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Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive
Bert Desmond Bert Desmond i(A103710 works by)
Gender: Male
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1 Puss in Boots Bert Desmond , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , 1926 single work musical theatre pantomime fantasy

Adapted from the French literary fairy tale about a cat who uses trickery and deceit to gain power and wealth, and in the process also wins the hand of a princess in marriage for his penniless and low-born master.

A critic writing for Just It 1926 records: 'Puss in Boots at the Gaiety, Oxford Street, does not contain one dull moment. It is a pantomime that does the Clay management infinite credit; and the story, a favourite yarn from the storehouse of French fairy lore, is faithfully followed, being of course punctuated at times with songs and dances and specialties, true to the tradition of pantomime. The principles are all well up to their work, and the ballet is another ad for the grace and ability of young Australian girls' (6 January 1927, p.28).

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
1 The Hero of Coogee Beach Bert Desmond , Harry Clay , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour
1 The Double Bedroom The Double Bedded Room Bert Desmond , Harry Clay , Clay's Bridge Theatre Ltd , 1917 single work musical theatre revue/revusical humour

Harry Kitching's revue in Australian Variety reports that Bert Desmond's 'bedroom routine proved a winner, if laughs are to be taken into consideration' (26 September 1917, n. pag.)
1 To the Editor 'Variety' Bert Desmond , Harry Kitching , 1914 single work correspondence
— Appears in: Australian Variety , 24 June 1914; (p. n. pag.) A letter to Australian Variety in which Bert Desmond responds to the claim that he his rendering of the song 'Fifty Years Ago' was a reworking of a Charlie Vaude (q.v.) song. Desmond states that the song is his own composition. The critic in question, Harry Kitching (q.v.) replies to Desmond's letter in the same issue.
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