The Trip to Manly and the Soapboilers' Picnic single work   musical theatre   burlesque   humour  
Alternative title: The Soapboilers' Picnic; A Trip to HumpyBong ; Or, Fun on the Garnet
Adaptation of Fun on the Bristol George Fawcett , 1879 single work musical theatre
Issue Details: First known date: 1884... 1884 The Trip to Manly and the Soapboilers' Picnic
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Also referred to as Fun on the Brighton; Or, A Trip to Manly during its 1884 Sydney season, Bent's 'local absurdity' capitalised on John F. Sheridan's Fun on the Bristol, which was then playing at the Gaiety Theatre.

The musical element included several songs and dances incorporated into the picnic scenes.

Notes

  • Original music for the 1884 production was composed by Nicholas La Feuillade.

  • The productions staged in Brisbane during the late 1890s (under the title The Soapboiler's Picnic) are believed to have been revised and localised versions.

Production Details

  • 1884: Academy of Music, Sydney, 14 June - 4 July (eighteen performances).

    • Producer F. E. Hiscocks; Music Director Nicholas La Feuillade.
    • Troupe Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels and Specialty Union.
    • Cast incl. Miss Melville, W. Horace Bent, Sam Keenan, W. A. Ball, Alf Moynham, Harry Carroll, Lou Braham, Beaumont Read, E. Amery, J. S. Porter.

    1897: Gaiety Theatre, Brisbane, 5-11 June

    • Producer Thomas Delohery, Charles Bovis, and Sydney Deane; Tour Manager Henry Colley.
    • Troupe Elite Burlesque, Comedy and Specialty Co.
    • As A Trip to Humpybong; Or, Fun on the Garnet.
    • Cast incl. Delohery, Craydon and Holland.
    • Although advertising indicates that this production was called A Trip to Humpybong (Brisbane Courier 13 February 1897, p.2), the Brisbane Courier's theatre critic refers to it as The Soapboilers Picnic (15 February 1897, p.5).
    • Humpybong was the original name given to the northern Brisbane seaside suburb of Redcliffe. It is now the name of the local state school and yacht club.

    1899: Theatre Royal, Brisbane, 28 January - 3 February (as The Soapboilers Picnic).

    • Producer Thomas Delohery, Charles Bovis, and Sydney Deane; Tour Manager Henry Colley.
    • Troupe Elite Burlesque Co.
    • Cast incl. Tom Delohery, James Craydon, Ted Holland.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1884
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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

Details have also been derived in part from the Annotated Calendar of Plays Premiered in Australia: 1870-1890.

Last amended 16 Oct 2014 12:59:15
Subjects:
Settings:
  • Manly, Manly - Allambie - Curl Curl area, Sydney Northeastern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,
  • Redcliffe, Redcliffe area, Brisbane Outer North, Brisbane, Queensland,
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