1915 Harry Clay staged his revusicals in 1915 as a first part entertainment - essentially replacing the minstrel portion of his previous shows. The second part of the program offered vaudeville artists - some of which were staged by specialty artists and some by members of the revusical troupe. Most of the other theatre operations presenting revusicals at this time presented these productions as a second part entertainment - with the vaudeville bill opening proceedings. Edward Warwick's Burlesquers toured Australia during the year, presenting vaudeville and burlesque-style musical comedy productions. The troupe included performers such as Maud Fane, George Tichener and Armitage and Hine. The origins of their music theatre works are unclear. __________ THIS IS THE LIFE: [burlesque] Txt. Paul Stanhope; Mus. [n/e] Described as a musical burlesque with seven part characters and a chorus of twelve who sing, dance and/or perform specialty acts. Possibly written by Stanhope with contributions from other Les Bates and other members of the company, the action appears to have unfolded within various parts of a hotel, including a restaurant. Reference is made to the war in a section played out by Arthur Renshaw and a chorus of girls "personifying the Allies" (X-Ray, 35). Stanhope's Spike Murphy character was reportedly a piano mover in this production. Other characters include Charlie Wise (landlord), Google-Eyed Hogan (Spike's friend), Adolf (a waiter), Lord No Coin (up against it), Jannette Dupree (a jolly widow), and Dolly Dollars (her friend). Songs included in the 1915 production included the opening chorus (The Grafters), "I'll Get You," Here Comes the Whip, Poor Will (coon quartet), "Sail On, Silvery Moon," and "It's a Long Way to Tickle Mary." 1915: Bijou Theatre, Melbourne; 2-8 Jan. - Dir. Paul Stanhope; Prod. Fullers' Theatres Ltd. - Troupe: Paul Stanhope Merry Musical Burlesque Company. - Cast incl. Paul Stanhope (Spike Murphy), Les Bates (Charlie Wise), Ruby Kennedy, (Jeanette Dupree), Reg Herbert (Google-Eyed Hogan), Frank Norton (Adolf), Frank Ross (Lord No Coin), Miss Fritzee de Guy (Dolly); plus "The Grafters Quartet" (Harry Ross, Teddy Long, Arthur Renshaw, George McCall). 1915: His Majesty's Theatre, Ballarat (Vic); 6 Feb. - Cast and production mostly as for previous Melbourne season (Lse. Harry Sadler). 1915: National Amphitheatre, Sydney; 13-19 Feb. - Cast and production mostly as for previous Melbourne season. - This was the opening production for Stanhope's seven week season at the National (ending 30 Mar.), and was followed by two other revusicals On the Farm and Helloa Coogee. The company left for New Zealand on 31 March. 1915: Empire Theatre, Brisbane; 13-19 Nov. Paul Stanhope - Dir. Paul Stanhope; Prod. Holland and St John (in assoc. with Fullers' Theatres Theatre Apr. (1915), 1. Ltd); Lse. Holland and St John. - Troupe: Paul Stanhope's Merry Musical Burlesque Company. "Her Majesty's Theatre." Ballerat Courier 6 Feb. (1915), 11. X-Ray. "Paul Stanhope Musical Burlesque Co." Theatre Magazine Mar. (1915), 35. DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT: [pantomime] Lib. Dan Thomas; Mus. [n/e] This version of the popular pantomime was adapted for the Australian stage by Dan Thomas from his earlier London production (believed to have been first produced ca.1910). Although no details of the Philip Lytton regional tour under canvas (along with another Thomas pantomime, Aladdin) have been located yet, the Theatre reports in February 1915 that both productions were in rehearsal as of January and that the tour was scheduled to begin in early February. The tour's principal girl, Marceline Boulais had previously starred in Come Over Here (1913), believed to have been the first revue ever staged in Australia. She took over the role played in Sydney by Olive Godwin for Melbourne and Adelaide. Interestingly, the Adelphi Theatre (Syd) production marked the first time that American director Lester Brown had worked for George Marlow, despite having been brought to Australia by the producer some two and a half years previously. Originally engaged in America by Marlow to direct a series of dramas at the Adelphi Theatre in Sydney, by the time Brown had arrived in Australia the theatre had changed hands, and his contract was thus automatically taken up by the new proprietor, George Willoughby. Brown's association with Willoughby saw him quickly become one of the leading directors of musical comedy in the country, and although he staged all manner of theatre (including motion pictures) during his long career, it was would be his musical comedies and pantomimes that found the greatest success. For the Adelphi season much of the comedy fell to Dan Thomas as the dame, Mary Ann, with Carrie Moore taking on the principal boy role of Dick Whittington. Some of the topicalities incorporated into the narrative included the up-coming census, with Dan Thomas raising plenty of laughs with his line "Is this where I get my senses taken?" Several references to the war were also made, with an allusion to Germans interned in Australia being applauded vigorously when the actors suggested more should be put into the camps" (Brisbane Courier 17 Feb. 1916, 4). One of the chief attractions, too, was the scenic art by Rege Robins and his assistants. The settings included: "The Panama Exposition," "The Tower of Jewels," "The Fountain of Energy," "The Great Shipwreck," "The Gardens of Morocco," and "The Big Cheapside Scene. Two of the Dick Whittington's biggest hit songs were "Rufe Johnston's Harmony Band" sung by Dan Thomas; and a duet by Thomas and Billy Watson titled "If You Can't Get a Girl in the Summertime (You'll Never Get a Girl at All)." The rest of the music, described by the Brisbane Courier theatre critic as "not strikingly melodious, but [containing] catchy numbers" (4) included: "What's the Good of the Moonlight" and "Little House on the Hill" (Moore); the duet "I Just Can't Keep Away from You" (Moore and de Vere); and "Idle Jack" (de Vere). The dances staged included: "The Dance of the Nile Maidens," The Beautiful Harem Ballet" and "The McLean's Whirlwind Dance." 1915: Phillip Lytton's Australian regional tour; beginning Feb. - Dir/Pord. Philip Lytton. - Cast incl. Kathleen Mack (aka Mrs Frank Musgrove as principal boy), Marceline Boulais (principal girl), Reg Harrison (dame). 1915: Adelphi Theatre, Sydney; 21 Dec. 1915 - Jan. 1916 - Dir. Lester Brown; Prod. George Marlow; M Dir. T. H. Knibb; S Art. Rege Robins. - Cast incl. Carrie Moore (Dick), Dan Thomas (Mary Ann), Frank Skeats (Demon King), Violet Noveni (Fairy Queen), Kathleen Mack (Capt. David), Audrey Worth (Princess of Morocco), Harry Burgess (Marlin Spike), Billy Watson (Idle Jack), Ted Stanley (Bowsprite), Ray de Vere (Alice Fitzwarren), Eddie Mclean (The Cat), Decima McLean (dancer), Montambo and Wells. 1916: His Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane; 16-28 Feb. - Cast and production mostly as for previous Sydney season. "Dick Whittington." Brisbane Courier 17 Feb. (1916), 4. [see also advert. - 16 Feb. 1916: 2; and rev. - 18 Feb. 1916, 5] "Dick Whittington Pantomime." Brisbane Courier 18 Feb. (1916), 5. "Philip Lytton's Pantomime Co." Theatre Magazine Feb. (1915), 36. ALADDIN: [pantomime] Lib. Dan Thomas; Mus. [n/e] Although no details of the Phillip Lytton regional tour under canvas (along with another Thomas pantomime, Dick Whittington) have been located yet, the Theatre Magazine reports in February 1915 that both productions were in rehearsal as of January and that the tour was scheduled to begin in early February. The tour's principal girl, Marceline Boulais had previously starred in Come Over Here (1913), believed to have been the first revue ever staged in Australia. She took over the role played in Sydney by Olive Godwin for Melbourne and Adelaide. 1915: Phillip Lytton's Australian regional tour; beginning Feb. - Dir/Prod. Philip Lytton. - Cast incl. Kathleen Mack (aka Mrs Frank Musgrove as principal boy), Marceline Boulais (principal girl), Reg Harrison (dame). "Philip Lytton's Pantomime Co." Theatre Magazine Feb. (1915), 36. FUN ON A FARM: [aka ON A FARM] [revusical] Txt. Paul Stanhope; Mus. [n/e] It is unclear as to what relationship this revusical has with several other similarly titled revusicals staged in Australia over the course of the next decade or so. These include: Arthur Morley's On the Land (1916); Art Slavin's On the Ranch (1916) Fooling the Farmer (also sometimes referred to as Fun on a Farm) produced on the Clay circuit in 1917; and Fun on the Farm (Billy Cass, 1926). [NB: It is also not clear whether a relationship exists between any of these revusicals and a minstrel farce staged in 1897 under the title Fun on a Farm (produced by Harry Rickards at the Melbourne Opera House from 17 July)] Theatre Apr. (12915), 1. 1915: National Amphitheatre, Sydney; ca. Mar. - Dir. Paul Stanhope; Prod. Fullers' Theatres Ltd. - Troupe: Paul Stanhope Merry Musical Burlesque Company. - Cast incl. Paul Stanhope, Les Bates, Ruby Kennedy, Frank Norton, plus "The Grafters Quartet" (Harry Ross, Teddy Long, Arthur Renshaw, George McCall). - The second of three productions staged by the Stanhope company during a seven week season (Feb/Mar.) at the National. The other productions being This is the Life and Helloa Coogee. 1915: Empire Theatre, Brisbane; 20-26 Nov. - Dir. Paul Stanhope; Prod. Holland and St John (in assoc. with Fullers' Theatres Ltd); Lse. Holland and St John. - Troupe: Paul Stanhope Merry Musical Burlesque Company. HELLOA COOGEE: [aka HELLOA BRISBANE] [revusical] Txt. Paul Stanhope; Mus. [n/e] It is believed that the title of this production changed according to the place it was being staged, hence Helloa Coogee when presented in Sydney, and Hello Brisbane during the Queensland capital's season. 1915: National Amphitheatre, Sydney; ca. Mar. - Dir. Paul Stanhope; Prod.