Fuzzy Wuzzy single work   musical theatre   revue/revusical   humour  
Issue Details: First known date: 1915... 1915 Fuzzy Wuzzy
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Revusical.

Arguably one of Bert Le Blanc's most popular creations, Fuzzy Wuzzy was staged regularly by his Travesty Stars between 1915 and ca. 1922. The action is set in a bank, with Ike Cohen and Morris Levi putting in and taking out 'mornings and evenings'. The Truth newspapers indicates that the narrative allowed 'good choruses, splendid solos, clever dancing and amusing patter [to be] worked in' (12 March 1916, p.7). As such, it was variously described as a 'revue', a 'musical extravaganza' (Truth 1 April 1916, p.7), 'the quintessence of musical comedy... crammed full with tuneful musical numbers' (Brisbane Courier 17 December 1917, p.11), and 'a musical travesty' (Brisbane Courier 9 December 1918, p.5).

The principal characters are Ike Cohen and Morris Levi (on business and pleasure), General Steele and his four daughters, Percy Cheatem (a bad-un), Harvard Yale (educated), and the society women Lady Grafter and Lady Fleecem.

Although there would likely have been quite a number of changes to the revusical over the years, the latter versions probably share a foundation with the 1915 production. Specific comedy routines and songs, however, would have been reworked in order to provide topicality and social relevance.

Songs incorporated into the 1918 production included 'Dance that Dengozo with Me' and 'In a Bungalow Where the Red Roses Grow' (sung by Lilian Colenzo); 'Lonesome Baby' (Olga Ray); 'The Strains of a Wedding March', 'Where the River Shannon Flows', and 'Summer Moon' (Mike Connors); and 'The Deathless Army' (Will Raynor).

Notes

  • It is unclear if any relationship exists betyween Le Blanc's Fuzzy Wuzzy revusical and a similarly titled show staged by Charles Delavale on Harry Clay's Sydney circuit in 1927. Delavale's Fuzzy Wuzzy, produced by Maurice Chenoweth for Clay's Bridge Theatre Pty Ltd and co-starring Violet Elliott, was produced at the Gaiety Theatre during the week of 19-25 February.

Production Details

  • 1915: Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, 26 June -9 July.

    • Director Bert Le Blanc; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
    • Troupe Bert Le Blanc's Travesty Stars.
    • Cast incl. Bert Le Blanc (Ike Cohen), Jake Mack (Morris Levi), Carrie Moore (Lady Grafter), Carlton Chase, Maud Miles, Durham Marcel, Nellie Fallon, New York Comedy Four (Jack Quinlan, Glenmore Jones, Clym Edgares, and Holly Leslie), and the Pony Ballet.
    • This was the opening production for Le Blanc's Melbourne season, and ran for two weeks.

    1915: Melrose Theatre, Perth, ca. October/November.

    • Director Bert Le Blanc ; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
    • Troupe Bert Le Blanc's Travesty Stars.
    • Cast incl. Bert Le Blanc, Jake Mack, Carlton Chase, Nellie Fallon, Durham Marcel, Maud Miles, the New York Comedy Four (Jack Quinlan, Glenmore Jones, Clym Edgares, and Holly Leslie), and the Pony Ballet.
    • Carrie Moore did not tour with the Travesty Stars after their debut season in Melbourne.

    1915: Kings Theatre, Adelaide, ca. December 1925/January 1916.

    • Director Bert Le Blanc; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
    • Troupe Bert Le Blanc's Travesty Stars.
    • Cast incl. Bert Le Blanc, Jake Mack, Carlton Chase, Nellie Fallon, Durham Marcel, Maud Miles, the New York Comedy Four (Jack Quinlan, Glenmore Jones, Clym Edgares, and Holly Leslie), and the Pony Ballet.

    1916: Empire Theatre, Brisbane, 11-17 March (return season: 16-18 April).

    • Director Bert Le Blanc; Producer Holland and St John/Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Proprietors Holland and St John.
    • Troupe Bert Le Blanc's Musical Travesty Stars.
    • Cast incl. Bert Le Blanc, Jake Mack, Carlton Chase, Maud Miles, Nellie Fallon, Durham Marcel, New York Comedy Four (Jack Quinlan, Glenmore Jones, Hollie Leslie, and Clym Edgares), and the Pony Ballet (Gladys Nyhoym, Marie Lannan, Dot Bellion, Letty Patten, Violet De Lacy, Lily Clark).

    1916: National Theatre (Syd), ca. 29 April - 5 May.

    • Director Bert Le Blanc; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
    • Troupe Bert Le Blanc's Musical Travesty Stars.
    • Cast incl. Bert Le Blanc, Jake Mack, Carlton Chase, Maud Miles, Nellie Fallon, Durham Marcel, New York Comedy Four (Jack Quinlan, Glenmore Jones, Hollie Leslie, and Clym Edgares), and the Pony Ballet (Gladys Nyhoym, Marie Lannan, Dot Bellion, Letty Patten, Violet De Lacy, Lily Clark).
    • Possibly staged during the week of 22-26 April.

    .

  • 1917: Majestic Theatre, Sydney, 23-29 June.

    • Director Bert Le Blanc ; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
    • Troupe Bert Le Blanc's Revue Stars.
    • Cast incl. Bert Le Blanc, Jake Mack, Queenie Paul, Ivy Moore, Clym Edgares, Carlton Chase, Mike Connors, Fred Witt, Winnie Knight [aka Mrs Bert Le Blanc], and the Pony Ballet (Kitty McGuire, Trixie Wilson, Marie Lannan, Dot Bellion, Lily Clarke, Annie Henry).

    1917: Empire Theatre, Brisbane, 15-21 December.

    • Director Bert Le Blanc; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Proprietor Holland and St John.
    • Troupe Bert Le Blanc's Revue Stars.
    • Cast incl. Bert Le Blanc, Jake Mack, Queenie Paul, Ivy Moore, Clym Edgares, Carlton Chase, Mike Connors, Fred Witt, Winnie Knight [aka Mrs Bert Le Blanc], and the Pony Ballet.

    1918: Empire Theatre, Brisbane, 7-13 December.

    • Director Bert Le Blanc; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
    • Troupe Bert Le Blanc's Musical Travesty Stars.
    • Cast incl. Bert Le Blanc, Jake Mack, Carlton Chase, Lillian Colenzo, Olga Ray, Mike Connors, Queenie Paul, Winnie Knight [aka Mrs Bert Le Blanc], Will Raynor, Nellie Fallon, Durham Marcel, Maud Miles, and the Pony Ballet (Violet Penson, Rita Penson, Vera Tandy, Rose Brennan, Hilda Lynn, Annie Henry).

    1920: Bert Le Blanc's Travesty Stars Qld tour, ca. June/July.

    • Director Bert Le Blanc; Producer George Marlow and Birch and Carroll;
    • Troupe Bert Le Blanc's Travesty Stars.
    • Cast incl. Bert Le Blanc, Jake Mack, Arthur Elliott.
    • Tour itinerary incl. Maryborough, 9-10 June.

    1921: Lyric Theatre, St Kilda (Melbourne), 15-21 October.

    • Director Bert Le Blanc; Producer William Anderson; Lessee Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Music Director George Powell.
    • Troupe The Who's Who Costume Revue Entertainers (aka Travesty Stars).
    • Cast* incl. Bert Le Blanc, Jake Mack, Sydney Hollister (Percy Cheatem), Dan Weldon (General Steele), Frank Graham (Will Doem), Clarice Norman (Lady Grafter), Jean Maynard (Spirita Steele), Alice Walton (Nicotina Steele), Winnie Knight (Lady Fleecem), Fred Deal (Harvard Yale), Harry Vernon (Butt Trimem), Mary Anderson, Nora Marrs (Glucosia Steele), Sylvie Millers, May Down (Petrollir Steele).
    • An advertisement in the Argus (15 October 1921, p.6) has Le Blanc's character billed as 'Abe'.
    • Most of the cast members also appeared in the first-part entertainment.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1915
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Works about this Work

Lyric Theatre - 'Who's Who' 1921 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 17 October no. 23464 1921; (p. 9)
— Review of Fuzzy Wuzzy Bert Le Blanc , 1915 single work musical theatre
The Empire 1918 single work review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 9 December 1918; (p. 5)
— Review of Fuzzy Wuzzy Bert Le Blanc , 1915 single work musical theatre
The Empire 1917 single work review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 17 December 1917; (p. 11)
— Review of Fuzzy Wuzzy Bert Le Blanc , 1915 single work musical theatre
The Empire 1916 single work review
— Appears in: Truth , 12 March 1916; (p. 7)
— Review of Fuzzy Wuzzy Bert Le Blanc , 1915 single work musical theatre
Melbourne Notes - by SID : Bijou Theatre SID , 1915 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Variety , 7 July 1915; (p. n. pag.)
— Review of Fuzzy Wuzzy Bert Le Blanc , 1915 single work musical theatre
The Empire 1916 single work review
— Appears in: Truth , 12 March 1916; (p. 7)
— Review of Fuzzy Wuzzy Bert Le Blanc , 1915 single work musical theatre
The Empire 1917 single work review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 17 December 1917; (p. 11)
— Review of Fuzzy Wuzzy Bert Le Blanc , 1915 single work musical theatre
The Empire 1918 single work review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 9 December 1918; (p. 5)
— Review of Fuzzy Wuzzy Bert Le Blanc , 1915 single work musical theatre
Melbourne Notes - by SID : Bijou Theatre SID , 1915 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Variety , 7 July 1915; (p. n. pag.)
— Review of Fuzzy Wuzzy Bert Le Blanc , 1915 single work musical theatre
Lyric Theatre - 'Who's Who' 1921 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 17 October no. 23464 1921; (p. 9)
— Review of Fuzzy Wuzzy Bert Le Blanc , 1915 single work musical theatre
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (5)

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 23 May 2014 11:27:04
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