Sinbad the Sailor single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Issue Details: First known date: 1926... 1926 Sinbad the Sailor
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Written (or adapted) by Bert Ray, the production was described by the Age reviewer as 'glorified vaudeville' (28 December 1926, p.7). The The Argus 1848-1957 theatre critic wrote that although the 'the story begins as an Arabian Nights story should... before the first act is over the thread of the narrative becomes tangles, and disappears altogether before the play ends. Like other pantomimes, too, Sinbad the Sailor is amusing not so much for the jokes contained in the book of the piece, which have all been heard many times before, as for the bewildering anachronisms it contains' (28 December 1926, p.16).

The scenic effects included: 'Wonders of the Deep,' 'The Sunken Pirate Ship', 'The Maze of Coral,' 'Frolic of the Mermaids,' 'The Ocean Monster,' 'The Garden of the Deep,' 'Neptune's Throne,' 'Treasure Island,' 'The Sultan's Palace,' 'The Magic Wood,' and 'Flowerland' (Age 25 December 1926, p.16).

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

Production Details

  • 1926: Playhouse Theatre, Melbourne; 26 December 1926 - 22 January 1927

    • Director Bert Ray; Producer Jack O'Donnell (in association with Rupert Foyle); Music Director Gladys Thomas; Choreography May Downs.
    • Cast incl. Bert Ray (dame), Hazel Nutt (Sinbad), Darval Thomas, Nellie Hall, Eric Haslem, B. S. Monty, Kathleen Howard, Freda Spry, Jack Armstrong, Ray Fisher, Alex Hozie, Stanley Ebden, Little Isabel ("the wonder child"), Cestria ("the continental clown/stilt walker"), the Cyclone Six (acrobats/dancers).
    • The premiere was beset with several unfortunate circumstances, including Bert Ray losing most of his voice after three days without sleep, and thus was barely audible to the audience (Argus 28 December 1926, p.16).

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Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1926
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Works about this Work

'Sinbad the Sailor' : Pantomime at Playhouse 1926 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 28 December no. 25080 1926; (p. 16)
— Review of Sinbad the Sailor Bert Ray , 1926 single work musical theatre
'Sinbad the Sailor' : Pantomime at Playhouse 1926 single work review
— Appears in: The Argus , 28 December no. 25080 1926; (p. 16)
— Review of Sinbad the Sailor Bert Ray , 1926 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 5 May 2014 11:50:02
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