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Advertised as a 'New, Grand, Great, Gorgeous, Glittering, Glorious Xmas Annual, illustrating ... the most popular of Eastern Legends, with unprecedented regard for strict accuracy of Oriental manners and customs' (Sydney Morning Herald 26 December 1891, p.2), the exact authorship of the pantomime remains somewhat unclear, although director Frank Emery no doubt had a hand in the final version. The production, which also introduced Fred Mason and Rose Dearing to Australian audiences, contained a cast of special overseas artists, including the Wonderful Craggs (acrobats), the Almonte Troupe (who performed the Harlequinade), The Fairy Four, and Amanda Noel.
The story is told in three acts and proceeds through the following scenes:
Act 1: Scene 1 The Mushroom Glade;
Scene 2 Mount Olympus;
Scene 3 Ali Baba's 'Umble 'Ome;
Scene 4 The Grand Bazaar of Bagdad.
Act 2: Scene 1 Through the Wood, Across the Lake, Up the Hill;
Scene 2 Secret Entrance to the Banyon Forest;
Scene 3 The Robber's Cave.
Act 3: Scene 1 Cassim Baba's House;
Scene 2 Grand Terrace and Entrance to Palace, Bridal Procession, and Joyous Revels;
Scene 3 A Corridor in the Palace; Grand Finale
(Transformation Scene; The Elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water; Triumph of Spring; and Harlequinade).
The score is described in advertising as having been 'largely derived from ancient oriental sources, with modern music hall melodies... [with original music] composed and arranged by Messrs. Alfred Plumpton and H. T. Harrison' (Sydney Morning Herald 26 December 1891, p.2).
Songs incorporated into the narrative include 'A Hard Day's Work' (sung by Harry Shine), 'He was Whistling this Tune all Day and all Night' (sung by Rose Dearing), 'Knocked 'Em in the Old Kent Road' (a coster song sung by Fred Mason), 'The Fat Boy's Song' (sung by chorus), 'The Rather Girl' (Pattie Browne), 'A Villain I Live and Die' (John Gourlay), 'I Don't Think it's Ever Been Done' (a topical duet sung by Fred Mason and Harry Shine), and the vivacious finale 'Stand by your Guns' (company).
Notes
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Interviewed earlier in December for the Herald's 'Musical and Dramatic Notes' column, Frank Emery indicates the company had already been rehearsing from the new book of The Forty Thieves for a long time past (5 Dec. 1891, p.5).
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Another version of the Ali Baba story, presented under the title Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, was staged in Sydney in 1892 by Williamson, Garner and Musgrove. Although the libretto was adapted by a different writer (Bert Royle), that production also saw H. T. Harrison engaged as music director/composer and George Gordon commissioned as scenic artist. These connections, in addition to the presence of George Musgrove and the use of several songs in both productions, suggest some similarities between the two productions. They are, however, treated as separate works, due to variations in the titles, scenic settings, and harlequinade; the likely differences in topical/local allusions; and the addition of new songs and dances.
Production Details
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1891: Theatre Royal, Sydney, 26 December 1891 - 13 February 1892.
- Director Frank Emery; Producer George Musgrove; Music Arranger Alfred Plumpton and H. T. Harrison; Conductor H. T. Harrison; Chorus Mde Duvalli; Scenic Art George Gordon, with J. Gordon and Mr Brunton; Costumes Mons and Mdme Alias (London and Paris) and Mrs Beaumont (resident costumier of the Theatre Royal).
- Cast incl. Fred Mason (Ali Baba), Harry Shine (Cogia Baba, Ali's wife), Pattie Browne (Ganem, Ali's son), Rose Dearing (Morgiana), Jennie Opie (Abdallah), John Gourlay (Hassarac), James Wilkinson (Cassim Baba), R. E. Watson (Zaide), J. Bruce (Mustapha), H. W. Gribben, Loey Emeri, Emily Gill, W. Webb, J. Patterson, Amy Johns, Ada Carlyle, A. Davies, Mary Downward, C. Stuart, J. Harvey, Mary Gardiner, Pattie Browne, The Craggs, The Almonte Troupe [Charles, Ted, Will, Mdlle Cissie, Mdlle D'Albert], The Fairy Four, Amanda Noel, Miss Watts, Miss Dwyer, Miss Boleyn, Miss Pembroke, Miss M. Torrens, Miss E. Torrens, Miss Watson.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Related Works
-
y
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
H. T. Harrison
(composer),
Melbourne
:
Williamson and Musgrove
,
1892
Z861410
1892
single work
musical theatre
pantomime
fantasy
Written, adapted and arranged by Bert Royle with 'music largely derived from Ancient Oriental Sources, and with Modern Music Hall Melodies' composed and arranged by H. T. Harrison, this version of the popular Forty Thieves story begins in Toadstool Swamp where a conclave of Mephistos plan the overthrow of the thieves. The narrative's humorous intent is demonstrated in the scene that follows the grand ballet (set in the Temple of Terpsichore). Ali Baba and his wife arrive on the scene in a tandem dog cart drawn by two eccentric and humorous donkeys. The cart falls to pieces and the occupants are thrown out just as Ali's son turns up in the company of a policeman, Cerulo. This leads to 'all sorts of amusing repartee and funny antics [which keeps] the action briskly moving until the arrival of Hassarac and his band of desperados' (Age 27 December 1892, p.6).
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
Works about this Work
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Musical and Dramatic Notes
1891
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 5 December 1891; (p. 5)
— Review of Harlequin and the Forty Thieves 1891 single work musical theatre ; The Babes in the Wood ; Or, Robin Hood and His Forresters Good 1891 single work musical theatrePreview of several forthcoming productions. The column also includes an interview with Forty Thieves director, Frank Emery.
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Theatre Royal
1891
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 28 December 1891; (p. 5)
— Review of Harlequin and the Forty Thieves 1891 single work musical theatre
-
Theatre Royal
1891
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 28 December 1891; (p. 5)
— Review of Harlequin and the Forty Thieves 1891 single work musical theatre -
Musical and Dramatic Notes
1891
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 5 December 1891; (p. 5)
— Review of Harlequin and the Forty Thieves 1891 single work musical theatre ; The Babes in the Wood ; Or, Robin Hood and His Forresters Good 1891 single work musical theatrePreview of several forthcoming productions. The column also includes an interview with Forty Thieves director, Frank Emery.
