y separately published work icon Dick Whittington and His Cat single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Issue Details: First known date: 1921... 1921 Dick Whittington and His Cat
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

One of the most successful of all the Fullers pantomimes, along with The Bunyip (1916), Dick Whittington follows the traditional storyline with numerous vaudeville sketches and localisations incorporated into the productions. Among the chief "fun-makers" were Stiffy and Mo (Nat Phillips and Roy Rene)

W. Hamilton Webber composed the music to the overture, opening, and closing choruses (including lyrics) and all incidental and ballet music.

The remaining songs were compiled from various popular variety songs of the day. Over twenty-five musical numbers were presented during the Grand Opera House production (1921), including 'Ring Out the Bells of Bow' (Bellringers' chorus); 'Crumpled Cuddlings' (opening chorus); 'Love Him Later On' (Elton Black); 'We're Simple' (Roy Rene and Nat Phillips); 'Hearts Desire' and 'When My Baby Smiles on Me' (Amy Rochelle); 'Rachel Cohen' (Roy Rene); 'Plain Little Me' (Amy Rochelle and Alice Bennetto); 'Sunshine' (Alice Bennetto); 'You May Be My Used to Be' (Trixie Ireland and Rene Dixon); 'Mrs Macquarie's Chair' (Nat Phillips), which was also used in the Fullers' 1921 Bluebeard pantomime; and the final chorus, 'Goodbye Dick Whittington' (company).

Of the several ballets included, Verna Bain played a leading role in two: 'Powder Puff' (with Lily Skinner) and 'Floral Ballet' (solo dance).

Notes

  • Fuller News 1921 reports that more than 200,000 people saw the Sydney production during the first seven weeks (11 February 1922, p.6), with 250,000 people having reportedly 'enjoyed the never-ending pantomime triumph' by early March (Sydney Morning Herald 3 Mar. 1922, p.3). Although such claims should always be treated with caution, a calculation of seating capacity and number of performances suggests that this figure was not improbable. With two shows per day (except Sundays) over forty days in the 2,500 seat Grand Opera House, the total number of people attending the pantomime to mid-February would have likely been in the vicinity of the Fullers' claim. With a further forty-four performances to 11 March, this figure could have conceivably climbed to well over 300,000 patrons.

  • The Fullers produced two other Dick Whittington pantomimes in the years immediately following Nat Phillips's original production.

    • 1922: Palace Theatre, Melbourne (see production details below). While advertising for this production does not attribute either the libretto or original music to Phillips or Webber (nor do Stiffy and Mo appear in it), the close proximity between seasons, the similarities in scenes, and the appearance in both seasons by several actors (notably Elton Black as Mrs Bumble, Verna Bain as The Fawn, and Odiva's Trained Seals) suggest that if not the same work, it was possibly adapted from the earlier pantomime. Nevertheless, the new director, John Kirby, would have presented new comic material and vaudeville acts. Whether music director George Hall utilised Webber's original score is unknown at this stage.
    • 1923: Majestic Theatre, Newtown, Sydney, 22 December. Starring Nellie Kolle as Dick, this production is not believed to have been based on the Phillips's pantomime. ==

Production Details

  • 1921: Grand Opera House, Sydney, 26 December 1921 - 11 March 1922.

    • Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Music Director/Arranger W. Hamilton Webber; Scenic Art ; Assistant Director/Stage Manager Andrew Hodge; Choreography Chrissie Royal; Costumes Ethel Moar (costume handpainting by Mr and Mrs P. Cohen).
    • Cast incl. Amy Rochelle (Dick Whittington), Elton Black (Mrs Bumble Bee), Roy Rene (Idle Mo), Nat Phillips (Idle Stiffy), Alice Bennetto (Alice Fitzwarren), William Stewart (Alderman Fitzwarren), Rene Dixon (Joy), Trixie Ireland (Johnny), Billy Le Brun (Tom, the Cat), Belle Pollard (The Princess of Bangalore), Walter Jackson [aka Walter Whyte] (Rajah of Bangalore/Old Jakes), Verna Bain (The Fawn), Amy Murphy (Fairy Bluebell), William Kenny (The Wicked Rat), Lily Skinner (The Mystic Hunter), Andrew Hodge (Josh Muggs), The Girton College Cycling Girls, and Captain Adams and Odiva's Seals, with Ruby Dalman, Molly Warren, Jean Gresham, Vera Sewell, Gladye Nyholme, Flo Edgerton, Olga Heazle, Vera Tandy, Lottie Thompson, Eileen Maguire, Thelma Duff, Bee McPherson, Edna Drake, Miss Massey, Miss Ruthven, Marie McLaughlan, Molly McCabe, Kitty Schroder, Lotus Thompson, Kathleen Hannerbury, Linda Berthold, Flo Wilson, Alice Wilson (chorus and ballet), Melba Ferrington, Maudie Boyce, Nellie Sherringham, Phyllis Jamieson, Glorie Millet, Jean White, Irene Manning, Gwen Farmer, Annie Sturgeon, Ruby Mudd, Zenda Banks, Thelma Forrest, Phyllis Culbert, Sybil Bellin, Lily Wegner, Doreen Rydstrom, Jack Wilson (children).

    1921: Victoria Theatre (Newcastle), 26 March - ca. April.

    • Cast and production mostly as for previous Sydney season.

    1922: Palace Theatre, Melbourne, 24 December 1922 - 24 February 1923.

    • Director John Kirby; Producer Fullers Theatres Ltd; Chorus Phyllis Wisken.
    • Cast incl. Dorothy Lena (Dick), Linda Dale (Alice), Elton Black (Dame Bumble), John Kirby (The Rajah), Verna Bain (The Fawn), Odiva's Trained Seals, Royal Eleven Wonders, Angel Brothers.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1921
      1921 .
      Extent: 30p.
      Description: Typescript with handwritten corrections. Complete text.
      (Manuscript) assertion

      Holdings

      Held at: National Archives of Australia National Archives Library
      Local Id: CRS A1336/1 ; Item 9931
      Note:
      Front cover note : 'Written by Nat Phillips for Ben and John Fuller - Brisbane July 19th, 1921. Property of Fullers' Theatres'
      .
      Extent: 9p.
      Description: Typescript. Incomplete: One character part (Spike, 9p).
      (Manuscript) assertion

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Local Id: UQFL9
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Related Works

y separately published work icon Baby's Rainbow Trail Nat Phillips , Walter Whyte (composer), Sydney : Chappell & Co. , 1922 Z1405299 1922 single work lyric/song
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Works about this Work

Mainly about 'Dick Whittington' 1922 single work review
— Appears in: Fuller News , 4 February 1922; (p. 11)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat Nat Phillips , 1921 single work musical theatre
'Dick Whittington' : Last Nights of Season 1922 single work review
— Appears in: Fuller News , 11 March 1922; (p. 4)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat Nat Phillips , 1921 single work musical theatre
Dick Whiitington's Amazing Novelty - Odiva and Her Famous Seals 1922 single work review
— Appears in: Fuller News , 14 January 1922; (p. 13)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat Nat Phillips , 1921 single work musical theatre
'Dick Whiitington and His Cat' : Record Pantomime at Grand Opera House 1922 single work review
— Appears in: Fuller News , 14 January 1922; (p. 2)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat Nat Phillips , 1921 single work musical theatre
Palace - 'Dick Whittington' 1922 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 26 December 1922; (p. 7)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat Nat Phillips , 1921 single work musical theatre
'Dick Whittington' 1921 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 27 December no. 26201 1921; (p. 3)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat Nat Phillips , 1921 single work musical theatre
Smashing Pantomime Records : 'Dick Whittington's' Fine Achievements 1922 single work review
— Appears in: Fuller News , 11 February 1922; (p. 6)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat Nat Phillips , 1921 single work musical theatre
'Dick Whittington - His Cat and Others 1921-1922 single work review
— Appears in: Fuller News , December/January 1921-1922; (p. 2, 4-5,19, 23- 24)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat Nat Phillips , 1921 single work musical theatre
Palace - 'Dick Whittington' 1922 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 26 December 1922; (p. 7)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat Nat Phillips , 1921 single work musical theatre
'Dick Whiitington and His Cat' : Record Pantomime at Grand Opera House 1922 single work review
— Appears in: Fuller News , 14 January 1922; (p. 2)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat Nat Phillips , 1921 single work musical theatre
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (8)

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 2 May 2014 07:11:47
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