AustLit

Revusical.

Bubble and Squeak 'is aptly named from the fact that is just a succession of merry concerted items, comedy gags, up to the minute sketches, bright dancing ensembles and haunting and ear-catching melodies', writes the Brisbane Courier's theatre critic in a preview of the 1927 Empire Theatre season. (23 July 1927, p.6). A review of the premiere published two days later reports, however, that the vaudeville elements were fashioned around a dramatically organised narrative. Set thirty years in the future, the story explores the proposition that men might be 'relegated to the position now occupied by women'. The review also reports that in the role of the neglected husband

'who stays at home and minds the baby while his wife goes out to the club, Jim Gerald rose superior to his previous efforts, if indeed it requires any effort on his part to keep the audience in roars of laughter at his clever acting and witty sayings. It was evident that much of his by-play was spontaneous, and for that reason most effective. A charming actress, Miss Essie Jennings created a great impression as the neglectful wife, while as the un-blushing temptress of the easily-led husband, Miss May Geary, imparted to the role the keenest interest' (25 July 1927, p.21).

Confusion over the production's dramatic organisation similarly occurs through two later reviews, one in 1927 and the other in 1930. For example, the Sydney Morning Herald theatre critic writes of the 1927 Fullers' Theatre production:

'The entertainment has no connecting plot, being just a series of comedy sketches, interspersed with gay music, ballets, and colourful tableaux. The dancing corps, which is a valuable asset of this company, is given unusual opportunity in the new programme, the result being a succession of modern, costume and symbolic dances. Swiftly changing scenes place the action successively in Spain, Egypt and Iceland. Mr Gerald is exuberant in his fun making, and the central figure in several amusing sketches. One of the funniest is that in which the humorist forecasts the decadence of husbands and home life in 1950. A snowball battle between the company and the audience, in an artic setting makes a merry and lively close to the evening's fun' (31 October 1927, p.6).

A 1930 Age review indicates, on the other hand, that the production was plot-driven and that it 'concerns the eternal triangle with two women and one man', set in 1950. 'The man stays home and minds the baby, cooks, sews and does the house work. Jim is the poor neglected husband of a member of parliament. The vamp wants him to flee with her. Torn between duty and love he chooses love, and is leaving when the crying of the baby recalls him to his responsibilities'. (The review concludes with 'let's hope Mr Gerald is not a good prophet'). According to the same critic, the plot is set up in a scene in which Gerald enters into a competition with Lord Birkenhead to forecast the future (5 May 1930, p.10).

Two songs known to have been inserted into the 1927 Brisbane season story were 'Where Did You Get Those Eyes' and 'Bubble and Squeak' (both sung by Betty Lambert).