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Revusical.
In reviewing the premiere production of On the Sands at Harry Clay's Bridge Theatre, Australian Variety records:
The Royal Musical Comedy Co opened and as responsible for the 'House Full' signs being out long before the curtain was raised... The whole show was bright and catchy and did not leave one dull moment... The musical items are fresh and attractive and has none of the hackneyed quality of many of the recent revues seen at other theatres lately ... Judging by the reception the revue received, it should have a record run, which it fully deserves, as it is well worth seeing and well worth the trip out for the 'city-ites' after some of the revues that have been produced lately (27 October 1915, p.6).
Although no details concerning the story have yet been located, the 'Synopsis of Events' as advertised in Australian Variety indicate the following scenes: 'Flo and Her Friends Arrive', 'On the Sands', 'Private, Strictly Private', 'Clarence the Sport', 'Somebody's Taken My Togs, I Wonder Who Were There Before?', 'Police', 'The Rich Uncle From Fiji', and 'Everybody Happy'.
The songs used in this production, believed to have been of both original Australian and international origin, were also changed on a regular basis. The Australian Variety review reveals, for example, that all of the songs presented during the opening week were replaced for the second. One of the songs that featured in the revusical was Morley's 'Be a Man, Enlist To-Day!'.
The 1931 revival staged by George Sorlie and his newly formed Vaudeville and Revue Company was reportedly set at Kirra Beach, with the actor/manager in the role of a waiter.
Notes
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An exact date and place for the premiere of On the Sands has not yet been determined. Although it has been established that Morley first produced it on Harry Clay's circuit in late October 1915, it is believed that he may have staged it prior joining that firm (ca. June 1915), possibly while undertaking a tour through regional Victoria.
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From ca. August 1916, Morley's Royal Musical Comedy Company became known as Harry Clay's No 1 Revue Company.
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A photograph of the audience attending On the Sands at Thornton's Rosebery Theatre, Gardeners' Road, Mascot (Sydney), can be found in the 26 January 1916 issue of Australian Variety (n. pag.).
Production Details
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1915: Bridge Theatre, Newtown (Sydney), 23 October-5 November.
- Director Arthur Morley; Producer Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd; Scenic Art Alec Stagpoole; Stage Manager Ted Gabriel.
- Troupe Royal Musical Comedy Company.
- Cast incl. Ted Stanley (the Waiter), Will Rollow (the Knut), Beth Pascoe, Muriel Willis, Doris Baker, Amy Rochelle, Arthur Morley, Elsie Bates, George Stephenson, Ted Tutty.
1916: Weston and Hill's NSW South Coast circuit, ca. January/February.
- Troupe Arthur Morley's Royal Musical Comedy Company.
1916: Victorian regional tour, ca. August/September.
- Troupe Arthur Morley's Royal Musical Comedy Company.
- Itinerary incl. Ballarat, Geelong and Mildura.
1916: Harry Clay's Sydney suburban and south-west NSW circuit, ca. September/October.
- Director Arthur Morley; Producer Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd; Stage Manager Ted Gabriel (Bridge Theatre).
- Troupe Harry Clay's No 1 Musical Comedy Co.
- Cast incl. Will Rollow, Ted Stanley, Maurice Chenoweth, Lulu Eugene, Eileen and Bessie Phillips, Arthur Morley, Vince and Eva Courtney.
- Suburban circuit incl. Coliseum Theatre, North Sydney (23 September). South-west circuit incl. Goulburn (ca. 4 October).
1917: Princess Theatre, Sydney, 8-14 December.
- Director Arthur Morley; Producer/Lessee Harry Sadler; Proprietor Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
- Cast incl. Arthur Morley.
1922: Betts and Portus Sydney circuit, ca. February.
- Director Arthur Morley; Producer Betts and Portus; Cast incl. Arthur Morley.
- Circuit incl. Melba Theatre (4 February), formerly the Alhambra Theatre
1931: His Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, 7-13 November.
- Director/Producer George Sorlie.
- Troupe George Sorlie's Vaudeville and Revue Company.
- Cast incl. George Sorlie, Yvonne Banvard, Arthur Morley, Bert Desmond, Gerald Connolly, Richard Parry, Addie Lake, Grace Bromley, Bud de Silva, Alma Jorgenson, The Two Hildas (Hilda Waring and Hilda Statler), Sam Stern, Neville Clark, James Blair, and the Eight Rhythm Rascals.
- Musicians Tiny Douglas and His Varsity Boys.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Clay's Budget
1916
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Variety and Show World , 27 September 1916; (p. 5)
— Review of On the Sands 1915 single work musical theatre -
Frocks and Frills at the Vaudeville Theatre
1915
single work
column
— Appears in: Australian Variety , 10 November 1915; (p. 13)
— Review of On the Sands 1915 single work musical theatre An insight into the costuming in Arthur Morley's revusical, On the Sands. -
Arthur Morley's Revue
1915
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Variety , 3 November 1915; (p. 13)
— Review of On the Sands 1915 single work musical theatre -
Harry Clay's Bridge Theatre, Newtown
1915
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Variety , 27 October 1915; (p. 6)
— Review of On the Sands 1915 single work musical theatre
-
Harry Clay's Bridge Theatre, Newtown
1915
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Variety , 27 October 1915; (p. 6)
— Review of On the Sands 1915 single work musical theatre -
Arthur Morley's Revue
1915
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Variety , 3 November 1915; (p. 13)
— Review of On the Sands 1915 single work musical theatre -
Clay's Budget
1916
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Variety and Show World , 27 September 1916; (p. 5)
— Review of On the Sands 1915 single work musical theatre -
Frocks and Frills at the Vaudeville Theatre
1915
single work
column
— Appears in: Australian Variety , 10 November 1915; (p. 13)
— Review of On the Sands 1915 single work musical theatre An insight into the costuming in Arthur Morley's revusical, On the Sands.
