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y separately published work icon Dick Whittington and His Cat ; Or, A Pantomime with a 'Purr Puss' single work   musical theatre   pantomime   fantasy  
Issue Details: First known date: 1886... 1886 Dick Whittington and His Cat ; Or, A Pantomime with a 'Purr Puss'
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Adapted by Lance Lenton from the popular pantomime story, the libretto is said to have contained numerous local jokes and topical hits. Although the Sydney Morning Herald theatre reviewer was critical of the storyline, suggesting that it had 'an almost total absence of plot', this deficiency apparently did not interfere with the show's success (28 December 1886, p.3).

Notes

  • In 1894-95, Lance Lenton was employed as business manager for Frank York and George A. Jones at the Gaiety Theatre, Brisbane. This connection suggests that the production staged there in January 1895 was a revival of Lenton's 1886 version of Dick Whittington. The revival would nevertheless have included new comic material along with up-to-date songs and new local hits and allusions.

Production Details

  • 1886: Royal Standard Theatre, Sydney, 27 December 1886 - 22 January 1887

    • Lessee Frank Smith; Manager J. Grant and Alfred Dampier; Director Alfred Dampier and Lance Lenton; Music Director/Arranger Herbert Percy; Scenic Art William Kinchela; Costumes Amiti and Co and Mark Foy; Stage Manager J. B. Marsh; Director of Comic Scenes Walter Cottier.
    • Cast incl. Sophie Harris (Dick); Alice Wooldridge; Miss Courtland; Mr and Mrs Harry Leston; Blossie Bellwood; Tottie Coote; Miss Prior; Ada Lucas; Miss E. Fitzgerald; Fanny Wiseman [aka Mrs South]; Blanche Grace; Jennie Horan; Ada De Courcy; Lena Merrick; Charles Bovis ; Julius Caesar; W. E. Baker; Alf James; Mr North; Mr Hardiman; Master Murray; Walter, Harry, and Ernest Cottier; Master Harry Quealy; J. Thorpe; Harry Stoneham; Alberto De Voy; Mr Rosier; Mr Butler; Frank York; Mr Stephenson.
    • 24 performances.

    1895: Gaiety Theatre, Brisbane, 5 January -

    • Producer/Lessee/Manager Frank H. York and George A. Jones; Director George A. Jones and Mr Coutts-Duvalli; Business Manager Lance Lenton.
    • Troupe York and Jones Empire Company.
    • Cast incl. Annetta Bodin, Millie Herberte, John Williams, Edith Moore, Frank York (Baron de Wolf), Jake Friedman, George A. Jones, Aggie Gray, Annie Gray, Lorrie St George, Harry Gilbert, Gus Franks, Frank Wyatt, Sam Keenan, Miss J. Bartella, Little Ivy Scott.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Sydney, New South Wales,: Frank Smith , 1886 .
      Printed by Gibbs, Shallard and Co.
      Extent: 56 p., [4] leaves of platesp.
      Description: col. illus.
      Note/s:

      • 'Christmas 1886-7'. At head of caption title: Royal Standard Theatre.

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Works about this Work

Royal Standard 1886 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 28 December no. 15212 1886; (p. 3)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat ; Or, A Pantomime with a 'Purr Puss' Lance Lenton , 1886 single work musical theatre
Royal Standard 1886 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 28 December no. 15212 1886; (p. 3)
— Review of Dick Whittington and His Cat ; Or, A Pantomime with a 'Purr Puss' Lance Lenton , 1886 single work musical theatre
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (1)

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

Details have also been derived in part from the Annotated Calendar of Plays Premiered in Australia: 1870-1890.

Last amended 27 Mar 2014 11:59:50
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