Revusical.
Described in advertising and reviews as 'a dreamy romance of blood-curdling pirates, Chinese mandarins, pretty girls and Jim as a rushin' Russian Admiral' (Argus 6 November 1926, p.42); a 'picturesque Chinese Phantasy' (Brisbane Courier 11 June 1927, p.2); and 'a hilarious revue of Lotus Land' (Sydney Morning Herald 6 February 1933, p.4). A review published in the Argus in 1926 proposes that 'the plot and production were above the average of music hall revues'. The critic goes on to add, 'Dressed in appropriately grotesque uniform, Mr Gerald, as the admiral in the Ruritanian Navy, had the type of part which he likes and plays best' (8 November 1926, p.9).
Once Aboard a Lugger was also claimed to be the best of the snappy revues staged by Gerald's company at the Empire (Brisbane) that same year. 'It is brimful of colour, action and humour from start to finish,' writes the Brisbane Courier's theatre critic, 'and there is plenty of bright and catchy music. The revue has a Chinese setting, which lends itself to spectacular scenic effects, and the opportunities in this direction are fully availed of. Jim Gerald fills the role of Admiral Pitchitoffski (an admirable admiral) and he revels in his burlesque of "the silent navy". There is a complete setting for intrigue and for laughter, with a beautiful white girl betrothed to a Chinese mandarin, pompous Russians, inscrutable Chinese, and a tang of the salt sea, but everything comes out right in the end' (13 June 1927, p.16). Gerald's character is further described in a 1926 Sydney Morning Herald review as 'a rather decrepit admiral who has as the entire personnel of his fleet an unobtrusively funny sailor' (the part of the officer and crew of the navy was played by Reg Hawthorne). The critic also records that 'Not the least humorous part of the revue was that revealing the submissions of the mandarin by the artifice of wireless' (26 April 1926, p.4).
The musical programme in 1927 comprised 'East is East' (sung by Howard Hall), 'Flies on Auntie' (Jim Gerald), 'China Girl' (Betty Lambert and the Twinklers), 'Sailing Home' (May Geary), 'Down in China Town' (Essie Jennings and the Twinklers), and 'Build a Bungalow' (Lambert and Hawthorne). One of the ballets presented was titled 'Yellow Peril'.