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The Babes in the Wood single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Issue Details: First known date: 1921... 1921 The Babes in the Wood
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

One of three separate Babes in the Wood pantomimes produced by the Fullers within four years, this production received the least amount of attention in terms of advertisements and reviews, and hence little is known about the storyline or cast members.

Notes

  • Although this show was produced by the Fullers less than a year after Nat Phillips staged his popular production, several newspaper articles and advertisements indicate that Frank Neil was responsible for writing and directing this version of the Babes in the Wood story (see, for example, the Sydney Morning Herald 22 January 1921, p.2). It is therefore unlikely that the two are related in terms of narrative and musical elements. Interestingly, Neil was also responsible for writing and directing Bluebeard, another Fullers pantomime staged in Sydney over the 1920/21 summer months. Apart from the Fullers, the only major connection between the Nat Phillips and Frank Neil productions is choreographer Chrissie Royal, who was responsible for staging the ballets in both pantomimes.
  • The exact opening and closing dates for this production are yet to be established. While a The Sydney Mail paragraph indicates that Babes in the Wood was a Fullers' Christmas pantomime (29 December 1920, p.24), no advertisements appear in any Sydney newspapers or magazines until mid-January. Furthermore, advertisements in the Sydney Mail indicate that the Majestic Theatre was continuing a season of plays by the Fullers' Dramatic Players throughout late December 1920 and early January 1921.
  • The Fullers' other Babes in the Woods pantomimes were:
    - The Babes in the Wood (1918), libretto by Nat Phillips.
    - The Babes in the Wood (1922), libretto by George H. Ward et al.

Production Details

  • 1921: Majestic Theatre, Sydney ; ca. 15 January - ca. 5 February.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

PeriodicalNewspaper Details

Note:
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 30 Apr 2014 07:56:15
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