AustLit
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star ; Or, Harlequin Jack Frost, Little Tom Tucker, and the Old Woman that Lived in a Shoe : A Grand Comic Xmas Pantomime
single work
pantomime
fantasy
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12 scenes
Latest Issues
AbstractHistoryArchive Description
The storyline sees Twinkle Twinkle, the beloved of Tommy but also the object of the Emperor of Bagatelle's affection, being kidnapped by the latter with the aid of King Winter. Tommy and Twinkle are reunited, however, through the aid of the Stars and Icicles led by Diana, Queen of the Night and Jack Frost.
The 'Sights and Doings,' as advertised in the Sydney Morning Herald were:
Sight 1. The Ice-bound Home of King Winter (incl. a scene of Australian Christmas);
Sight 2. The Beautiful City of Stars;
Sight 3. Cloudland;
Sight 4. Interior of Dame Tucker's Cottage;
Sight 5. A Forest Glade in Bagatelle Empire;
Sight 6. Throne Room in the Palace of King Winter and Grand Panorama;
Sight 7. A Tangled Wood;
Sight 8. Diana's Sylvian Retreat and Grand Ballet of Stars;
Sight 9. Exterior of Dame Tucker's Cottage;
Sight 10 .Bagatelle Castle (incl. The Emperor's Silver Guards, Dian's Gold Guards, King Winter's Crystal Guards and Grand Amazonian March);
Sight 11. Debatable Ground;
Sight 12. A Gloomy Pass;
Grand Transformation Scene (by W. J. Wilson). 1. Spring; 2. Summer; 3. Autumn; 4. Winter; 5. Golden Corridor and Caves of Dazzling Splendour; and
Harlequinade. 1. Two well-known Sydney shops, 2. Interior of a local Boarding House; and 3. Oloothter's Shop (23 December 1876, p.2).
Notes
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Although the published version of this pantomime claims that the introductory story was written by Englishman John Strachan, the Sydney Morning Herald theatre critic argues that it has 'been so completely localised by Mr E. Lewis Scott that the whole dialogue must be regarded as purely colonial' (27 December 1876, p.5). The libretto is said to have included numerous satirical and topical references to the Sydney scene, politics, personalities, and issues such as wowsers, swindlers, food prices, Parliamentary behaviour, the reform of the Upper House, strikes, teetotallers and anti-alcohol legislation.
The music and songs were adapted from both operatic arias and popular songs of the day. The Herald's critic describes the production as 'a farrago of old fables [consisting] of a happy mixture of the story of Tom Tucker and the old woman who lived in a shoe together with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and some mythological business' (27 December 1876, p.5).
Production Details
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1876: Theatre Royal, Sydney; 26 December 1876 - 19 January 1877
- Producer/Lessee Samuel Lazar; Scenic Art W. J. Wilson and W. Kinchella; Music Arranger/Director B. Levy; Choreography Alfredo Borzoni and E. McLean; Costumes Madame Croucher; Comic Scene Director J. A. South.
- Cast incl. J. J. Welsh (King Winter), Annie Lyons (Jack Frost), Nellie Daisy (Diana, Queen of Night), Marion Leslie (Twinkle Twinkle, the Evening Star), Emma Rogers (Radienta, a sister star), J. P. West (Emperor of Bagatelle), C. Brown (Baron Tee-to-Tum), Harry Leston (Lord Humming-ton), J. A. South (Dame Tucker), Maggie Oliver (Tommy Tucker, her son), George P. Carey (Dickey, his younger brother); Harlequinade - E. McLean (Harlequin), Mrs E. McLean (Columbine), J. A. South (Clown), George P. Carey (Pantaloon);
- King Winter's court, comprising the characters Hurricane, Autumn, Snowfall and Coldblow, were listed as being played (respectively) by Mr Blowhard, Mr Shady, Mr Flacky, Mr Chilly.
- Other characters incl. Georgy, Bill, Jim, Johnny, Sam, Charley, Fred, Gus, Harry, Mike, Patsy, Tim, Barney.
- 24 performances.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Theatre Royal Pantomime
1876
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 December 1876; (p. 5)
— Review of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star ; Or, Harlequin Jack Frost, Little Tom Tucker, and the Old Woman that Lived in a Shoe : A Grand Comic Xmas Pantomime 1876 single work musical theatre
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Theatre Royal Pantomime
1876
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 December 1876; (p. 5)
— Review of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star ; Or, Harlequin Jack Frost, Little Tom Tucker, and the Old Woman that Lived in a Shoe : A Grand Comic Xmas Pantomime 1876 single work musical theatre
PeriodicalNewspaper Details
- Sydney, New South Wales,
