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Revusical.
Known under various titles throughout the years, this one-act musical comedy revue sees Stiffy and Mo as bullfighters. Although new songs and fresh comic business were no doubt inserted into the various productions over the years, it is believed that the basic format of the first narrative was retained. For example, the 1922 production (presented as In Mexico) contained the following characters: Bill Brady (a crook), Florita (an heiress), Anita (in love with Brady), Antonio (in love with Florita), Petre (a bad hombre), Florrie (who also loves Brady), and various senoritas. The 1924 version has at least four similarly named characters: Pedro, Natalie, Flora, and Florita.
A review of the 1924 production (billed as Mexicans) in the Theatre magazine provides the following description:
Stiffy and Mo, two strangers in Mexico, are alternatively vamped by Natalie, Flora and Florita, and only just manage to evade the knife of Pedro the toreador. The plot is neither here nor there, however, when Stiffy and Mo start gagging. A most artistic scene representing a courtyard in Mexico, forms the background for the revue and six dainty senoritas dance on and off when the fun slows down... but the show is Stiffy and Mo (December 1924, p.44).
The following year, an advertisement for In Spain notes that Stiffy and Mo 'are brave bull fighters in dear old Mexico among the sweet senoritas and giddy girls full of pep and pace. A scream of joy headed by the gloom annihilators Nat Phillips and Roy Rene' (Age 14 March 1925, p.22).
The 1922 production included the songs 'Come to Spain' (girls), 'Honeymoon Round the World' (Keith Connelly and girls), 'Romany' (Queenie Paul), 'After a Thousand Years' (Ivy Davis and girls), 'Believe in You' (Mike Connors and girls), 'Parvo Real Girl' (Connelly and girls), 'Promenade' (Gladys Shaw and girls), 'Kentucky Home' (Connors and Paul), and 'Back to Australia' (finale).
Production Details
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1918: Empire Theatre, Brisbane, 29 June - 5 July (as Toreadors).
- Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
- Troupe Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Company.
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips (Stiffy), Roy Rene (Mo), Daisy Merritt, Caddy Franks, Horace Mann, Dan M. Dunbar, Peter Brooks, Belle Pollard, Walter Jackson [aka Walter Whyte], Vince Courtney, Cliff O'Keefe.
1919: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 12-18 July (as Bullfighters).
- Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Music Director W. Hamilton Webber; Stage Manager Dan M. Dunbar.
- Troupe Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Company.
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips, Roy Rene, Daisy Merritt, Caddy Franks, Horace Mann, Amy Rochelle, Walter Jackson [aka Walter Whyte], Chester Harris, Dan M. Dunbar, Peter Brooks, Maisie Posner, Jack Dennis.
1920: Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, 14-20 August. [as Bullfighters]
- Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
- Troupe Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Company.
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips, Roy Rene, Amy Rochelle, Daisy Merritt, Caddy Franks, Horace Mann, Dan Dunbar, Will Liddle, Lou Harris.
- The company undertook a brief regional tour between seasons. The first season began ca. March, with the return season beginning 10 July. The Age also notes that 'the supporting company has been very much improved' (12 July 1920, p.8). Mike Connors and Queenie Paul joined the troupe at this time. See also At the Club (1920), which had its Australian premiere during the return season.
1921: Empire Theatre, Brisbane, 6-12 August [as Mexico].
- Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
- Troupe Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Company.
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips, Roy Rene, Daisy Merritt, Dan M. Dunbar, Lola Hunt, Belle Pollard, Gerald Cashman, Walter Jackson [aka Walter Whyte], Miss Doff Dee.
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1922: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 20-26 May (as In Mexico).
- Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Music Director Charles Ryder; Chorus Rosie Bowie; Costumes Ethel Moar; Business Manager George C. Audley; Stage Manager Dan M. Dunbar.
- Troupe Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Company.
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips, Roy Rene, Dot Davis [aka Mrs Roy Rene] (Floritta, an heiress), Mike Connors (Bill Brady, a crook), Queenie Paul (Anita, in love with Brady), Keith Connelly (Pedre, a bad hombre), Gladys Shaw (Florrie, also loves Brady), and Dan M. Dunbar (Antonio, in love with Floritta), with Gwen Brandon, Rosie Bowie, Thelma Duff, Flo Wilson, Marie McLaughlin, Phyllis Whisken (senoritas).
- Details sourced from advertised programme in Fuller News 20 May 1922, p.2.
1924: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 8-14 November.
- Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
- Troupe Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Company.
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips, Roy Rene, Mike Connors, Queenie Paul (Natalie), Peter Brooks, Dan M. Dunbar, Dot Davis [aks Mrs Roy Rene] (Florita), Gladys Shaw (Flora), and the Six Radio Girls.
1925: Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, 14-20 March (as In Spain).
- Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Chorus Rosie Bowie.
- Troupe Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Company.
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips, Roy Rene, Dan M. Dunbar, Queenie Paul, Mike Connors, Dot Davis [aka Mrs Roy Rene], Gladys Shaw, Keith Connolly, Rene Albert, David Lyle; and the Dandy Six.
1925: Majestic Theatre, Adelaide; 18-24 July. Director Nat Phillips;
- Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
- Troupe: Nat Phillips' Newly Organised Company (later known as Nat Phillips' Whirligigs).
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips (Stiffy), Joe Mullaney (as Joe), Dan M. Dunbar (Antonio), Queenie Paul (a Mexican Senorita), Mike Connors (Bill Brady), Leonard Rich (Pedro), June Mills (Nellie Kennedy), William Innes (Pietro), Shannon Raye (Florita); and the Six Crack-a-Jacks.
1926: Empire Theatre, Brisbane, 27 November - 3 December (as In Spain).
- Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd; Music Director Frank Wilson.
- Troupe Nat Phillips' Whirligigs [aka Stiffy and 'Erb].
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips, Jack Kellaway ('Erb), Mike Connors, Queenie Paul, Daisy Merritt, Dan M. Dunbar, Dan Weldon, Elsie Hoskins; and the Radio Six.
- Musicians* Charleston Super Six Symphonists, incl. Frank Wilson (trombone/accordion), 'Tiny' Douglas (violin), Art Dewar (banjo), Frank Morton (cornet), and Les Clements (piano).
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1927: Fullers' Theatre, Sydney, 28 May - 3 June (as In Spain).
- Director Nat Phillips; Producer Fullers' Theatres Ltd.
- Troupe Nat Phillips' Stiffy and Mo Company.
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips, Roy Rene, Daisy Merritt, Jack Kellaway, Alec Davidson, Sadie Gale, Amy Rochelle, Harry Ross, Statler Sisters, and the Six Radio Girls.
- Musicians Charleston Symphony Jazz Band.
1927: Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, 12-18 November (as Mexicans).
- Troupe Stiffy and Mo Revue Company.
- Cast incl. Nat Phillips, Roy Rene, Amy Rochelle, Sadie Gale, Daisy Merritt, Dan M. Dunbar, The Stattler Sisters, Will Kenny, Dan Weldon, Marie Nyman, Alec McKinnon, and the Radio Ballet.
- Musicians Charleston Symphonists (incl. Les Clements).
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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"Vaudeville"
1927
single work
review
— Appears in: Just It , 2 June 1927; (p. 28-9)
— Review of Mexicans 1918 single work musical theatre -
The Month in Vaudeville
1924
single work
review
— Appears in: Theatre, Society and Home , December 1924; (p. 44)
— Review of Mexicans 1918 single work musical theatre
-
The Month in Vaudeville
1924
single work
review
— Appears in: Theatre, Society and Home , December 1924; (p. 44)
— Review of Mexicans 1918 single work musical theatre -
"Vaudeville"
1927
single work
review
— Appears in: Just It , 2 June 1927; (p. 28-9)
— Review of Mexicans 1918 single work musical theatre
PeriodicalNewspaper Details
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cMexico,cCentral America, Americas,
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cSpain,cWestern Europe, Europe,
