The New Recruit single work   musical theatre   sketch (theatrical)  
Alternative title: The Raw Recruit
Issue Details: First known date: 1919... 1919 The New Recruit
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Also sometimes billed as 'The Raw Recruit', this musical sketch was based in part on Jim Gerald's own wartime experiences. 'Originality and cleverness mark the sketch' writes a Theatre critic in July 1919. 'Mr Gerald's account of how he lost his pal in the war is very pathetic. High art indeed is his work in this monologue. Later on Miss Jennings as a handsome military principal boy and Mr Gerald as the raw recruit have the house in roars. Their business over the canteen is exceptionally funny' (July 1919, p23).

Charles Norman recalls that Gerald devised the sketch shortly after his return from active duty in late 1918. Its first known staging was in May 1919 when it was presented as a first part attraction prior to Paul Stanhope's Revue Company at the Theatre Royal (Brisbane). Norman also provides a description of the sketch: 'Essie, with her beautifully turned out figure was an officer, replete with slouch hat and ostrich plume, jacket with brass buttons and regimental colours, tights of a brown hue and brown lace-up boots... but with high heels. Jim was a rookie soldier and dressed in his blue dungaree sloppy suit (today blue denim or jeans) and wearing a nondescript white washing hat. He had a song, right up to the minute : "They May Break the Heart of My Old Dear Mother but They'll Never Break Mine!" After some standover business from Officer Essie, and to the last step in his acrobatic dance with the neck reel at the finish, they were a riot. On the first night with this marvellous routine the audience were so carried away that they were forced to play the whole sketch over again. They just had to in order to quieten the audience" (When Vaudeville was King, q.v., pp226-7).

Gerald later expanded 'The New Recruit' into the one act musical comedy 1914-1918; Or, For the Duration.

Exhibitions

7572927
7555007

Notes

  • The list of revival stagings of 'The New Recruit' below must be considered very incomplete as the sketch was a favourite with audiences up until at least 1922, and was undoubtedly performed regularly throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Production Details

  • 1919 : Theatre Royal, Brisbane ; 24-30 May. Prod. Fullers Theatres Ltd (q.v.). - Cast: Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings.

    • Jennings and Gerald were engaged as vaudeville performers for the first part entertainment prior to Paul Stanhope's Musical Comedy Company season.
    • The Fullers' had temporarily moved to the Theatre Royal after being ordered by the Queensland health authorities to cease operations at the Empire Theatre (due to the Spanish flu epidemic). The Theatre Royal apparently had better ventilation.

    1919 : Fullers' New Theatre, Sydney ; 21-27 June. Prod. Fullers Theatres Ltd. - Cast: Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings

    1921 : Prince of Wales Theatre, Adelaide ; ca. April. Prod. Fullers Theatres Ltd. - Cast: Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings

    • Staged during the first part entertainment prior to Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Company.

  • This entry has been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian-written music theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

y separately published work icon When Vaudeville Was King : A Soft Shoe Shuffle Down Forget-Me-Not Lane Charles Norman , Melbourne : Spectrum , 1984 Z1253280 1984 single work biography A semi-autobiographical, biographical account of the Australian variety and theatre industries. Norman also provides numerous personal insights into many well-known and long-forgotten practitioners.
The Month in Vaudeville : Interviews and Impressions X-Ray , 1919 single work review
— Appears in: The Theatre Magazine , July 1919; (p. 23)

— Review of The New Recruit Jim Gerald , 1919 single work musical theatre ; Grubb's Night Out George Edwards , 1919 single work musical theatre
The Month in Vaudeville : Interviews and Impressions X-Ray , 1919 single work review
— Appears in: The Theatre Magazine , July 1919; (p. 23)

— Review of The New Recruit Jim Gerald , 1919 single work musical theatre ; Grubb's Night Out George Edwards , 1919 single work musical theatre
y separately published work icon When Vaudeville Was King : A Soft Shoe Shuffle Down Forget-Me-Not Lane Charles Norman , Melbourne : Spectrum , 1984 Z1253280 1984 single work biography A semi-autobiographical, biographical account of the Australian variety and theatre industries. Norman also provides numerous personal insights into many well-known and long-forgotten practitioners.
Last amended 27 Nov 2013 15:29:49
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