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Although promoted by J. C. Williamson's as "J. Hickory Wood's smart, cleaver and up-to-date pantomime," Aladdin nevertheless included many localisations and Australian settings and references, as well as some new music by Andrew McCunn. The 14 scenes painted by scenic artists Coleman and Upward included, for example Flinders Street railway station, along with views of the Pyramids and Sphinx, Tokyo and several jewel caves. In its review of the opening night the Argus theatre critic also notes:
Australia's beautiful birds was another most carefully thought out, built up, and arranged ballet, wherein black swans, native companions, emus, magpies, laughing jack- asses, parakeets, galahs, sulphur-crested cockatoos, and king parrots, in all the glorious colouring of nature, were most fas- cinating to the eye. Still another ballet of beautiful colouring was the wistaria, the delicate tones of the lovely flower blending in scenery and in the dresses of the grace- ful dancers. The living flag of Australia, pieced together by scouts, who climb ladders and unfold squares of the banner, which were subsequently lit by lamps that repeated the colouring of the flag, the while Miss Lily Iris sings 'Dear Motherland'… England, Japan, Egypt, Australia, and China [also] contribute models for the dresses" (20 December 1909, p.9).
Production Details
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1909: Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne; 18 December 1909 - 4 March. 1910
- Director Gerard Coventy; Producer J. C. Williamsons; Music Director Fred Quintrell; Scenic Art W. R. Coleman and George Upward; Choreography Jennie Brennan; Assistant Stage Manager J. C. Whitfield.
- Cast: Lily Iris (Aladdin), Stella Selbourne (Pekoe), Nance Maher (Nicee), Marie Eaton (Slave of the Lamp), Lena Ericson (Genii of the Ring), Roy Murphy (Bottle O' Boy), Clara Beck (Princess Badroulbadour), Harry Phydora (Mrs Twankey), Bob Barry (Abanazar), Victor Loydall (Ting Ting), Rupert Darrell (Chow), Clyde Cook (Chop), Edwin Lester (Amenophia), J. M. Campbell (Emperor of Japan), Price and Revost (Green and Wood), Joe Morris, Alf Wilson, Racoon Bros, William Hassan (The donkey).
- Other characters incl. Egyptians, Magicians, Japanese, Nobles, Guests, Servants, Populace, Guardians of the Jewells, Australian Scouts, Shop Assistants, Fire Maidens, Cannibal Islanders, Billikens, Coutiers etc.
- This production marked the first appearance in Australia of Lily Iris, Clara Beck, Harry Phydora and Bob Barry.
- The company numbered somewhere between 120 and 150 performers during its 1909-1910 run.
1910: Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney; 14 March - 19 May
- Cast and production mostly as for previous Melbourne season.
1910: His Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane; 23 May - 7 June
- Cast and production mostly as for previous Melbounre season.
1910: His Majesty's Theatre, Perth; 18 June - 2 July
1910: Town Hall, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia; 4-8 July
1910: Theatre Royal, Adelaide; 16-29 July
1910: New Zealand Dominion tour; ca. Aug-Sept.
