AustLit

Revue.

Described in the Brisbane Courier as a three-hour entertainment comprising witty sketches, melodies, and dance numbers. One of the feature sketches was 'The Rest Cure' (starring Ike Delavale). Other highlights are said to have been Eddie Weston's whistling solos, the songs performed by juvenile singer Keith Barry, and the character impersonations of Jewish comedian Sam Stern.

One of the songs incoporated into the 1931 Brisbane production was 'Fairy Tales of Ireland' (sung by Colleen Hope).

The Brisbane Courier's review of the 1931 Theatre Royal production indicates that Old Mother Hubbard was more like a revue than a traditional pantomime, comprising mostly novelty acts, 'vocal items and amusing sketches.' One of the feature sketches, for example, was 'Mr M'Caccy' (described as having an almost 'O. Henry ending'), which was performed by Charles Delavale, Addie Lake, and Lee Murray. The characters involved in the storyline are advertised as being 'the funny old dame, the painters, the Fairy Queen and the Monkey' (26 December 1931, p.7).

The musical highlights are said to have included a rendition of 'Mary of Argyle' by George Correlli (billed as 'the Caruso of Vaudeville'), 'Mr Gallagher and Mr Sheen' (a duet by Correlli and Delavale), and 'Love is Just a Little Bit of Heaven' and 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' (by young Chinese baritone Chung Doo). Other songs included 'La Paloma' and 'Dreamy Sevilla' (performed by Addie Lake) and 'Hello, Beautiful' (performed by Dolly Vockler and the ballet).

Revue.

'Hello Brisbane is a delightful mixture of laughable sketches, pretty ballets, excellent dancing and haunting refrain', reports the Brisbane Courier in 1931. The review further notes that

'[The] exceedingly bright show on Saturday night [was] met with a wonderful reception at the Theatre Royal. It is easily seen that "Australia's Prime Minister of Mirth" is supported by a very fine cabinet. The show went with a merry swing from the first raising of the curtain to its final descent, and throughout the performance the theatre echoed laughter. ... Ike naturally dominates the production because of his outstanding versatility, clever comedy, entertaining patter, wonderful dancing and good singing' (23 November 1931, p.19).

Revusical.

Yankee Doodle is described in 1931 as a 'breezy revuette and a clever satire on army discipline [which] gave Ike Delavale another opportunity as a mirth-provoker when he figured as a member of the most awkward of awkward squads' (Brisbane Courier 14 December 1931, p.12).

Revue.

'An hilarious burlesque on the suffragettes provides an outstanding feature on a programme of high excellence presented by Ike Delavale and his Revue Company,' writes the Brisbane Courier's theatre critic in 1931. The review goes on to note that 'Miss Marie Le Varre, as can well be imagined, is responsible for the creation of many astonishing situations in the position of president of a band of ladies seeking equal rights, and she is ably supported by the secretary and treasurer.... The plot is one of comedy throughout' (7 December 1931, p.8).

Revusical.

Charles Delavale as 'Ike' is a janitor 'no bank manager could reject' in this 'musical revuette' concerning the matrimonial differences between a jealous husband and his wife (Age 16 July 1928, p.11). Other characters include a woman (Susie) and the bank manager.