The Genie From Down Under
Encyclopedia
The Genie From Down Under is an Australian children's comedy
television series. It was a co-production between the ACTF, the BBC
and the ABC
from 1996 to 1998. It was released on video in the 1990s, and is available for order via the ACTF website or Purchase on iTunes.
girl, comes into possession of an opal pendant
when she explores the dusty attic of her family's decaying mansion. The opal
contains two Australian genies, Bruce and his son Baz, and, typically, an episode revolved around the consequences of one of Penelope's flippant wishes, or the efforts of an outside party to steal the opal (and thus, the genies).
When Penelope inherits a property in Australia (Townes Downs), Bruce and Baz are very happy because it means that they can spend more time in their own country. When they go to inspect the property, they meet Otto von Meister, who runs tours of outback Australia. His family had once owned the opal, and according to Otto, Penelope's great grandfather had stolen it from his family years before. When he finds out that Penelope has the opal, he tries to steal it from her. He often enlists his nephew Conrad to help him. Penelope falls in love with Conrad, which gives Otto far more opportunity to steal the opal.
Things are further complicated when Bruce (the genie) falls in love with Penelope's mother, Lady Diana Townes. She is already supposedly in love with Lord 'Bubbles' Uppington-Smythe, however, it is revealed that this is only because of his money, and she in turn falls in love with Bruce.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
television series. It was a co-production between the ACTF, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
from 1996 to 1998. It was released on video in the 1990s, and is available for order via the ACTF website or Purchase on iTunes.
Plot
Penelope Townes, a 13 year old BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
girl, comes into possession of an opal pendant
Pendant
A pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, when the ensemble may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. In modern French "pendant" is the gerund form of “hanging”...
when she explores the dusty attic of her family's decaying mansion. The opal
Opal
Opal is an amorphous form of silica related to quartz, a mineraloid form, not a mineral. 3% to 21% of the total weight is water, but the content is usually between 6% to 10%. It is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock, being most...
contains two Australian genies, Bruce and his son Baz, and, typically, an episode revolved around the consequences of one of Penelope's flippant wishes, or the efforts of an outside party to steal the opal (and thus, the genies).
When Penelope inherits a property in Australia (Townes Downs), Bruce and Baz are very happy because it means that they can spend more time in their own country. When they go to inspect the property, they meet Otto von Meister, who runs tours of outback Australia. His family had once owned the opal, and according to Otto, Penelope's great grandfather had stolen it from his family years before. When he finds out that Penelope has the opal, he tries to steal it from her. He often enlists his nephew Conrad to help him. Penelope falls in love with Conrad, which gives Otto far more opportunity to steal the opal.
Things are further complicated when Bruce (the genie) falls in love with Penelope's mother, Lady Diana Townes. She is already supposedly in love with Lord 'Bubbles' Uppington-Smythe, however, it is revealed that this is only because of his money, and she in turn falls in love with Bruce.
Cast
- Alexandra Milman - as Penelope Townes
- Rhys MuldoonRhys MuldoonRhys Muldoon is an Australian actor, writer and director who has worked extensively in film, television, theatre and radio.-Television:...
- as Bruce (Season 1) - Sandy WintonSandy WintonSandy Winton, born Alexander Gordon, is an Australian actor currently playing the role of Erinsborough High Principal, Michael Williams, in the soap-opera, Neighbours.-Career:...
- as Bruce (Season 2) - Glenn MeldrumGlenn MeldrumGlenn Meldrum is an Australian actor.-Filmography:*Blue Heelers – Todd Gilmore *The Saddle Club – Phil Marsten *The Wog Boy – Clayton...
- as Baz - Anna GalvinAnna GalvinAnna Galvin is an Australian actress who appeared as Lex Luthor's assistant, Gina, in Smallville, and as Lavender Eyes in Tin Man. She also played Lady Marion Fitzwalter in the first season of the TV series The New Adventures of Robin Hood in 1997.-Filmography:-External links:...
- as Lady Diana Townes - Ian McFadyenIan McFadyenIan McFadyen is an Australian writer, actor, and director. He is best known as the producer and performer on the Australian television series The Comedy Company which ran from 16 February 1988 to 11 November 1990...
- as Lord 'Bubbles' Uppington-Smythe - Monica MaughanMonica MaughanMonica Maughan was an Australian actor with notable and well-known roles in film, theatre, radio and television.-Early life and education:...
- as Diana and Penelope's housekeeper Miss Mossop - Mark Mitchell - as Otto von Meister
- Fletcher HumphrysFletcher HumphrysFletcher Humphrys is an Australian actor. He is best known for his roles as Brett 'Brick' Buchanon in McLeod's Daughters and as Alex Kearns in All Saints.-Career:...
- as "Conrad"