AustLit

Adapted from John Maddison Morton's original pantomime, the story begins in the Caverns of Gloom, where the demon Rustifusti is brewing up a cauldron of trouble for Fatima and Selim. Fairies disguised as witches enter and get him drunk in order to foil his plans, but they are too late. With the demon on his side, Blue Beard marries his twenty-second wife, Fatima, but is nevertheless concerned that he might have something to fear, as she is loved by (and, in turn, loves) the heroic Selim. After having been taken back to Blue Beard's castle, Fatima opens up the mysterious Blue Chamber against the express command of her husband. Enraged by his wife's defiance, he orders her beheading. Selim, meanwhile, is despondent at being unable to stop Fatima's marriage to Blue Beard. When told that his love is to be put to death, he rushes, with the aid of the Fairy Queen, to the castle and arrives just in time to save Fatima from death. In the process, he defeats the tyrant Blue Beard.

Topical references and allusions include the Sydney scene, events, personalities (including Buchanan's impending Divorce Bill, Murray the Blackbirder, and the 'Carl' trial). There were also burlesques of Shakespearian tragedy, especially Othello.

The musical aspects involved operatic airs and popular songs, in addition to ballets and other dance sequences.