Miss S. Powell, Adelaide Stoneham, Joe Chambers, J. H. Flexmore, Masters Louis and Edward Nathan (Pantaloon and Harlequin), Leon Samwells, Tom, John, and George Ridgway, Mr Stoneham, Mr Hall, E. Holloway, Master Kelly (Clown), H. Nelson, Herberte Skelton, Master Frank, the Lenton Troupe.
- 26 performances.
- The harlequinade was performed by the Lenton Troupe and the Nathan Troupe (most of whom were juveniles), along with J. H. Flexmore, J. Chambers, Mr Stoneham, and Adelaide Stoneham.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
The Metropolitan Stage
1866
single work
review
— Appears in: Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle , 6 January vol. 10 no. 402 1866; (p. 2)
— Review of Harlequin Baron Munchausen ; Or, The Green Wizard and the Fairy of the Silver Lake 1865 single work musical theatre -
The Haymarket
1865
single work
review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1865; (p. 6)
— Review of Harlequin Baron Munchausen ; Or, The Green Wizard and the Fairy of the Silver Lake 1865 single work musical theatre -
The Pantomime at the Haymarket
1865
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1865; (p. 6)
— Review of Harlequin Baron Munchausen ; Or, The Green Wizard and the Fairy of the Silver Lake 1865 single work musical theatre
-
The Metropolitan Stage
1866
single work
review
— Appears in: Bell's Life in Victoria and Sporting Chronicle , 6 January vol. 10 no. 402 1866; (p. 2)
— Review of Harlequin Baron Munchausen ; Or, The Green Wizard and the Fairy of the Silver Lake 1865 single work musical theatre -
The Pantomime at the Haymarket
1865
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 27 December 1865; (p. 6)
— Review of Harlequin Baron Munchausen ; Or, The Green Wizard and the Fairy of the Silver Lake 1865 single work musical theatre -
The Haymarket
1865
single work
review
— Appears in: The Argus , 27 December 1865; (p. 6)
— Review of Harlequin Baron Munchausen ; Or, The Green Wizard and the Fairy of the Silver Lake 1865 single work musical theatre
PeriodicalNewspaper Details
This entry has been sourced from research undertaken by Dr Clay Djubal into Australian-written popular music theatre (ca. 1850-1930). See also the Australian Variety Theatre Archive
Details have also been derived in part from the Annotated Calendar of Plays Premiered in Australia: 1850-1869.
