Boys Costumes Depicted in Australian Television Shows: Genie from Down Under (1995-96?)


Figure 1.--Glen and Rhys playing Baz and Bruce wore traditional Australian clothing for "Genie from Down Under". Akubra hats, moleskin trousers, closed front shirts, and elastic sided boots. The bangs were a popular hair style of the day in Australia and America.

Many children and also some adults have dreamed about having their own personal Genie to grant their wishes. The Australian TV series not only providesone, but two genies. Glen Meldrum (Baz) played alongside Rhys Muldoon (Bruce) as a Son and his magical Father in the Australian Childrens' Television Foundation series "The Genie from Downunder". The series was extended into a second season, which is unusual in Childrens' TV. The series was filmed in Australia and the United Kingdom. Glen and Rhys wore traditional Australian clothing. Akubra hats, moleskin trousers, closed front shirts, and elastic sided boots.

Chracters

Phenelope is a 13 year and a self-centred and a snob. The black opal proves to be more of a challenge than she anticipated, especially when she is not very nice to here Genies. Bruce is the black opal genie who is intent on getting back to Australia and to figure how to undo the commands of his master. Baz as Bruce's son is a junior Genie. I'm not sure how old he is, perhaps 7-8 years old. His Genie owers are not yet fully developed and he often manage to undo his father's eforts.

Cast

Glen Meldrum (Baz) played alongside Rhys Muldoon (Bruce) as a son and his magical Genie father in the Australian Childrens' Television Foundation series "The Genie from Down Under". Phenelope is played by Alexandra Milman.

TV-ology

The series was extended into a second season, which is unusual in Childrens' TV. The series was filmed in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Plot

Many children and also some adults have dreamed about having their own personal Genie to grant their wishes. The Australian TV series not only providesone, but two genies.

Series 1

The ancestral home Townes Hall in Wiltshire, England has seen better days. Lady Diana Townes has to take in paying guests to make ends meet. Penelope, her 13 year old daughter finds a beautiful black opal in an old trunk. Even better, she is delighted to realize it has a Genie with the power to save the beloved ancestral home and turn the family's fortunes around. The Genie's name was Bruce and had been brought to England from Australia by Penelope's great, great, grandfather, Sir Claude. Bruze had a son named Baz. They lived in the black opal until summoned. They were quite happy to live in the opal, waiting to be summoned, and longing to get away from the terrible weather in England. Penelope rather absentmindeldly wishes she were somewhere else, Bruce only too willing to get back to sunny Australia whisks her to her inheritance, Townes Downs--a run down farmhouse in the Australian outback. Thus a battle of wills is set up. Penelope absolutely hates Australia and can't wait to get back to Wiltshire. Bruce wants to stay in wonderful warm Australia. Penelope has the power, but Bruce is more clever and has the magic. Penelope can't control her Genie.

Series 2

The Genies returned for a second series. Bruce still wants fredom and persues Lady Diana Townes, Penelope's mother. A battle looms for possession of the black opal which had originally been stolen from the Aboriginal peoples. Some rather dubious Australian tour guides see a chance to snatch the blkack opal and Ggenies.

Clothing

The genies were costumed unlike any earlier genies in traditional Australian clothes. There was none of the usyal hoky Genie outfits. Glen and Rhys wore traditional Australian clothing. Akubra hats, moleskin trousers, closed front shirts, and elastic sided boots.








Christopher Wagner





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Created: September 29, 2002
Last updated: September 29, 2002