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Footlight Notes Collection Picture Archive - request for use of images

FOOTLIGHT NOTES
no. 413

updated
Saturday, 13 August 2005

André Charlot's
Bubbly,
a musical entertainment by J. Hastings Turner,
with music by Philip Braham,
and additional numbers by
Eric Blore, George W. Byng, Hugh E. Wright, Melville Gideon, Herman Darewski and others,
starring Teddie Gerard, Arthur Playfair, Phyllis Monkman, et al,
Comedy Theatre, London, 5 May 1917

The chorus and principals of the cast of Bubbly, Comedy, London, 5 May 1917.

Seated, left to right: Jack Buchanan, Laura Cowie, Eddie Carr, Teddie Gerard,
Arthur Playfair, Phyllis Monkman, Jack Hulbert, Winnie Melville and Gilbert Childs.

(photo: Wrather & Buys, London, 1917)

Bubbly was produced at the Comedy Theatre, London, on 5 May 1917, and closed on 6 April 1918 after a run of 427 performances. * * * * * * * * 'Mr. Andre Charlot describes his successful production at the Comedy as a "New Musical Entertainment," and one may assuredly say that he errs on the side of modesty. 'Certainly, Bubbly is a musical entertainment of most excellent quality, well supplied with lilting song and lively dance, which afford complete satisfaction to one and all, containing as it does such melodious numbers as "The Restaurant duet"; a medley version of "Comin' thro' the rye," and "Hawaiian Butterfly," in which Miss Teddie Gerard is seen and heard to excellent advantage, and the charming duet and dance, "Have your forgotten?" admirably rendered by Miss Phyllis Monkman and Mr. Walter Williams, the latter replacing Mr. Jack Hulbert, who is now in the A.S.C., somewhere in France. The above are just a few items chosen, more or less, in haphazard fashion, and they are fairly representative of the remainder. 'I began by saying Mr. Charlot's description of Bubbly was modest in definition, and it is so for the reason that apart from its musical entertainment it possesses another factor which entitles it to be considered as genuine burlesque drama. 'First and foremost in this respect we must place "An Old Situation in Four Ways." The presence of the Compère and Commère, Mr. Gerald Kirby and Miss Margaret Campbell suggests Revue, but we will not quarrel with the author on that score. Revue or Burlesque, it is capital satire and rich in humour, as the laughter of the audience demonstrated. 'Further, it provides good acting and mimetic opportunities for such clever artists as Mr. Arthur Playfair, one of the best of unctuous and versatile comedians, Mr. Walter Williams, Mr. Gilbert Childs, Miss Winnie Melville, and Miss Laura Cowie. The "old situation" is concerned with the headstrong youth who falls in love with a lady burdened by a not irreproachable past, the fond and forgiving mother, and the elderly man of the world who was such an invaluable asset in the dramas of Dumas fils. 'In the first place we have the episode treated in the Alexandrian manner at the St. James', and Mr. Playfair's imitation of the Knight of King Street [i.e. Sir George Alexander of the St. James's Theatre] is particularly good in its restraint and vraisemblance. Then we are transported to the Hudson Theatre, New York City, where it becomes a "crook" drama. Back to this side again, and we are given its realistic environment as imagined by the Stage Society, and the "fourth situation" brings us to the Lyceum and Mr. Walter Melville's conception of the theme on the romantic melodrama lines associated with his name. Each scene is admirably acted. 'On much the same lines is Mr. Ivan Campbell's Rehearsal burlesque, modelled on the lines of A Pantomime Rehearsal [Terry's Theatre, London, 3 August 1891], and entitled, "The Gipsy Queen's Revenge," or, "It will be all right on the Night," a most amusing piece of fooling. 'In strong contrast to this we have Mr. Arthur Weigall's Grand Guignol Episode, "A Tooth for a Tooth," certainly a grim incident, although it is supposed to be only the dream of a young lady while under the influence of gas in the dental chair. 'Mr. Charlot is to be heartily congratulated on the production not only of this particular piece, but also of Cheep at the Vaudeville [26 April 1917, starring Lee White (succeeded by Teddie Gerard), with Walter Williams, Beatrice Lillie, et al], which is enjoying an equal amount of prosperity and proving a like quantity of amusement.' (B.W. Findon, The Play Pictorial, no 185, vol XXXI, Bubbly issue, London, 1917, pp. 18 and 19)

Teddie Gerard (1892-1942), Argentinean-born American actress and singer,
singing 'Hawaiian Butterfly' in Bubbly, Comedy Theatre, London, 5 May 1917

Miss Gerard and chorus recorded this song for the Columbia label (Col L-1188), London, May 1917.

(photo: Wrather & Buys, London, 1917)

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