F.F.F., styled as F.F.F.: An Australian Mystery Musical Comedy, written by C. J. De Garis with music by Reginald A. A. Stoneham. It played in Australia with production by Robert Greig in 1920[1] and is generally considered the first Australian musical comedy, as distinct from operetta or light opera.[2]
The convoluted plot involved a budding English playwright Fitzwilliam Ferguson who is sent to Australia by a rich uncle, and who falls in love with his typist, Flo Hastings. His uncle recalls him to England and promises to make him his heir, if he can become a 'proper' English gentleman. All the complications are resolved in the end.
The "mystery" centred on the meaning of the enigmatic title, for which solutions were solicited and a prize offered.[3]
Productionsedit
The original production, produced by the Tivoli Circuit, starred Maggie Moore, Rex London, Minnie Love, Billy Rego, Hugh Steyne, Marie Le Varre and Charles H. Workman. The musical opened 28 August 1920 at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Adelaide, followed by a week in Perth and a fortnight in Melbourne.[4] Several of its songs were recorded and were popular in Australia for a few years.[2]
Critical receptionedit
Reviewers found this production one of the best shows seen in Adelaide.[5] Some reviewers considered it equal to any import.[6] The scenery and Australian character roused enthusiasm.[7] Overall, the show had a successful run,[8] but it was not revived.[citation needed]
Musical numbersedit
The musical incorporated sixteen songs, orchestrated for eleven musicians.[9]
^"New Producer for "F.F.F."". The Arrow. No. 1259. New South Wales, Australia. 23 July 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 14 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^ abvan Straten, Frank (2002). "The Riddle of 'FFF,' a Forgotten Australian Musical Comedy". Australasian Music Research (6): 105–119.
^Pinne, Peter. "Theatre Heritage Australia - The A-Z of Australian Musicals - The Adelaide Connection". Retrieved 12 June 2017.
^"AusStage - Reginald A. A. Stoneham". www.ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
^"F.F.F." The Advertiser. South Australia. 6 September 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 20 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^"F.F.F." The Farmer and Settler. Vol. XV, no. 33. New South Wales, Australia. 23 July 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 20 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^"F.F.F. Well Received". The Sunday Times. No. 1811. New South Wales, Australia. 10 October 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 20 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^"F.F.F." Daily Herald. Vol. XI, no. 326[?]. South Australia. 6 September 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 20 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^"02 Jul 1920 - "F.F.F."". Australian. 2 July 1920.
^Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942; De Garis, C. J. (Clement John), -1926 (1920), The Murray moon [music] : song / written and composed by R. A. A. Stoneham and C. J. de Garis, Melola Phonograph & Publishing Co. for C. J. De Garis{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942; De Garis, C. J. (Clement John), -1926 (1920), Soli mio dazzle [music] : song / written and composed R. A. A. Stoneham and C. J. de Garis, Melola Phonograph & Publishing Co. for C. J. De Garis{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942; De Garis, C. J. (Clement John), -1926; Hugh D. McIntosh (Firm) (1920), Fitz-Fitz-Fitz-William [music] : song / composed by Reg. A. A. Stoneham and C. J. DeGaris, Melola Phonograph & Publishing Co. for C. J. De Garis{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942; De Garis, C. J. (Clement John), -1926; Hugh D. McIntosh (Firm) (1920), The magic call Coo-ee!! [music] / composed by R. Stoneham and C. J. DeGaris, Melola Phonograph & Publishing Co. for C. J. De Garis{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
musical, styled, australian, mystery, musical, comedy, written, garis, with, music, reginald, stoneham, played, australia, with, production, robert, greig, 1920, generally, considered, first, australian, musical, comedy, distinct, from, operetta, light, opera,. F F F styled as F F F An Australian Mystery Musical Comedy written by C J De Garis with music by Reginald A A Stoneham It played in Australia with production by Robert Greig in 1920 1 and is generally considered the first Australian musical comedy as distinct from operetta or light opera 2 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Productions 3 Critical reception 4 Musical numbers 5 References 6 External linksSynopsis editThe convoluted plot involved a budding English playwright Fitzwilliam Ferguson who is sent to Australia by a rich uncle and who falls in love with his typist Flo Hastings His uncle recalls him to England and promises to make him his heir if he can become a proper English gentleman All the complications are resolved in the end The mystery centred on the meaning of the enigmatic title for which solutions were solicited and a prize offered 3 Productions editThe original production produced by the Tivoli Circuit starred Maggie Moore Rex London Minnie Love Billy Rego Hugh Steyne Marie Le Varre and Charles H Workman The musical opened 28 August 1920 at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Adelaide followed by a week in Perth and a fortnight in Melbourne 4 Several of its songs were recorded and were popular in Australia for a few years 2 Critical reception editReviewers found this production one of the best shows seen in Adelaide 5 Some reviewers considered it equal to any import 6 The scenery and Australian character roused enthusiasm 7 Overall the show had a successful run 8 but it was not revived citation needed Musical numbers editThe musical incorporated sixteen songs orchestrated for eleven musicians 9 The Murray moon 10 11 Soli mio dazzle 12 Fitz Fitz Fitz William 13 The magic call Coo ee 14 The wattle waltz 15 A garden of girls 16 O o meo 17 My name s Smith 18 Proposing song 19 The riddle of F F F 20 The Aussie glide 21 Moo Noo Loo The Courtship Wait For Me We Feel Fine References edit New Producer for F F F The Arrow No 1259 New South Wales Australia 23 July 1920 p 4 Retrieved 14 June 2021 via National Library of Australia a b van Straten Frank 2002 The Riddle of FFF a Forgotten Australian Musical Comedy Australasian Music Research 6 105 119 Pinne Peter Theatre Heritage Australia The A Z of Australian Musicals The Adelaide Connection Retrieved 12 June 2017 AusStage Reginald A A Stoneham www ausstage edu au Retrieved 12 June 2017 F F F The Advertiser South Australia 6 September 1920 p 9 Retrieved 20 October 2017 via National Library of Australia F F F The Farmer and Settler Vol XV no 33 New South Wales Australia 23 July 1920 p 5 Retrieved 20 October 2017 via National Library of Australia F F F Well Received The Sunday Times No 1811 New South Wales Australia 10 October 1920 p 2 Retrieved 20 October 2017 via National Library of Australia F F F Daily Herald Vol XI no 326 South Australia 6 September 1920 p 2 Retrieved 20 October 2017 via National Library of Australia 02 Jul 1920 F F F Australian 2 July 1920 Stoneham Reginald A A 1879 1942 De Garis C J Clement John 1926 1920 The Murray moon music song written and composed by R A A Stoneham and C J de Garis Melola Phonograph amp Publishing Co for C J De Garis a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link OLC Media nfsa gov au Stoneham Reginald A A 1879 1942 De Garis C J Clement John 1926 1920 Soli mio dazzle music song written and composed R A A Stoneham and C J de Garis Melola Phonograph amp Publishing Co for C J De Garis a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Stoneham Reginald A A 1879 1942 De Garis C J Clement John 1926 Hugh D McIntosh Firm 1920 Fitz Fitz Fitz William music song composed by Reg A A Stoneham and C J DeGaris Melola Phonograph amp Publishing Co for C J De Garis a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Stoneham Reginald A A 1879 1942 De Garis C J Clement John 1926 Hugh D McIntosh Firm 1920 The magic call Coo ee music composed by R Stoneham and C J DeGaris Melola Phonograph amp Publishing Co for C J De Garis a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link The wattle waltz 1920 A garden of girls 1920 O o meo Song 1920 My name s Smith Song Melbourne Melola Phonograph amp Publishing Co for C J De Garis 1920 Proposing song 1920 The riddle of F F F Song 1920 The Aussie glide Song 1920 External links editWritten dialog on Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title F F F musical amp oldid 1197736956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
