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Based on the popular pantomime story of Sinbad the Sialor, the narrative was played out in three acts, comprising the following scenes:
Act 1 Scene 1. Davey Jones' Locker. Cavern under the Sea;
Scene 2. Port of Balasora. A village Carnival. Hornpipe in Fetters. Sinbad's Departure;
Scene 3. Saloon of the Bobstay;
Scene 4. Wreck of the Vessel. Storm at Sea. Breakers Ahead. Neptune to the Rescue.
Act 2 Scene 1. The Royal Bath at Nowayer Patiklar. The Nautch Dance and the Ballet of the Harem;
Scene 2. The Mountain Pass. Topical duets;
Scene 3. The Diamond Valley. Ballet of thr Night Elves and the Grand Amazonian March. Starting Trap Scenes. Flight of the Fairy Rock and Escape of Sinbad.
Act 3 Scene 1. The King's Palace. Grand Variety and Specialty Scene;
Scene 2. The Palace Gardens. Recovery of the Koh-i-Noor;
Transformation Scene
Harlequinade
The production's music elements included the following songs and dances: 'Didn't I Run, Run, Run' (sung by Will Crackles), 'Rosie O'Grady' (Ada Baker), 'Il Bacio' and 'Canary Polka' (Frank Lawton), 'Darling Mabel' (Eva Clements), 'We'll Just Have Another and Then' (Crackles and Stanfield), 'Mary Used to Go to Sunday School' (Stella Esdaile), 'Remedies' (Stanfield), 'Love's Duet' (Phillips and Esdaile), and the 'Magnificent Trio Dance' (performed by Misses E. and A. Hooper and Frank Lawton).
Notes
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J. C. Williamson once again premiered this pantomime on Christmas Eve rather than the traditional Boxing Day, a move which the Sydney Morning Herald critic noted 'savoured somewhat of a final dress rehearsal.' The review further suggests that the libretto was in need of a great deal work, particularly with regard to cutting the length down from its four hour running time. 'Though there is plenty of talent in the cast,' writes the reviewer, 'the book as presented last night hardly disclosed it, and the actors waded through the voluminous verbiage without striking as many sparks of fun from it as they may possibly do when the pruning-knife has enabled them to find their way to the jokes a little quicker' (25 December 1986, p.6).
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The music of the production saw the following songs and dances incorporated into the story: 'Didn't I Run, Run, Run' (sung by Will Crackles), 'Rosie O'Grady' (Ada Baker), 'Il Bacio' and 'Canary Polka' (Frank Lawton), 'Darling Mabel' (Eva Clements), 'We'll Just Have Another and Then' (Crackles and Stanfield), 'Mary Used to Go to Sunday School' (Stella Esdaile), 'Remedies' (Stanfield), 'Love's Duet' (Phillips and Esdaile), and the 'Magnificent Trio Dance' (performed by Misses E. and A. Hooper and Frank Lawton).
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The Grand Specialty scene comprised vaudeville-style acts by Frank Lawton, Will Crackles, Ada Baker, Eva Clements, Mons. Provo, the Bavard family (trapeze artiosts and acrobats) and the Lucifers (acrobats and strength act).
Production Details
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1896: Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney; 24 December - 29 January 1897
- Director John Wallace; Producer Williamson and Musgrove; Manager C. B. Westmacott; Music Arranger/Director George F. Pack; Scenic Art W. B. Spong (G. and J. Gordon and P. Howden - Transformation Scene); Choreography Mde Pasta Moore and John Wallace; Costumes Miss Nathan and Miss Donnelly; Harlequinade Director Joe Tolano.
- Cast incl. Stella Esdaile (Sinbad), Ada Baker (Zorilda), Will Crackles (Tinbad), Eva Clements (Hinbad), D'Arcy Stanfield (Mrs Tinbad), Frank Lawton (Wreckeroo), Joe Tolano (Captain of the Bobstay), Little Florrie Ranger (Old Man of the Sea), J. Kingston (Neptune), P. Stewart (Cockle), A. King (Davey Jones), Miss M. Thornton (Venus), George Leopold (King of Nowayer), Mina Phillips (Princess Pearl), Hettie Holroyd (fairy), the Banvards (Ogres), George Ridgway (Ogre), Joe Walhalla, Mons. Provo, the Lucifers (acrobats); Harlequinade incl - Joe Tolano (Pantaloon), George Ridgway (Clown).
- Other characters incl. Ladies of the Harem, Messengers, Pixies, Wreckers, Sailors, Villagers, Tailors, Lumpers, Demons, Fairies, Guards, Eunochs.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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The Amusements : Christmas Pantomime
1896
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 25 December 1896; (p. 6)
— Review of Sinbad the Sailor, Or, Tinbad the Tailor, and the Wicked Ogres, the Good Fairy, and the Little Old Man of the Sea (To Say Nothing of the Bold, Bad Wreckeroo) 1896 single work musical theatre
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The Amusements : Christmas Pantomime
1896
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 25 December 1896; (p. 6)
— Review of Sinbad the Sailor, Or, Tinbad the Tailor, and the Wicked Ogres, the Good Fairy, and the Little Old Man of the Sea (To Say Nothing of the Bold, Bad Wreckeroo) 1896 single work musical theatre