Babes in the Wood single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Issue Details: First known date: 1919... 1919 Babes in the Wood
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

An adaptation by Harry Taylor of the famous pantomime story, it was described in advertising as 'an entirely new and up-to-date burlesque [with] charming music, humour, ballets and grotesque situations' (Northern Miner 20 September 1919, n. pag.). The text is said to closely follow the story of the famous children's story, with the original characters retained but with many additional characters added to 'give strength to the cast and [the] introduction of novel acts.' The Northern Miner also records that 'the dialogue is witty and humorous throughout, and above all is clean and wholesome.'

The musical numbers, 'especially written for the production by the author, Mr Harry Taylor', are described as being both 'original and haunting' (22 Sept. 1919, p.2).

Production Details

  • 1919: Queensland regional tour, ca. August - December.

    • Director Harry Taylor; Producer Harry Taylor and Alf Coleman; Music Director E. J. Golding; Tour Manager Jack Campbell.
    • Troupe: Coleman and Taylor Pantomime Company.
    • Cast incl. Bert Desmond, Joe Charles, Harry Taylor, Emili Dani (Citronella), Mattie Jansen and Maude Shipp (the Babes), Ilma Burns, Janet Waldren, Julia Reeves, Ivy Marshall, Florence Walker (principal boy), Cora Trevor, Vicky Gresham, Alice White, Francis Smith, Ida Berkley.
    • The tour, which played fifty-one towns over twenty-one weeks, also included the pantomimes Robinson Crusoe and Little Jack Horner.
    • Tour itinerary incl. Theatre Royal, Townsville, 23-27 September.

    1919: Eden Gardens, Manly, 26 December 1919 - ca. January 1920.

    • Director Harry Taylor ; Producer Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd.
    • Troupe: Coleman and Taylor Pantomime Company.
    • Cast mostly as for previous Taylor Coleman Pantomime Company Queensland tour.

    1920: Harry Clay's suburban circuit, Sydney, ca. January.

    • Producer Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd.
    • Troupe: Coleman and Taylor Pantomime Company.
    • Cast~ mostly as for Eden Gardens season.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1919
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Works about this Work

'The Babes in the Wood' 1919 single work review
— Appears in: The Northern Miner , 24 September 1919; (p. 2)
— Review of Babes in the Wood Harry Taylor , 1919 single work musical theatre
'The Babes in the Wood' 1919 single work review
— Appears in: The Northern Miner , 24 September 1919; (p. 2)
— Review of Babes in the Wood Harry Taylor , 1919 single work musical theatre
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (1)

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 30 Apr 2014 07:22:04
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