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Photo courtesy of the Fryer Libary from the Theatre Magazine (April 1915)

Bletsoes' Tabloid Musical Comedy Company Bletsoes' Tabloid Musical Comedy Company i(A105552 works by) (Organisation) assertion
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BiographyHistory

Revusical troupe.

Following their return to Australia after a year-long tour of America and Canada, Albert and Maud Bletsoe were contracted by Fullers' Theatres to tour a revusical (one-act musical) company on its Australian and New Zealand circuits. Billed as Bletsoes' Tabloid Musical Comedy Company, the troupe's repertoire comprised at least five productions, the four known revusicals being In Vacation Time, Fun in a Sanatorium, Be Beautiful, and Palmistry Up-to-Date. These were staged either as a first or second-part entertainment in the advertised programme.

With Albert and Maud taking the leading roles, the troupe's other principal performers included established industry names such as James Caldwell, Eileen Barnsley, Ernest Lauri, Rosie Bowie, and Charles Melvin. Also in the troupe was the emerging Hebrew comedian Roy Rene, best known from 1916 onwards as 'Mo.'

The troupe was effectively disbanded in early June 1916 and reformed with several new performers as Nat Phillips' Tabloid Musical Comedy Company.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • 1. TROUPE PERSONNEL:

    1.1. Eileen Barnsley, Bess Blackwell, Albert Bletsoe, Maud Bletsoe, Rosie Bowie, James Caldwell, Charles Callow, May Foy, Biddie Hawthorne, Freda Helston, Harry Kenny, Jolly Marie, Ernest Lauri, Ray Mack, George Melrose, Charles Melvin, Jack Nicholson, Roy Rene, May Sharpe, James Wilkinson.

    1.2. Additional notes and/or historical clarification :

    • Bess Blackwell's Christian name has sometimes been referred to as Belle.
    • Freda Helston's surname is sometimes spelled Hellston.

    1.3. The following artists are known to have been associated with other variety companies :

    • Bess Blackwell: Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Revue Co.
    • Albert Bletsoe: Bletsoes' Crimson Ramblers.
    • Maud Bletsoe: Bletsoes' Crimson Ramblers.
    • Rosie Bowie: Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Revue Co.
    • James Caldwell: Fullers' Fantastics.
    • Freda Helston: Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Revue Co.
    • Ernest Lauri: Art Slavin Revue Co.
    • Roy Rene: Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Revue Co / The Merry Monarchs.

    .

  • 2. ENGAGEMENTS CHRONOLOGY:

    1915: 23 March - 30 April ; Victoria Theatre, Newcastle (NSW) / ca. 7 May - ; Bijou Theatre, Melbourne / ca. 20 November - December ; National Theatre, Sydney.

    1916: 13 May - ca. 9 June ; Empire Theatre, Brisbane.

    .

  • FURTHER REFERENCE:

    • Theatre Magazine: June 1915, p.2 / December 1915, p.41 / August 1916, pp.45-46.

    .

  • 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 27 May 2014 10:24:25
See Also
The Bletsoes [Albert and Maud]
Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Revue Company
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