The fun is 'provided by a hilarious inebriate who insists on displaying his hospitality to his sleepy room mate' (Brisbane Courier 7 December 1923, p.11).
The New War is one of several sketches played out between Chic and Bert (later Chic and Joe) that form an on-going series based on the experiences of Australian and New Zealand soldiers both during the First World War and as they try to return to 'normal' civilian life after the Armistice.
Although the names of the principal characters (as staged prior to ca. 1923) have not yet been established with certainty, it is likely that they were either named Chic and Bert or were being developed as such.
An unidentified and undated newspaper clipping from the Vice Regals' 1921 tour of New Zealand indicates that the sketch was staged under the title The New War A. D. 1921.
1921: New Zealand tour, ca. June-October. Director/Producer Pat Hanna ; Troupe The Vice Regals ; Cast incl. Pat Hanna
1921: Esplanade, St Kilda (Melbourne), ca. December. Director/Producer Pat Hanna ; Troupe The Famous Diggers ; Cast incl. G. P. Hanna (Chic), Will Crawford (Bert).
1923: Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane, 6-12 December. Director/Producer G. P. Hanna ; Music Director Mena Raymond ; Troupe The Famous Diggers ; Cast G. P. Hanna (Chic), Joe Valli (Joe).
1924: Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane, 11-17 September. Director/Producer G. P. Hanna ; Troupe The Famous Diggers ; Cast incl. G. P. Hanna, Joe Valli.
1925: Queensland regional tour, April-May. Director G. P. Hanna ; Producer E. J. Carroll (q.v.) ; Troupe Pat Hanna's Famous Diggers ; Cast incl. G. P. Hanna, Joe Valli.
Queensland regional tour itinerary incl. Gympie, April* / Maryborough, April* / Bundaberg, April - 1 May / Earls Court, Rockhampton, 2-9 May / Mount Morgan, May* / Mackay, 12 May -* / Townsville, May* / Charters Towers, May* / Mackay, June* (return season) / Rockhampton, June* (return season).
NB: An asterisk [*] beside a date indicates that it is either approximate or is yet to be determined.
This entry has been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian popular theatre being conducted by Professor Richard Fotheringham and Dr Clay Djubal.
This New War
1930-1939
(Manuscript version)x401958
Z1452308
1930-1939
single work
film/TV
A scene played out at Hatherley Hall.
