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Revusical.
Described in advertising and reviews as 'a dreamy romance of blood-curdling pirates, Chinese mandarins, pretty girls and Jim as a rushin' Russian Admiral' (Argus 6 November 1926, p.42); a 'picturesque Chinese Phantasy' (Brisbane Courier 11 June 1927, p.2); and 'a hilarious revue of Lotus Land' (Sydney Morning Herald 6 February 1933, p.4). A review published in the Argus in 1926 proposes that 'the plot and production were above the average of music hall revues'. The critic goes on to add, 'Dressed in appropriately grotesque uniform, Mr Gerald, as the admiral in the Ruritanian Navy, had the type of part which he likes and plays best' (8 November 1926, p.9).
Once Aboard a Lugger was also claimed to be the best of the snappy revues staged by Gerald's company at the Empire (Brisbane) that same year. 'It is brimful of colour, action and humour from start to finish,' writes the Brisbane Courier's theatre critic, 'and there is plenty of bright and catchy music. The revue has a Chinese setting, which lends itself to spectacular scenic effects, and the opportunities in this direction are fully availed of. Jim Gerald fills the role of Admiral Pitchitoffski (an admirable admiral) and he revels in his burlesque of "the silent navy". There is a complete setting for intrigue and for laughter, with a beautiful white girl betrothed to a Chinese mandarin, pompous Russians, inscrutable Chinese, and a tang of the salt sea, but everything comes out right in the end' (13 June 1927, p.16). Gerald's character is further described in a 1926 Sydney Morning Herald review as 'a rather decrepit admiral who has as the entire personnel of his fleet an unobtrusively funny sailor' (the part of the officer and crew of the navy was played by Reg Hawthorne). The critic also records that 'Not the least humorous part of the revue was that revealing the submissions of the mandarin by the artifice of wireless' (26 April 1926, p.4).
The musical programme in 1927 comprised 'East is East' (sung by Howard Hall), 'Flies on Auntie' (Jim Gerald), 'China Girl' (Betty Lambert and the Twinklers), 'Sailing Home' (May Geary), 'Down in China Town' (Essie Jennings and the Twinklers), and 'Build a Bungalow' (Lambert and Hawthorne). One of the ballets presented was titled 'Yellow Peril'.
Production Details
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1926: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 24-30 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 (Admiral Pitchitoffski), Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Polly McLaren, Lance Vane, Mona Thomas, Ernest Crawford, Howard Hall, Myra Rowe, Betty Lambert, May Geary, and the Six Twinklers.
1926: New Bijou Theatre, Melbourne ; 6-12 November.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald 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, 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, 11-17 June.
- 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, 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.
1927: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 3-9 December.
- 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.
1933: Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, 3-9 February (as A Way We Have in the Navy).
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Con-Paul Theatres (Mike Connors and Queenie Paul).
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Lily Coburn, Reg Hawthorne, Frieda Bohning, Howard Hall, Thelma Duff, Will Perryman, Lou Cottam, Tom Dale, Heather Jones, Thelma Bryce, Jess Gillam, Vilma Kaye ; and the Twelve Twinklers.
1934: Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne, 28 April - 4 May (as A Way We Have in the Navy).
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Con-Paul Theatres (Mike Connors and Queenie Paul).
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Musical Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Lou Cottam, Edna Ralston, Lily Coburn, Thelma Duff, Tom Dale, Lance Vane, Frieda Bohning, George Moon Jnr, Vilma Kaye, Robbie Clifton, Will Perryman, Max Reddy ; and the Twinklers.
- NB: Frieda Bohning's surname is sometimes given as 'Bonning.' It is unclear which is the correct name.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Tivoli - Jim Gerald in the Navy
1934
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 30 April 1934; (p. 12)
— Review of Once Aboard a Lugger 1926 single work musical theatre -
New Tivoli Theatre
1933
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 6 February no. 29670 1933; (p. 4)
— Review of Once Aboard a Lugger 1926 single work musical theatre ; Happy Ideas 1929 single work musical theatre Review of the 1933 Sydney season of A Way We Have in the Navy (aka Once Aboard a Lugger) and the first part revue, Happy Ideas. -
The Empire Theatre
1927
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 13 June 1927; (p. 16)
— Review of Once Aboard a Lugger 1926 single work musical theatre -
Bijou - Jim Gerald Revue Co
1926
single work
review
— Appears in: The Argus , 8 November no. 25038 1926; (p. 9)
— Review of Once Aboard a Lugger 1926 single work musical theatre -
Fullers' Theatre
1926
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 26 April no. 27552 1926; (p. 4)
— Review of Once Aboard a Lugger 1926 single work musical theatre
-
The Empire Theatre
1927
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 13 June 1927; (p. 16)
— Review of Once Aboard a Lugger 1926 single work musical theatre -
Fullers' Theatre
1926
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 26 April no. 27552 1926; (p. 4)
— Review of Once Aboard a Lugger 1926 single work musical theatre -
Bijou - Jim Gerald Revue Co
1926
single work
review
— Appears in: The Argus , 8 November no. 25038 1926; (p. 9)
— Review of Once Aboard a Lugger 1926 single work musical theatre -
Tivoli - Jim Gerald in the Navy
1934
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 30 April 1934; (p. 12)
— Review of Once Aboard a Lugger 1926 single work musical theatre -
New Tivoli Theatre
1933
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 6 February no. 29670 1933; (p. 4)
— Review of Once Aboard a Lugger 1926 single work musical theatre ; Happy Ideas 1929 single work musical theatre Review of the 1933 Sydney season of A Way We Have in the Navy (aka Once Aboard a Lugger) and the first part revue, Happy Ideas.
PeriodicalNewspaper Details
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cChina,cEast Asia, South and East Asia, Asia,
- East Asia, South and East Asia, Asia,
