AustLit
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.
Latest Issues
AbstractHistoryArchive Description
Effectively a revue, While the Billy Boils sees a group of men come together around a campfire in the Australian bush and entertain each (and the audience) with songs, jokes, stories and specialty acts.
The characters in the first production included a settler, an overseer, a wool classer, a sundowner, jackaroos and boundary riders and two 'aboriginals.' The second production saw some changes to the characters, with the settler becoming a cook and the two Aborigines becoming wandering musicians.
Exhibitions
7553345
7539331
Notes
-
The program for the repeat performance of While the Billy Boils (8 June 1919) indicates that the setting was a bush campfire at Yarra Glen, Victoria.
Production Details
-
1919: Victoria Rooms, Clifton, Bristol (England); 22 March
- Scenic Artist W. Merrick Boyd.
- Troupe: Australian Flying Corps Concert Party.
- Cast: Bob Hulme (Bob, a settler), Stan McIntyre (Mac, an overseer), Ben Hall (Ben, a wool classer), Nat Gyles (Nat, sundowner); Jackaroos - Ern Petering (Pete), G. Kendrick (Ken), F. Leake (Blue), Alf Dunstan (Alf); Boundary Riders Dick Loughlin (Dick), Les Williams (Les), Bert Richardson (Bert), Ray Byrne (Ray), Arch Grant (Arch); Australian Aborigines - Jack Cathcart (Jacky), Ted McVinnish (Jimmy).
- Staged on behalf of the Lord Mayor's Hospital Fund.
1919: A.I.F. and War Chest Club, London (England); 8 June
- Scenic Artist W. Merrick Boyd.
- Troupe: Australian Flying Corps Concert Party.
- Cast: Bob Hulme (Bob, the cook), Ben Hall (Ben, a swagman), Stan McIntyre (Mac, an overseer), W. McLaughlan (Devil-May-Care, late of Bond Street and the Indian Army); Rouseabouts and Boundary Riders - Ivo Hall (Dal), E. Daniel (Dan), G. Kendrick (Ken), Will Salsibury (Sol), G. Paterson (Pat), Monte Phillips (Mot), Jock Cunningham (Banjo, a wandering musician), G. Metcalfe (Doc, a musician of parts, adopted by the boys).
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 8 Jul 2015 21:17:42
