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'Described in the Brisbane Courier as 'a gorgeous production in 18 scenes' (16 December 1921, p.2), John N. McCallum's 1921 Christmas pantomime reportedly cost more than £2,000 for costumes, scenery, properties, and lighting effects. The costumes alone numbered more than 350. The scenic art, which was also praised by the Brisbane Courier critic, featured the scenes 'The Fairy Dell', 'Shoe in the Woods', 'The Bal Masque', the Transformation of the seasons ('Spring', 'Summer', 'Autumn', and 'Winter'), 'Snowland', 'The Woodlands of Wild Flowers', 'The Giant's Forest', and the 'Palace of Jewels' (Brisbane Courier 17 December 1921, p.13).
The favourite character, Dame Anastasia, played by Fred Bluett, was portrayed as 'a conventional, warm-hearted, garrulous lady of doubtful antecedents who weighed down by her numerous matrimonial troubles showed scant reticence when confiding her intimate affairs to the audience' (17 December 1921, p.7).
Songs known to have been either written for the production or inserted are 'Open Your Heart' and 'Thoughts of You' (sung by Lottie Collins), 'Everybody Calls Me Honey' (Linda Nicholls), the ragtime ditty 'My Man' (Nell Fleming), 'Come to the Dance' (Olga Muir), and 'Good Night Mr Kangaroo' (Little Bernice Berg).
Production Details
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1922: Cremorne Garden Theatre, Brisbane, 16 December 1922 - 19 January 1922.
- Director Billy Maloney; Producer/Proprietor John N. McCallum (Dandies Qld Ltd); Music Dirctor Fred Whaite; Scenic Art Selwyn Armstrong; Costumes Miss Hair; Stage Manager Victor Gouriet ; Chorus Marjorie Bray; Troupe McCallum's Town Topics.
- Cast incl. Lottie Collins (principal boy), Nell Fleming (principal girl), Billy Maloney (Simple Simon), Amy Rochelle, Arthur Aldridge, Fred Bluett (Dame Anastasia), Frank Charlton, Colin Crane (Demon), Ray de Vere (Fairy Queen), Olga Muir (second boy), Ivy Aldous (second girl), Charles Albert, Ida Merton, Nelle McCarthy, Dulcie Crane (Sally), Charles Zoli, Gus Bluett, Howard Hall, Reg Hewett (Horace the Donkey), Linda Nicholls, Bernice Berg, Miss Sheila Albert (Jack), Iris Ackworth (Jill).
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Pantomime at Cremorne
1921
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 17 December 1921; (p. 7)
— Review of The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe 1921 single work musical theatre -
Music and Drama
1921
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 17 December 1921; (p. 13)
— Review of The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe 1921 single work musical theatre -
Music and Drama
1921
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 3 December 1921; (p. 13)
— Review of The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe 1921 single work musical theatre A preview of John N. McCallum's forthcoming Christmas pantomime, to be staged at the Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane. -
Music and Drama
1921
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 12 November 1921; (p. 15)
— Review of The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe 1921 single work musical theatre A preview of John N. McCallum's forthcoming Christmas pantomime, to be staged at the Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane.
-
Music and Drama
1921
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 12 November 1921; (p. 15)
— Review of The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe 1921 single work musical theatre A preview of John N. McCallum's forthcoming Christmas pantomime, to be staged at the Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane. -
Music and Drama
1921
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 3 December 1921; (p. 13)
— Review of The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe 1921 single work musical theatre A preview of John N. McCallum's forthcoming Christmas pantomime, to be staged at the Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane. -
Music and Drama
1921
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 17 December 1921; (p. 13)
— Review of The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe 1921 single work musical theatre -
Pantomime at Cremorne
1921
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 17 December 1921; (p. 7)
— Review of The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe 1921 single work musical theatre
