AustLit

Localised by Fergus Hume and adapted by Hall and St Clare from H. J. Byron's burlesque Little Don Giovanni; Or, Leporello and the Stone Statue (1865), itself a burlesque of the Mozart opera, Don Giovanni (1787).

The Argus theatre critic, who was not overly impressed with the production, writes: 'The manner in which the performance opened was promising, but the unmistakable indications afterwards given of insufficient rehearsal were disappointing, while the tone of the dialogue and action is susceptible of improvement' ('St George's Hall' 19 April 1886, p.6).

With its material written and arranged by Harry Leston, possibly influenced by H. J. Byron's burlesque Little Don Giovanni; Or, Leporello and the Stone Statue (1865), this burlesque of the Mozart opera heralded the first appearance of Leston, the well-known Australian actor/comic as both producer and star of a short season of burlesque at Sydney's School of Arts. American-born entrepreneur, Dan Tracey, had no doubt keenly sought Leston after the actor's previously successful burlesque engagement with Frank Smith at the Alhambra in late 1890.

The production, which included local songs and dances, was presented as a second part to an evening's entertainment of minstrelsy and vaudeville.