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Source: Nat Phillips Collection. Courtesy of the Fryer Library, The University of Queensland
y separately published work icon Cinderella single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy   - Two acts (14 scenes)
Issue Details: First known date: 1919... 1919 Cinderella
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Although largely following the traditional Cinderella storyline, this version sees the young girl growing up believing she is the daughter of wicked Baron Derick and not realising that she is instead the missing daughter of a king. The hardships she is to endure (until the intervention of her fairy godmother) are introduced in the prologue, which is set in Spider's Ghetto, where King Rat and King Spider hatch their evil plans to wreck Cinderella's life as a means of getting revenge on their enemy, Fairy Snowdrop.

The pantomime had a number of vaudeville acts incorporated into the narrative, notably in the scenes featuring Stiffy and Mo. Interestingly, Phillips and Rene continued portraying their alter egos in the scenes they appeared in, even when cast as characters such as hunters, politicians, or bailiffs. Although not the story's major characters, the pair nevertheless seemed to capture a good deal of attention from the critics. A 1919 review in the Sydney Morning Herald records, for example, that 'Stiffy and Mo... with their dog, Buster (Le Brun) always inconveniently arrived where they were not wanted. Their songs and patter contained many topical references that were highly appreciated by the audience' (22 December 1919, p.5).

The following year's Melbourne production saw an Age critic write" 'A large proportion of the humour is supplied by Messrs Nat Phillips and Roy Rene in their habitual parts of Stiffy and Mo. On this occasion, Stiffy and Mo are bailiffs who attempt to get the rent out of Cinderella's father, Baron Derick, but they appear also as huntsmen and courtiers and in other roles' (28 December 1920, p.6). Less impressed with their antics, however, was the Bulletin. 'Stiffy and Mo make extensive incursions into the plot', writes the magazine's 'Sundry Shows' critic. 'Stiffy is the loud Nat Phillips, who being producer never spares himself in trying to deafen the audience. Roy Rene (Mo) is smoother and more effective as a Yid of conventional type, but has just as much to say as his voluble partner, and never lags superfluous in the wings' (30 December 1920, p.34).

The opening and closing choruses, ballet, and incidental music for all productions (1919-1921) were composed by W. Hamilton Webber, with additional songs being sourced for the Prince's Grand Ball (Act 1, Sc. 2 finale) and the wedding finale ('Wedding Bells'). Other songs incorporated into the 1919/20 Grand Opera House production included two Vince Courtney numbers, 'The Silver in My Mothers Hair', and 'Mexico'; 'You've Set Me Dreaming' (Amy Rochelle and Linda Dale); and Amy Rochelle's waltz-style composition 'Cinderella' (also used in the 1920 Melbourne production).

The twenty-three songs used in the 1921 revival included 'Red Rat' (sung by King Rat); 'Love Shall Reign' (King Rat, Spider King, and Queen Snowdrop); 'Where is Cinders?' (opening chorus); 'Lonely' and 'I Wonder Who' (Cinderella); 'Hunting for a Girl', 'One Horse Town', 'See What I've Found', and 'Mrs Macquarie's Chair' (Prince Charming, with chorus); 'Trouble' (Prince Charming, Cinderella, and King Rat); 'Old Garden Gate' (Prince Charming and Cinderella); and several songs by the chorus: 'Ding Dong', 'Western Days' and 'Wedding Bells' (with full ensemble).

The wedding scene is said to have involved a cake weighing just over one ton, which was brought on stage filled with fairies, mannequins, and other spirits of fairyland. Table Talk indicates that the cake had to be positioned within four minutes and that the whole operartion was controlled by a single string (30 December 1920, p.21).

Notes

  • It is possible that some of the scenes played out by Nat Phillips and Roy Rene as bailiffs were later adapted into Phillips' Stiffy and Mo revusical The Bailiffs (1927).
  • The Nat Phillips Collection (Fryer Library) holds a copy of a scene sequence for an Adelaide revival over the 1931-1932 summer period. See UQFLP, Box 1 - M/MS 7.
  • The National Library of Australia holds in its music collection a published score to 'You've Set Me Dreaming' (Archibald Benwell/Doris Michael). It is available in an electronic version via the internet at http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an13986144.

Production Details

  • 1919: Grand Opera House, Sydney, 26 December 1919 - 5 March 1920.

    • Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Music Director/Conductor W. Hamilton Webber; Costumes Mrs Edwards; Scenic Art ; Chorus Bella Perman.
    • Cast incl. Amy Rochelle (Prince Charming), Linda Dale (Cinderella), Verna Bain (Snow Queen), Villiers Arnold (King Rat), Pearl Ladd (Queen Snowdrop), Frank Matana (King Spider), Nat Phillips (Stiffy), Roy Rene (Mo), Ivy Moore (Dandini), Vince Courtney (Pickles), Dan M. Dunbar (The Mexican Consul), Billy Le Brun (Buster), Horace Mann (Baron Derick), Rosie Bowie (Astrella), Daisy Merritt (Daffodil, an ugly sister), Caddy Franks (Boronia, an ugly sister), Theresa Matana (Margarita), the Three Fishers, the Melody Four (incl. Glanmore Jones, Frank Matana and Sam Rowley), Murfayne (xylophonist).

    1920: Princess's Theatre, Melbourne, 18 December 1920 - 19 March 1921.

    • Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Music Director/Conductor Walter Whyte; Scenic Art Rege Robbins; Costumes Ethel Moar and Mrs Dunn; Chorus Bella Perman and Dot O'Dea.
    • Cast incl. Amy Rochelle (Prince Charming), Linda Dale (Cinderella), Villiers Arnold (King Rat), Pearl Ladd (Fairy Snowdrop), Nat Phillips (Stiffy the bailiff), Roy Rene (Mo the bailiff), Daisy Merritt (Daffodil), Lola Hunt (Boronia), Jack Phillips (Pickles), Dan Dunbar (The Mexican Consul), Dot Davis [aka Mrs Roy Rene] (Dandini), Rosie Bowie (Astrella), Belle Pollard (Marguerita), Mark Erickson (The Baron), Billy Le Brun (Buster the Bulldog), Darville Thomas, Leila Dabscheck, Rene Denerio, Dot O'Dea, Abdy's Performing Cats and Cockatoos, Jack and Zenda (child dancers), the Royal Nine Wonders.
    • Amendments were made to the production in the final weeks of January, giving more scope to the prince and reducing the presence of Stiffy and Mo. The Bulletin's theatre critic viewed the change as a positive: 'Mo no longer parades the Palace as if it were an unredeemed pledge, and the duel with Stiffy over a glass of whiskey has ceased to imitate a chess match conducted by cable' (27 January 1921, p.34).

    1921: Prince of Wales Theatre, Adelaide, 26 March - 8 April.

    • Cast and production mostly as for previous Melbourne season.

    .

  • 1921: Majestic Theatre, Sydney, 24 December 1921 - 28 January 1922.

    • Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Conductor Madam Byron; Music Arranger W. Hamilton Webber; Scenic Art Rege Robbins; Chorus Phyllis Whisken; Costumes Ethel Moar; Stage Manager Dan M. Dunbar.
    • Cast incl. Ida Merton (Cinderella); Dot Davis [aka Mrs Roy Rene] (Prince Charming); Daisy Merritt (Daffodil, an ugly sister); Lola Hunt (Boronia, the other ugly sister); Dan M. Dunbar (Baron Derick); Rosie Bowie (Astrella); Jack Phillips (Buster); Harry Huley (Nobbler); Jack Wynne (Levy); Maggie Buckley (Dandenie); Conrad Charlton (King Rat); Sid Garti (King Spider); Brenda Bent (Fairy Snowdrop); Joyce Pidden (Snow Queen); Phyllis Whisken (Carnival Queen); Phyllis Rose, Trixie Boss, Zena Yorke, Ida Fielder, Ethel Prior, Lilla Adams, Alice Nellis, Alma Reneaux, Nellie Reneaux, Dolly West (ballet); Eileen O'Neill, Alma Wanless, Bessie Conroy, Elsie Boulton, Doris Lochridge, Nessie Munro (chorus); Joyce Fidden, Baby Blundell, Hazel Burnett, Miriam Phillips, Clarice Fallon, Blanche Jones, Mavis Neilson, June Corbett, Dulcie Davenport, Iris Wilde, Phyllis Lane, Doris Trevail, Elva Bell, Bertha Beasley, Mabel Thompson, Daisy Dickman (children).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1919
      .
      Extent: 47 pagesp.
      Description: Photocopy
      (Manuscript) assertion

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Local Id: H2013
      Note:
      Original manuscript is held in the National Archives of Australia, ACT, CRS A1336/2 item 8910.
      .
      Extent: 30+ pagesp.
      (Manuscript) assertion

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Location: The Hanger Collection of Australian Playscripts
      Local Id: UQFL9
      Note:
      Incomplete: Holding includes handwritten notes, running order sheets, props list, handwritten music scores (attributed to W. Hamilton Webber), two typed character parts (Boronia, 6p., and Astrella, 2p.), and a 100th performance souvenir program (from the 1920-1921 Princess Theatre season).

Works about this Work

Who's Who in the 'Cinderella' Pantomime 1921-1922 single work review
— Appears in: Fuller News , December/January 1921-1922; (p. 7)

— Review of Cinderella Nat Phillips , 1919 single work musical theatre
Australian Principal Boy : Amy Rochelle in 'Cinderella' at the Princess Theatre 1920 single work column
— Appears in: Table Talk , 23 December 1920; (p. 26)
Princess - 'Cinderella' Pantomime 1920 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 28 December no. 23214 1920; (p. 6)

— Review of Cinderella Nat Phillips , 1919 single work musical theatre
Sundry Shows 1920 single work review
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 30 December vol. 41 no. 2133 1920; (p. 34)

— Review of Cinderella Nat Phillips , 1919 single work musical theatre
'Cinderella' : Princess Theatre 1920 single work review
— Appears in: Table Talk , 30 December 1920; (p. 10)

— Review of Cinderella Nat Phillips , 1919 single work musical theatre
'Cinderella' 1919 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 22 December 1919; (p. 5)

— Review of Cinderella Nat Phillips , 1919 single work musical theatre
'Cinderella' 1920 single work review
— Appears in: The Theatre Magazine , January 1920; (p. 23)

— Review of Cinderella Nat Phillips , 1919 single work musical theatre
Princess Theatre - 'Cinderella' 1920 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 28 December 1920; (p. 6)

— Review of Cinderella Nat Phillips , 1919 single work musical theatre
Who's Who in the 'Cinderella' Pantomime 1921-1922 single work review
— Appears in: Fuller News , December/January 1921-1922; (p. 7)

— Review of Cinderella Nat Phillips , 1919 single work musical theatre
'Cinderella' : Princess Theatre 1920 single work review
— Appears in: Table Talk , 30 December 1920; (p. 10)

— Review of Cinderella Nat Phillips , 1919 single work musical theatre
Australian Principal Boy : Amy Rochelle in 'Cinderella' at the Princess Theatre 1920 single work column
— Appears in: Table Talk , 23 December 1920; (p. 26)

PeriodicalNewspaper Details

Note:
This entry has been sourced from research undertaken by Dr Clay Djubal into Australian-written popular music theatre (ca. 1850-1930). See also the Australian Variety Theatre Archive
Last amended 9 Jul 2020 10:23:26
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