The Grafters single work   musical theatre   burlesque  
Issue Details: First known date: 1913... 1913 The Grafters
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

One of three burlesques brought to Australia and New Zealand by the American Burlesque Company, The Grafters was later reworked by Bert Le Blanc as In Watts, Or, A Bombshell of Joy, and staged by his Travesty Stars company.

The Grafters' narrative concerns the attempt by two separate groups to acquire the entire township of Watts, which has been built upon the property of a man called Watts, who has been neither seen nor heard of for many years. One group (the well-dressed swindlers) come armed with forged documents, while the other group (three outrageous tramps) have nothing more tangible than bluff. While the swindlers and the tramps come up against each other and then have to deal with a hard-headed Yankee constable, a little 'rustic freak' turns out to be a relative of the deceased and scoops the pool (Sydney Morning Herald 16 June 1913, p.4).

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1913
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Related Works

In Watts ; Or, A Bombshell of Joy Bert Le Blanc , Bert Le Blanc's Travesty Stars , Fullers' Theatres , Holland and St John , 1916 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Revusical.

Described in advertising as a 'bright, sparkling, fresh and surprisingly original musical travesty, presented by sixteen superbly versatile artists' (Truth 9 April 1916, p.7) and as a 'breezy new revue bombarding audiences with happiness' (Brisbane Courier 12 April 1918, p.2), the action revolves around three tramps: Ike (Bert Le Blanc), Morris (Jake Mack), and Pete (aka Sacramento Pete). The title refers to the town of Watts, situated somewhere near Los Angeles, California, which was 'founded by a gentleman of that name who let his dwellings for a dollar down and a dollar a month fifteen years before the story commences. The plot deals with the efforts of several different varieties of rogue, male and female, Jew and Gentile, to impersonate Watts, who has disappeared, and collect the fifteen years' rental' (Age 23 September 1918, p.5). Much of the action takes place in the town's hotel, with other characters including Hazey Fogg, a local farm girl with aspirations to enter society; Mrs Watts; and Eazey, a farm hand. Although generally well received by the critics, the September 1918 Age review proposes that the production was slightly marred by a somewhat unconvincing ending.

The September 1918 Bijou Theatre season (Melbourne), in which Le Blanc, Mack, and Harry McDonna were billed as 'Melbourne Ike', 'Sydney Morris', and 'Brisbane Pete', included such msucial items as 'I Want You Dearie' (Queenie Paul and Wee McGregor) and 'Mate O' Mine' (Leslie Jephcott).

One of the songs incorporated into the 1919 Brisbane season was 'Wouldn't that be a Dream?'
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Works about this Work

'The Grafters' 1913 single work review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 8 September 1913; (p. 10)
— Review of The Grafters 1913 single work musical theatre
Bijou Theatre - American Musical Comedy 1913 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 17 March 1913; (p. 10)
— Review of The Grafters 1913 single work musical theatre
'The Grafters' at the Palace 1913 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 16 June 1913; (p. 4)
— Review of The Grafters 1913 single work musical theatre
'The Grafters' at the Palace 1913 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 16 June 1913; (p. 4)
— Review of The Grafters 1913 single work musical theatre
Bijou Theatre - American Musical Comedy 1913 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 17 March 1913; (p. 10)
— Review of The Grafters 1913 single work musical theatre
'The Grafters' 1913 single work review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 8 September 1913; (p. 10)
— Review of The Grafters 1913 single work musical theatre
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (3)

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 16 Jan 2015 09:40:33
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