AustLit

Adapted by W. Edouin and localised by Richmond Thatcher, with influences from 'Who Killed Cock Robin,' this version of the popular pantomime story concerns the attempt by Sir Rowland and Lady Macassa to pay their bills by getting rid of their nephew and niece, Tommy and Sally. The two children are heirs to the estate. Sir Edward Kelly and Lord Stephen Byrne kidnap the children from their schoolroom, but they are eventually restored to their family. The subplot concerns Cock Robin and Jenny Wren.

The production was specially written to incorporate the talents of actors J. C. Williamson and Maggie Moore, who had only recently arrived in Australia, and who (surprisingly) played the two babes. The harlequinade is said to have abounded with the usual stock fun and included free local hits at local issues, events and personalities (Sydney Morning Herald 27 December 1879, pp.5-6).

The scenes comprised:

Act 1 Scene 1. The Palace;

Scene 2. Falcontrina's Home in Bird's Nest Grove;

Scene 3. The Schoolroom;

Scene 4. Departure of the Babes;

Scene 5. Arcadian Bower of the Amazons;

Act 2 Scene 1. Ye Banks and Braes (incl. a circus);

Scene 2. The Babes Lost;

Scene 3. The Very Bad Man's Haunt;

Scene 4. Bird's Nest Grove;

Scene 5. Burial of the Babes;

Scene 6. Bird's Nest Grove and the Valley of Ferns (incl. The Babes Resuscitated).

The musical programme included: 'Remember What You have to Do' (sung by J. A. South, C. Brown, Maggie Oliver and Emma Rogers); 'Toothpick and the Crutch' (Constance Deorwyn); 'Babes in our Block' (Maggie Moore); 'Like His Dad' (South and Rogers); 'Hit Him Again, He's Got No Friends' and a song and dance (Maggie Moore); 'The Spelling Bee,' 'Johnny Morgan' and a medley duet (Maggie Moore and J. C. Williamson); 'The Stammering Quartette' (Williamson, Brown, Moore and Oliver); 'The Doctor's Chorus' (C. Seagrave and chorus); 'The Man in the Moon' (Emma Rogers); 'Timid Little Maiden' (Alice Deorwyn); and 'I Haven't Got Time' (J. A. South).

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]