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Revusical.
Whips and Quips, described in advertising as 'a racing revue', has a cast of characters that includes a trainer, a crook, a stableman, a yokel, an owner, a jockey, and two spielers. The Brisbane Courier indicates in its review of the 1927 Empire Theatre production that 'Jim Gerald and Reg Hawthorne provided the audience with a feast of laughter as spielers on the racecourse, and incidentally demonstrated that originality need not fear a cold reception. In the racing game many risks are taken, but few punters would care to follow the example of these two... who finally turned bookmakers' (6 June 1927, p.16).
The action centres on the exploits of Percy and Angus Quips, who plot to dope 'The Victory', a 'dead cert' for the big race, while also laying down ridiculous odds, in a satirical portrayal 'of the methods employed in that profession'. The two crooks are foiled in their designs, and subsequently appear before a judge in a burlesque of the Supreme Court (Brisbane Courier 6 November 1926, p.8). A review of the 1922 Fullers' Theatre (Sydney) season also records:
'The drab surroundings of the trainer's yard were frequently brightened by the appearance of the ballet fantastically and glaringly clad but always graceful and neat in movement. Mr Gerald and Mr Hawthorn [sic], as a spieler and a crook respectively, provided most of the fun; while Mr Ernest Crawford and Miss Shannon Ray, in the more serious parts, were associated in several agreeable musical numbers' (Sydney Morning Herald 28 August 1922, p.5).
The 1933 revival, billed as I Don't Want to Be a Jockey, is said to have been staged over three scenes: the racing stables, on the road to the racecourse, and on the racecourse. Two of the features of this production were Jim Gerald's song 'Delaney's Donkey' and the 'Jockey Dance' (performed by Thelma Duff and Lou Cottam).
An Age review of the 1934 Tivoli Theatre revival reports:
'The second half of the entertainment was given over to a well-produced revue, I Don't Want to be a Jockey. Mr Gerald and his company have played this revue before in Melbourne, but it was worth repeating. Tom Dale is the "hero," Freda Bohning the "heroine" and Will Perryman and Jim Gerald the "villains" who in attempting to 'nobble a favourite for a race give him a speeding up dope by mistake' (14 May 1934, p.10).
Notes
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The 1923 production saw Gerald give a 'moving musical biographical veracious history of "Paddy McGinty's Goat"'. The March 1923 edition of the Theatre Magazine povides the text for this sketch along with several photographs of Gerald in performance (p.21).
Production Details
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1922: Victoria Theatre (Syd); ca. August.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren; Orchestra Leader Harold Vinner.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Miniature Musical Comedy Company.
- Cast Jim Gerald (Percy Quips), Reg Hawthorne (Angus Quips), Ernest Crawford (Jack Masters), Howard Hall (an usher), Lance Vane (The Judge), Essie Jennings (Maisie Gordon), Shannon Raye (Lilian Grey), Winnie Trevail (Topsy Turnitops), Polly McLaren (Billy Bleggs), and the Six Twinklers (Iris McKenzie, Vera Nixon, Laurel Barrett, Irene Vando, Edna Drake, Myra Rowe).
- Possibly staged 29 July - 4 August.
1922: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 26 August - 1 September.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Miniature Musical Comedy Company.
- Cast Jim Gerald, Reg Hawthorne, Ernest Crawford, Howard Hall, Lance Vane, Essie Jennings, Shannon Raye, Winnie Trevail, Polly McLaren, and the Six Twinklers (Iris McKenzie, Vera Nixon, Laurel Barrett, Irene Vando, Edna Drake, Myra Rowe).
1922: Empire Theatre, Brisbane, 4-10 November.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Miniature Musical Comedy Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Ernest Crawford, Howard Hall, Lance Vane, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Winnie Trevail, Polly McLaren, Shannon Raye, and the Six Twinklers (Iris McKenzie, Vera Nixon, Laurel Barrett, Gladys Taykor, Edna Drake, Myra Rowe).
- Irene Vando (Six Twinklers) was replaced by Gladys Taylor during the week. Myra Rowe returned, having been replaced by Avis Porter the previous week.
1923: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 3-9 February.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Miniature Musical Comedy Company.
- Cast Jim Gerald, Ernest Crawford, Howard Hall, Lance Vane, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Letty Craydon, Mona Thomas, Polly McLaren, and the Six Twinklers (Iris McKenzie, Vera Nixon, Laurel Barrett, Irene Vando, Edna Drake, Myra Rowe).
1924: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 5-18 April (two-week season).
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Miniature Musical Comedy Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Polly McLaren, Ernest Crawford, Lance Vane, Howard Hall, Letty Craydon, Mona Thomas, and the Six Twinklers.
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1926: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 10-16 April.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Polly McLaren, Lance Vane, Mona Thomas, Ernest Crawford, Howard Hall, Myra Rowe, Betty Lambert, May Geary, Neva Carr-Glynn, and the Six Twinklers.
- Advertisements placed in the Sydney Morning Herald for 17 and 19 April indicate that Whips and Quips was being repeated for the week 17-23 April. From 20 April, however, the The Tennis Club is the advertised show. The earlier advertisements are most likely an error, as the Fullers' traditionally used Saturday night to open new shows on their circuit.
1926: New Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, 30 October - 5 November.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Lance Vane, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Polly McLaren, May Geary, Howard Hall, Ernest Crawford, Myra Rowe, Betty Lambert, Mona Thomas, and the Six Twinklers.
- Iris McKenzie's name is mentioned in several reviews during the Bijou Theatre season. It is unclear at this stage if she had become a member of the cast or was still one of the Six Twinklers.
1927: Empire Theatre, Brisbane, 4-10 June.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane; Chorus Polly McLaren.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Ernest Crawford, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Harry Burgess, Polly McLaren, Lance Vane, Dalton Payne, Harry Payne, Ray and Dot McLean, May Geary, Betty Lambert, Howard Hall, Flora McDonald, Jack Manners, and the Six Twinklers.
1928: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 11-17 February.
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Fullers' Theatre Ltd; Stage Manager Lance Vane.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Harry Burgess, Howard Hall, Lance Vane, Phyllis du Barry, Ray McLean, Mona Thomas, Cecil Scott, May Geary, Dot Creswell, Les Pearce, Neva Glynn-Carr, Betty Lambert, and the Six Twinklers.
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1930: Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne, 21-27 June (as Sport of Kings).
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Tivoli Celebrity Vaudeville.
- Troupe Jim Gerald Musical Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Essie Jennings, Reg Hawthorne, Howard Hall, Jim Foran, Sadie Gale, Tom Dale, Joe Hudson, Ray McLean, Joan Graham, Lily Coburn, Marie Ward, Thelma Duff, Edna Ralston, and the Six Twinklers.
1933: Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, 3-9 March (as I Don't Want to Be a Jockey).
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Con-Paul Theatres (Mike Connors and Queenie Paul).
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Lily Coburn, Reg Hawthorne, Frieda Bohning, Howard Hall, Thelma Duff, Will Perryman, Lou Cottam, Tom Dale, Heather Jones, Thelma Bryce, Jess Gillam, Vilma Kaye, and the Twelve Twinklers.
1934: Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne, 12-18 May (as I Don't Want to Be a Jockey).
- Director Jim Gerald; Producer Tivoli Circuit Australia.
- Troupe Jim Gerald's Musical Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Jim Gerald, Charles L. Sherman, Lou Cottam, Edna Ralston, Lily Coburn, Thelma Duff, Tom Dale, Lance Vane, Frieda Bohning, Vilma Kaye, Robbie Clifton, Will Perryman, Max Reddy, and the Twinklers.
- Charles L. Sherman joined the troupe on 12 May. During the vaudeville first part, he entertained with songs and stories at the piano. It is likely that he replaced George Moon Jnr, who went on to join the Melbourne season of the Merry Malones later the next month.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Tivoli - Bright Revue
1934
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 14 May 1934; (p. 10)
— Review of Whips and Quips 1922 single work musical theatre -
New Tivoli Theatre : 'I Don't Want to Be a Jockey'
1933
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 6 March no. 29694 1933; (p. 5)
— Review of Whips and Quips 1922 single work musical theatre ; Happy Ideas 1929 single work musical theatre A review of the 1933 Sydney season of I Don't want to Be a Jockey (formerly known as Whips and Quips and Sport of Kings) and Happy Ideas (first part revue). -
The Empire
1927
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 6 June 1927; (p. 16)
— Review of Whips and Quips 1922 single work musical theatre -
[untitled]
1924
single work
review
— Appears in: Green Room , May 1924; (p. 25)
— Review of Whips and Quips 1922 single work musical theatre -
[untitled]
1924
single work
review
— Appears in: Theatre, Society and Home , May 1924; (p. 21)
— Review of Whips and Quips 1922 single work musical theatre
-
Fullers' Theatre
1922
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 28 August no. 26410 1922; (p. 5)
— Review of Whips and Quips 1922 single work musical theatre -
The Fulleries
1923
single work
review
— Appears in: Green Room , March 1923; (p. 39)
— Review of Whips and Quips 1922 single work musical theatre -
[untitled]
1924
single work
review
— Appears in: Theatre, Society and Home , May 1924; (p. 21)
— Review of Whips and Quips 1922 single work musical theatre -
[untitled]
1924
single work
review
— Appears in: Green Room , May 1924; (p. 25)
— Review of Whips and Quips 1922 single work musical theatre -
The Empire
1927
single work
review
— Appears in: The Brisbane Courier , 6 June 1927; (p. 16)
— Review of Whips and Quips 1922 single work musical theatre
