Joy Bells single work   musical theatre   revue/revusical   humour  
Issue Details: First known date: 1933... 1933 Joy Bells
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Revue.

Described in the Sydney Morning Herald as a 'merry Christmas frolic,' Joy Bells was essentially a revue for all ages. Among its features were the usual revue elements of song, dance, and comedy sketches, with the addition of a miniature circus, acrobatic displays, and musical scenas on the theme of Christmas. The Herald's review also reports that

'A sketch by Jim Gerald and Tommy Dale, in which the life of a busy bee was discussed, was an amusing piece of dialogue rounded off with an entertaining dance. A well-produced scena, "the Doll's Dream," was one of the features of the programme. The ballet and children represented dolls and the turn served as a good introduction for the Three Orlandos in a rag-doll specialty. The act was reminiscent of the old pantomime turn at its best, and deserved the applause that followed. The spectacular "Prosperity" which closed the first part was an ambitious setting representing the Empire. The whole company joined in the tableau, which was well conceived and artistically arranged' (26 December 1933, p.2).

Abdy's Animal and Bird Circus comprised 'performing pigeons, educated cats, trained dogs, dancing cockatoos and a cockatoo mathematical marvel' (Sydney Morning Herald 26 December 1933, p.2).

Production Details

  • 1933: Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, 26 December 1933 - 5 January 1934.

    • Director Jim Gerald; Producer Con-Paul Theatres (Mike Connors and Queenie Paul).
    • Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Reg Hawthorne, Edna Ralston, Tommy Dale, Thelma Duff, Lily Coburn, The Three Alecs (Continental clowns), The Three Orlandos (adagio dancers), Abdy's Animal and Bird Circus, and the Six Twinklers.
    • Staged as the first part of a double-bill Christmas entertainment. The second half was a vaudeville-style revue called Happy Hours, which was possibly based on Gerald's regular first-part revue Happy Ideas.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Tivoli Theatre : Jim Gerald's Return 1933 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 26 December no. 29946 1933; (p. 2)

— Review of Joy Bells Jim Gerald , 1933 single work musical theatre
Tivoli Theatre : Jim Gerald's Return 1933 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 26 December no. 29946 1933; (p. 2)

— Review of Joy Bells Jim Gerald , 1933 single work musical theatre

PeriodicalNewspaper Details

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
Last amended 9 Sep 2014 08:35:58
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