Bluebeard single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Adaptation of Bluebeard Charles Perrault , 1697 single work short story
Issue Details: First known date: 1918... 1918 Bluebeard
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Bluebeard begins in Toyland, where the arrival of Father Christmas heralds the traditional quest for a pantomime story. In the second scene, set in the Square of Aleppo, the forces of evil (led by Demon Discord) and the forces of good (led by Queen Felicity) draw their battles lines prior to the arrival of Bluebeard. The story proper then begins, as Selim's sweetheart Fatima is abducted by Bluebeard and taken to his harem. Meanwhile, Selim declares, 'I am a lover brave and true, and all the world knows what a lover can do.' He then sets forth on the H.M.A.S. Melbourne to rescue his would-be lover.

Act II begins in Bluebeard's Fairy Garden, in the centre of which lies a Wonderful Water Fountain. Fatima, now firmly in the grip of Bluebeard's power, has been condemned to die just like his seven wives. At midnight, upon the conclusion of 'Weird Ghost Ballet', Selim arrives to rescue Fatima, and dispatches Bluebeard in the process. The pantomime ends in Selim's Wonderful Palace of Fans, a setting that leads to the transformation scene, titled 'The March of the Fans.' 'The Wedding of Selim and Fatima' is then followed by the glittering finale 'Wedding Bells' (Fuller News 18 February 1922, p.9).

W. Hamilton Webber's original incidental music and several songs (co-written with Frank Neil) were utilised in each of the productions below. Additional material comprised popular songs of the day and several songs by cast members. For example, Vince Courtney contributed 'That Little Home among the Hills' and 'Sarah.'

The libretto for the 1921/1922 Melbourne season, although based largely on the 1918 version, is believed to have contained some new songs and up-to-date comic business. The original songs included in that production included the opening chorus and Act 1 finale chorus 'Floating Away' (Neil/Webber); 'Come to the Great Bazaar Today' (Webber); 'Cuddle in your Mammy's Arms' (Neil), sung by Fifi de Tisne; 'The Passing of the Hours' (a ballet by Neil/Webber); and 'Swan Boat' (Neil/Webber), sung by Essie Jennings and chorus. Other songs incorporated into the pantomime were 'Just Had a Drop of Gin with Martha', 'Let's All Have a Jolly Good Cry', and 'A Nosy Noise Annoys an Oyster' (sung by Jim Gerald); 'Let's all be Good Pals Together' and 'Lucky' (Nellie Kolle); 'Welcome to the Day', 'Cleopatra's Got a Jazz Band Now', and 'Jazz Boat' (Fifi de Tinse); and 'Wedding Bells' (Company). Nat Phillips also contributed a song to the 1921/22 production: 'The Pickanniny's Land of Dreams.'

Dance numbers included 'The Spirit of the Dawn' and 'The Enchanted Mummy Dance' (performed by Polly McLaren), 'The Golden Fairy Ballet' (Dot Tointon), and 'The Skeleton Ballet.'

Production Details

  • 1918: Majestic Theatre, Sydney, 26 December 1918 - 17 January 1919.

    • Director Frank Neil; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
    • Cast incl. Jim Gerald (Sister Mary), Essie Jennings.
    • A second edition of the pantomime was presented for the final week (11-17 January), and included new songs, dances and specialties.

    1920: Grand Opera House, Sydney, 18 December 1920 - 11 March 1921.

    • Director Frank Neil; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Scenic Art Rege Robins; Chorus Bella Perman.
    • Cast incl. Jim Gerald (Sister Mary), Essie Jennings, Vince Courtney (Bill Jellico), Ray De Vere, Harry Burgess, Gus Franks, De Winter and Rose, Ferry the Frog, Archie and Gertie Falls, Kathleen Shearer, Lydia Crane, Victor Fitzherbert, Arthur Vance, John Kirby, The Darwinians.

    1921: Princess Theatre, Melbourne, 24 December 1921 - 25 March 1922

    • Director Frank Neil; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Conductor Reginald De Talworth; Scenic Art Rege Robins; Chorus Doris Tointon; Business Manager Roy Fuller; Costumes Miss Moar and Mrs Dunne; Stage Manager Jack Kirby.
    • Cast incl. Jim Gerald (Sister Mary), Essie Jennings (Queen Felicity), Jefferson Tait (Bluebeard), Frank Neil (Rastus), Nellie Kolle (Selim), Raymond Johnson (Father Christmas), Polly McLaren (Zarella), Eddie De Tisne (Demon Discord), Lorna Ballard (Cupid), Fifi De Tisne (Fatima), Jack Kirby (Willie Wigtail), Ardley Reale (The Monkey), Bumps and Falls (Catchem and Loseum), Ferry The Frog, The Marvellous Flying Winskills, Thomas Winskill, Sadie Reed (Zuleka); Bluebeard's Murdered Wives - Stella Noonan (Zamara), Kathleen Dubois (Zensda), Myrtle Dale (Corita), Trizie Caley (Sabine), Doris Lemar (Mena); Bluebeard's Dancing Harem Girls - Olive Symonds, Gladys Fryer, Beattie Marshall, Alma Stewart, Ivy Moule, Vera Nixon, Gladys Devereux, Myrtle Adair, Ruby Gray, Doris Hunter, Thelma Prittard, Irene Scully, Minnie Nathan, Maggie Berry, Doreen Beaumont, Kathleen Wolthers; Bluebeard's Guard - Madge Newbould, Elsie Allen, Iris Lette, Mary Ryan, Pansy Mason, Lillian Bennett, Mona Quine, Marie Stein, Edna McCall, Flo Shenwick, Jean Vernon, Clarice Johnson; Cupid's Army of Fairies - Ada Law, Petty Roberts, Esther Powrie, Nellie Wigston, Leile Battye, Edna Pritchard, Phyllis Moyle, Tubby Wood, Grace Webster, Mavis Ball, Bonnie Boxshall, Violet Burge, Eileen Fahey, Ivy Prescott, Virgin Uren, Elvie Watson.
    • 135 performances.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

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 29 Apr 2014 12:26:50
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