person or book cover

Photo courtesy of Mitchell Library
from Australian Variety (23 May 1917)

Arthur Morley Arthur Morley i(A103002 works by) (birth name: Arthur M. Welch)
; Died: Ceased: 6 Sep 1935 Brisbane, Queensland,
Gender: Male
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Works By

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1 Brown's in Town George Sorlie Vaudeville and Revue Company , George Sorlie , Arthur Morley , 1931 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

1 3 Mother Grundy Arthur Morley , George Sorlie Vaudeville and Revue Company , George Sorlie , 1931 single work musical theatre pantomime fantasy

Billed as 'George Sorlie's all-Australian pantomime' (Brisbane Courier 12 December 1931, p.2), the storyline 'revolves around the vicissitudes experienced by Matilda Grundy in her ultimately successful search for her hero [while] the machinations of the scheming Dame Grundy are effectively repulsed by the Fairy Wattle' (28 December 1931, p.7). The principal boy role (played by Yvonne Banvard) involved multiple character impersonations: 'The Aussie Lad,' 'Dick Whittington,' 'Robinson Crusoe', and 'Boy Blue.'

Produced on a large scale with numerous original dances, comic interludes, picturesque settings, an extensive musical programme, and a real circus (including performing horses, dogs, a donkey, clowns, and trapeze artists), the pantomime also drew much praise from the Brisbane Courier for its transformation scene depicting Queensland's primary industries and Australia's emblematic flowers. Local allusions ('The Prince of Pinkenba,' for example) and topicalities were also introduced into the storyline.

The musical programme comprised twenty-two songs and ballets, including 'You Should See My Neighbour's Daughter' (sung by George Sorlie), 'Rip Van Winkle' (Percy Mackay), and 'The Dance of the Mummies' (ballet). A review in the Brisbane Courier also notes that the production included 'George Sorlie's musical tour of the world per medium of the orchestra' (21 December 1931, p.3).

1 y separately published work icon A Daughter of Australia Arthur Morley , Bert Rache (composer), Sydney : J. Albert , 1922 Z1396342 1922 single work lyric/song
1 All Ashore Arthur Morley , Reg Wykeham , Arrivals of 1922 , 1922 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

1 Ship Ahoy Arthur Morley , Arrivals of 1922 , Reg Wykeham , 1922 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

Set aboard the good ship Saucy Kate, with Morley as the captain and Sadie Gale as a lively little midshipman.

1 A Lord for a Night Arthur Morley , Harry Sadler , 1918 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

1 How To Get Rid of a Mother-in-law Arthur Morley , Harry Sadler , 1918 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

1 1 Yacka Hula Hickey Dula Arthur Morley , 1918 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

2 The City of 'Make-Believe' i "A wee little girlie sat playing", Arthur Morley , 1917 single work poetry
— Appears in: Australian Variety and Show World , 17 January 1917; (p. 4)

— Appears in: Australian Variety Theatre Archive : Popular Culture Entertainment: 1850-1930 'What Oh Tonight' : The Methodology Factor and Pre-1930s Australian Variety Theatre - Appendices (Volumes 1 and 2) 2005; (p. 1049)
1 Aladdin Arthur Morley , Harry Sadler , 1917 single work musical theatre pantomime revue/revusical fantasy

Revusical-style pantomime.

Presented as second-half entertainiment during Harry Sadler's 1917 Christmas season at Sydney's Princess Theatre, this 'potted pantomime' is said to have had its dialogue written in rhyme. The story also included frequent topical allusions.

1 The Belle of Parsley Bay Arthur Morley , Harry Sadler , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

Set on the deck of the Saucy Kate, with a cast of characters burlesquing various members of the theatrical and journalist professions, as well as well-known citizens. Characters include Captain Handy Kurr (Andy Kerr, aka 'the Coogee Bunyip', bookmaker and owner of Sydney's Gaiety Theatre), Lieut. Brennan (Martin C. Brennan, vaudeville critic and publisher of Australian Variety), and Kitch Bottomtop (Harry Kitching, editor of Australian Variety).

1 Hopalong Cassidy Arthur Morley , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

A revusical based on Clarence E. Mulford's fictional-cowboy hero who, from 1904, appeared in a series of highly popular stories and novels.

1 Six O'Clock Closing Arthur Morley , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , Harry Sadler , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

1 1 Everybody's Doing It Arthur Morley , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

1 2 Miss Chilly From Chile Arthur Morley , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , Harry Clay's No 1 Revue Company , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

1 I'll Kill That Kid Arthur Morley , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

1 Run for the Doctor Arthur Morley , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical

Revusical.

1 The Island of Spice Arthur Morley , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

1 1 Who's the Boss Arthur Morley , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

1 1 Dockum Street, Wooloomooloo Arthur Morley , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , Harry Clay's No 1 Revue Company , Harry Sadler , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

Although information concerning this revusical's storyline is scarce, Harry Little's portrayal of a Wooloomooloo tough came in for special mention in a review published in the February 1917 issue of the Theatre. Describing his impersonation as having been done 'to a tick', the magazine's variety critic, X-ray, cites the following lines from Loo-ite Blister as he complains about his wife: 'She wouldn't give me a deener... and she had a day's washing yesterday.' One of Jack Kearns's amusing lines, according to the same review, was 'Don't you call me a loafer or I'll have you up on definition of character' (p.46).

In the same production, Elsie Bates and Phyllis Faye played the companion characters Mrs Boko and Mrs Blister, described by X-ray as 'two lairy, shriekingly-funny creations.'

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