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Revusical.
In 1927, the Brisbane Courier theatre critic describes the performance as follows: 'Masquerading as a millionaire whose eccentricities are overlooked in view of his supposed wealth, [Jim Gerald's character] becomes entangled in a love affair which provides a series of incidents affording [the comedian] every scope for his inimitable acting' (20 June 1927, p.20). According to a 1930 Age review, the impersonation is a last resort attempt to foil the father's plan to have the daughter marry another millionaire, Cyrus Hawke (23 June 1930, p.12). The Sydney Morning Herald sheds a little more light on the revusical in 1928: 'In successive sketches [Gerald] characterized a forgetful cinema cameraman and a desperate deadbeat who wanted to live in gaol. As the leading figure of the Merry Masquerader he was once more in a penniless condition but decided to pose as an American millionaire with a view to becoming engaged to the daughter of a wealthy English baronet' (12 March 1928, p.5).
Production Details
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1923: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, ca. February.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Miniature Musical Comedy Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Ernest Crawford, Howard Hall, Lance Vane, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Polly McLaren, Mona Thomas, Letty Craydon, and the Six Twinklers (Iris McKenzie, Vera Nixon, Myra Rowe, Kathleen Gillespie, Laurel Barrett, Thelma Duff).
1924: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 1-7 March.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Miniature Musical Comedy Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Polly McLaren, Ernest Crawford, Lance Vane, Howard Hall, Letty Craydon, Mona Thomas, and the Six Twinklers.
1926: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 27 March - 2 April.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane ; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Polly McLaren, Lance Vane, Mona Thomas, Ernest Crawford, Howard Hall, Myra Rowe, Betty Lambert, May Geary, Neva Carr-Glynn, and the Six Twinklers.
1926: New Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, 2-8 October.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Lance Vane, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Polly McLaren, May Geary, Howard Hall, Ernest Crawford, Myra Rowe, Betty Lambert, Mona Thomas, and the Six Twinklers.
- Iris McKenzie's name is mentioned in several reviews during the Bijou Theatre season. It is unclear at this stage if she had become a member of the cast or was still one of the Six Twinklers.
1927: Empire Theatre, Brisbane, 18-24 June (return season: 10-16 March 1928).
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings (Mrs McQuibble), Reg Hawthorne, Harry Burgess, Polly McLaren, Lance Vane, Ernest Crawford, Howard Hall, May Geary, Betty Lambert, Dalton Payne, Harry Payne, Flora McDonald, Ray and Dot McLean, Jack Manners, and the Six Twinklers.
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1928: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 10-16 March.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatre Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Harry Burgess, Howard Hall, Lance Vane, Phyllis du Barry, Ray McLean, Mona Thomas, Cecil Scott, May Geary, Dot Creswell, Les Pearce, Neva Glynn-Carr, Betty Lambert, and the Six Twinklers.
1929: Majestic Theatre, Adelaide, 16-22 March.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings, Letty Craydon, Ron Shand, Lily Coburn, Lance Vane, Billy Heaton, Reg Hawthorne, Linda Foy.
- Lance Vane (Jim Gerald's brother) and Phyllis du Barry were no longer with the troupe from mid-late March 1929. They were replaced by Lily Coburn and Ron Shand.
1930: Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne, 21-27 June.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Tivoli Celebrity Vaudeville.
- Troupe Jim Gerald Musical Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Howard Hall, Jim Foran, Sadie Gale, Tom Dale, Joe Hudson, Ray McLean, Joan Graham, Lily Coburn, Marie Ward, Thelma Duff, Edna Ralston, and the Six Twinklers.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Tivoli Theatre
1930
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 23 June 1930; (p. 12)
— Review of The Merry Masquerader 1923 single work musical theatre -
Fullers' Theatre
1928
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 12 March no. 28138 1928; (p. 5)
— Review of The Merry Masquerader 1923 single work musical theatre -
Empire Theatre
1927
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 20 June 1927; (p. 20)
— Review of The Merry Masquerader 1923 single work musical theatre
-
Empire Theatre
1927
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 20 June 1927; (p. 20)
— Review of The Merry Masquerader 1923 single work musical theatre -
Fullers' Theatre
1928
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 12 March no. 28138 1928; (p. 5)
— Review of The Merry Masquerader 1923 single work musical theatre -
Tivoli Theatre
1930
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 23 June 1930; (p. 12)
— Review of The Merry Masquerader 1923 single work musical theatre
