OMAI, Or, A Trip round the World
OMAI, Or, A Trip round the World
A Short Account
of the
New Pantomime
Called
OMAI,
or,
A Trip round the World
Preformed at the
Theatre-Royal in
Covent-Garden.
with the
Recitatives, Airs, Duetts, Trios
and Chorusses;
and a Description of the
Procession.
The Pantomime, and the whole of the secenery, designed and
invented by Mr. Phillip Jacques De Loutherbourg
The Words written by Mr. Jophn O'Keefe;
And the Musick composed by Mr. Shields.
New Edition
London
Printed for T.CADELL on the Strand
1938

Table of contents

1. Characters

Towha the Guardian Genius of Omai's Ancestors, and Protector of the legal Kings of Otaheite.

Otoo, Father of Omai, a Descendant from the legal Kings, a preist and a Magician

Omai

Otaheitian, supposed to have accompanied Omai to England*

Harlequin, Servent to Omai

Oediddee,Pretender to the Throne

Oberea, Regent and Protectress of Oediddee, an Enchantress

Britannia

Don Struttolando, Rival to Omai, in his love to Londina

Clown, Don Struttolando's servant and rival of Harlequin

Father of Londina

Mother of Londina

Londina, the Consort destined to Omai

Colombine,maid to Londina

Old Fairy, Friend to Harlequin

English Captin

Justice

Constables, Messrs

Good and Evil Spirits, Custom House Officers, Sailors &c.

2. Part 1

2.1. Scene 1

A morai1in Otaheite by moonlight.

Otoo discovered making incocations to the genii of his ancestors for their assistance to fix his son on the throne.
REACTIVE-Otoo
Hail to this awful place! Sacred Fiatooka 2 Hail!
Where Othetan Chiefs in everlasting moe3 lie warriors renown'd,
On Eimeo's4 fanguine plains with hard-fought victory crown'd;
Tho' here in death ye moulder, yet the royal line can never fail,
Preserv'd by Towha's power divine;
And the illustrious name,
By glorious actions dear to frame,
In my belov'd Omai shall never die.
AIR I.-Otoo
God of Bolabola5 hear!
Accept this plantain, yam, and hog, well roasted
Offerings to thy Godship dear,
With mahee6 sweet as ever boasted;
And while thus I lowly bend,
Let my humble suit ascend.
[The sacrifice blazes up.
The flames arise,
Blest sacrifice!
Towha snuffs the favor;
Propitious sign
Of grace benign
Sure token of his favor.
RECITATIVE.
Say, shall my son Omai reign?
GreatTowha now an answer deign.
Towha assumes the Apperance of a Chief Mourner.
RECITATIVE.-Otoo
(appalled).
My Quiv'ring flesh, my limbs bedew'd all o'ver;
Each feeble sense---my eyes---my voice---no more!
[Falls prostrate.
AIR II.-Towha.
Spirits of peace that hover round,
Oh, chear his mortal fight!
Dispel with sewwt responsive sound
The horrors of the night.
[Celestial muse.
My Aerial band, ar't ready?
Chorus of spirits.
Ready.
Towha.
To run, to swim, to fly, at my command?
Chorus of spirits.
Command.
Towha.
To run?
Chorus of spirits.
To run.
Towha.
To swim?
Chorus of spirits.
To swim.
Towha.
To fly?
Chorus of spirits.
To fly.
Towha.
At my command?
Chorus of spirits.
Command.
Spiritsappear.
Towha.
His darling son with motion soft as Maoaian7 gales, hither convey
My gentle spirits away.
Chorus of spirits.
Away!
[Disappear.
Soft Music, and Omai brought in.
AIR III.-Spirtis, Otoo. and Towha.
Chorus of spirits.
Happy Father---Otaheite's heir!
[To Otoo and Omai.
Otoo.
Otoo's hope,
Towha.
And Towha's care.
RECITATIVE.-Towha.
My precepts still from folly shall direct him,
This potent talisman from harm protect him.
(Places the talisman by the side of Omai-Thunder-Britannia is seen holding Londina.Britannia speaks.)
Britannia
Mark, votive islander, thy fate is mine,
For mine
The Queen of Isles, the mistress of the main!
Upon my sea-grit shore, by Neptune fenc'd,
Kind greeting, pleasure, welcome sweet receive;
Still shall my sons, by Cook's example taught,
Thy new-found world protect adn humanize.
In soft alliance bound, this British maid
Be thine, and Love, a radiant throne shall fix
Firm as my rock, where sits bright Liberty.
RECITATIVE.-Otoo.
The splendid vision , oh, my son obey,
Towhacomands for Englandquick away.
But ere, lov'd youth, you quit your native shore,
Your rival Oediddee shall restore
The Royal Ensigns, Britain to convince
That in Omai she receives a Prince.

2.2. Scene 2

Inside of a morai of the antient Aree-de-by's8ancestors of Omai

Enter Otoo and Omai
RECITATIVE.-Otoo
[Omai kneels.
Alas! to spare him you in vain implore me;
Quick, fly and bring Oediddee here before me.
[Calls to Spirits, who bring on Oediddee.
RECITATIVE-Oediddee.
Oh, sage Otoo! accept my true contrition,
I yeild obedience to each hard condiion;
Your son still loves me, still I love that son,
From childhood still the race of life we've run;
My smallest greif was anguish to his heart,
His slightest joy could every joy impart.
AIR IV.-Oediddee.
O'er groves of coral, throught the deep,
Where Mogee9 fish thier revels keep,
Our Staunch canoes in confort glide,
Tho' Stern Farooa10 swells the tide,
Small the danger each could fee,
Friendship cried, you're safe with me.
On the hill, that upward towers,
Crown'd with shrubs and sweetest flowers,
There we taste eternal spring,
While the Wattle-bird11 shall sing
Double joys to him and me,
Ever such let friendship be.

RECITATIVE.

Otoo.
Resign, fond youth, each silly vain pre-
tension.
Oediddee.
What good awaits my tacit condescen-
tion?
Otoo.
Your fortunes with my son I'll link for
ever
So Strong, that nought but death your
fates can sever.
Surrounding isles shall own thy sovereign
sway,
E'en distant Wateoo12 shall tribute pay,
Be you thier Cheif, their powerful
Areekee13
'T' Omai leave th' Otaheitean crown,
This is Otoo's decree.
To Britain, now, Omai must repair,
And many dangers run to win the British
fair.
AIR V.-Oediddee.
Adueu, dear Omai, and gladly recieve
That true and kind welcome that Britons
can give.
[General Chorus.
Adueu, dear Omai, and gladly recieve
That true and kind welcome that Britons
can give.

2.3. Scene 3

A view of Plymouth Sound, with part of Mount Edgcumb, where Omai, with Harlequin as his servant, lands; as also does Don Struttolando, with Clown as his Servant: both in pursuit of the Object of their Affections, Londina.

Different comic Business is here introduced, with the two following Airs by and old Water-Crefs Woman, or Fairy.
AIR VI.-Old Fairy
Cold and hungry tho' I sing
Water-Cresses o'the spring;
Your money, neighbours, little less is
Buy my nice spring water-cresses
AIR VII.-Old Fairy
Keep it, prithee keep it, my kind my generous
Boy;
And Featly, Nimbly use it, shou'd surly care
annoy.
Quick posting on a fun-beam, here potent
Towha sent me;
His charge "take care of Harlequin" and
pow'rful spells he lent me.
Be still Omai's valet, he
With kind regard
Shall well reward
Thy care and strict fidelity.
Let pity touhc they bosom thro' frolick and va-
gary,
And tho shalt ever find me thy true, thy
guardian fairy.
[The Scene ends with Omai losing his Talisman, and their going off to a Justice of Peace for its recovery.]

2.4. Scene 4

The Justice Room; where Omai gets back this Talisman, but loses one of his Royal Ensigns, which by some Magic Odour produces the Effects mentioned in the following

AIR VIII.-Justice, Captain, Constables and Men.

1st Constable
Look here, please your worship,
this very fine thing;
My eye! but it's fit for the knob of
a King.
Captin
As you are to punish whatever's amiss;
Pray what's to be done iwth the stealer
of this?
Justice
I wish I may never with venison be
stuff't
If ever I saw such a beautiful tuft!
And now, by my honor, I've thought
of a use
For this wing of a turkey, or tail of
a goose;
'Twill make a choice top for the
head of my wife;
It's mine, and fo now there's an end
of the stife.
Oh, dear, what a delicate smell!
1st Constable
I vow it is wond'rous pleasing;
Justice
But why I yawn thus, I can't tell.
1st Constable
Oh, zounds, it has set me a sneezing.
2nd Constable
It's a plume for a royal of France,
1st Man
Or the cap of a Knight of the
Thistle.
2nd Constable
Why what the deuce makes me thus
dance,
1st Man
And tho' I've no mind I must whistle
2nd Man
This perfume, good sir, let me try;
Captin
A perfume indeed worth the having,
2nd Man
Lack-a-daisy, I find I must cry.
Captin
By the Lord it has set me a laughing.
All
To set me a
[sneezing
yawning
dancing
whistling
laughing
crying]
and all by a smell.
These feathers contain sure some magical spell.

2.5. Scene 5

A View of Kensington Gardens, where Omai and Harlequin meet with Londina and her Maid Colombine and effect their Escape together.

2.6. Scene 6

Outside of the Father's house.

Londina and Colombine are seized by Don Struttolando and Clown, but amidst various Situations and much comic Business, Harlequin effects an Entrance into the house, and escapes with Loncina and Colombine.

2.7. Scene 7

A view of Margate from behind the Pier.

The Company are entertained by a Master of a Raffling Toy-Shop with the following.
AIR-Raffling Toy-Shop-Man.
I
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen customers, pop,will ye
Into my neat little, sweet little shop, will ye?
Walk about, Ma'am, or sit down and chat a bit;
Miss, here's the dice-box, what think you of that a bit?
I don't mean to gamble, or each other fleece,
You shall only put in five and three pencea piece;
This enamell'd Gold Watch, tick, goes right to a minute;
Those lily white fingers Ma'am, surely must win it.
then, Ma'am, will you walk in and tol de rol diddle?
[Mimicks throwing dice.
And, Sir, will you step in, and tol de rol diddle?
And, Miss, will you pop in and tol de rol diddle?
And, Master, pray hop in and tol de rol diddle?
II
When prudish, to help out your fies and your hushes, Miss,
What if you throw for this bottle of blushes, Miss-
Sal-Volatile, when your lover gets ranting,
You'll find, that to tip him a faint may be wanting.
Ma'am, a twee that won't leave a grey hair in your brow.
Sir, a wife book to read in, that's-if you know how,
[Aside.
Hall's, Benson's and Silver's not saunter like drones about
But all come to Austin's, and here knock the bones about.
Then, Ma'am &c.
III.
Ye Londoners, who would sling sorrow and cash away,
Welcome to Margate, in Salt-Water dash away.
Clean as a penny we'll souse, sop, and pickle ye;
Out of your gold, neat as Brighton we'll tickle ye;
Says spousey to deary, to Margate we'll trip
In the dog-days, and give little Jacky a dip;
Tho' here in the Dilly, gay pleasure attend ye,
Yet back in the Hoy, poor Job, we'll soon send ye.
Then Ma'am &c.
Omai and Harlequin with Londina and Colombine Leave Europe, and are pursued, which closes the First Part.
Notes
*
The Idea of this dress was taken from Cook's Voyage, Where it is said that Omai, to make himself fine on his introduction to Cheifs dressed himself with a piece of the habit of each country he has seen in his several voygages.
1.
A temple, or Burying place
2.
A repository for the dead.
3.
Sleep.
4.
One of the Sociery Islands, generaily at war with Otaheite.
5.
Another of the Socitey Islands, the most ferocious in war, conquerors of Ulitea, which was anciently subject.
6.
Bread.
7.
Western breezes.
8.
Grand Chirfs.
9.
An excellent species of fish in those seas.
10.
A strong and dangerous wind.
11.
The most melodious in the Islands.
12.
The farthest situated from Otaheite.
13.
King.
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Mr. Jophn O'Keefe. Date: 2022-05-20