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'Somewhat unusually [The Three Wishes] featured Shakespeare's Titania and Puck as it's immortals, while the opening crisis did not revolve around thwarted young love but that other staple of the nineteenth-century theatre, the oppressive landlord' (Webby, p.180). The storyline concerns Robin Homespun (played by George Coppin) who is about to be sent to prison by his landlord, Sir Rupert Brushwood Breakcover). Puck then appears on his mission to restore his favour with Queen Titania and intercedes by transforming the mortals into the traditional characters of the harlequinade. One of the scenes in this section of the pantomime sees Clown and Pantaloon apply for a job at the very theatre the production was being staged in.
The scenes advertised for the Launceston production were:
Scene 1. Fairy Lake (interview between Titania and Puck - Titania's rage; Departure of Puck on his mission);
Scene 2. Exterior of Robin's Cottage;
Scene 3. Interior of Robin's Cottage - Grand Transformation;
Scene 4. Interior of a Barber's Shop;
Scene 5. View of the Theatre and St John-Street;
Scene 6. Well-known shop in Cahrles-Street;
Scene 7. Interior of the Necromancer's Cook-shop;
Scene . Front Street;
Scene 9. View of the River Tamar;
Scene 10. Front Wood;
Scene 11. Palace of the Blazing Sun - Grand Finale.
Production Details
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1845: Theatre, Launceston; 22, 26, 28 March
- Producer/Director George Coppin.
- Cast incl. Mrs Thompson (Titania, Queen of the Fairy Lake), Mrs Rogers (Puck), Mr Rogers (Sir Robert Brushwood Breakcover), George Coppin (Robin Homespun), Mrs Coppin (Dorcas, Robin's wife), Mrs Hambleton (Peggy); Harlequinade - Eliza Thomson (Columbine), Jane Thompson (Harlequin), Mr Young (Clown); Mr Opie (Pantaloon).
1846: New Queen's Theatre, Adelaide; 26, 28, 30 Dec.
- Producer George Coppin; Director Oliver "Olly" Deering.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Harlequin in Van Diemen’s Land
2009
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Script and Print , vol. 33 no. 1-4 2009; (p. 167-184)
-
Harlequin in Van Diemen’s Land
2009
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Script and Print , vol. 33 no. 1-4 2009; (p. 167-184)