Hall's Australian Juveniles

Hall's Australian Juveniles, a drama company which specialised in comic musicals, arrived in South Africa in November, 1900. It was a company for young actors run by Harry Hall, who was also a playwright. The dance routines were choreographed by Mrs Hall, a well-known Australian dancer. The business manager was Arthur Daniell.

Contribution to South African Theatre

Monday, November 12, 1900: Performed The New Barmaid at the Port Elizabeth Opera House.

Tuesday, November 13, 1900: Performed The Belle of New York, by Hugh Morton and Gustave Kerken, at the Port Elizabeth Opera House. Starring Elsie Norwood as Violet Gray, Nellie Shedden as Fifi Fricot, Miss Connie Solomon as Cora Angelique, Emma Pendleton as Blinky Bill and Willie Stewart as Karl von Pumperdinck, the polite lunatic.

Wednesday, November 14, 1900: Performed Paul Jones at the Port Elizabeth Opera House. Starring Ina Milne and Miss Constance.

Thursday, November 15, 1900. Performed Morocco Bound at the Port Elizabeth Opera House.

June 1, 1901: Hall's Australian Juveniles opened a season in Maritzburg with a production of The Red Hussar. This was followed by and Morocco Bound, The Belle of New York, The New Bar Maid," and An American Beauty, the latter being "a trump, both in staging, dressing, and producing". H Smith painted the scenery. Stars were Dolly Daly, Nellie Sheddon, Matty Finlay, Lily Steward, Elsie Norwood, J Calder, W. Stewart, S. Ford, Nellie Finlay, Willie Stewart and Ira Milne.

March 1902: Hall's Australian Juveniles performed at the Opera House, Cape Town where they performed American Beauty, Paul Jones, Morocco Bound, Go Bang, Belle of New York, New Barmaid, Red Hussar, Transit of Venus, A Gay Grisette, Dandy Fifth, and The Girl from up There, by Hugh Morton and Gustave Kerken. Starring Willie Stewart, as Mr Simley, the president of Polaria, Connie Milne, Master Sid Ford as Bertie Tappertit, a captain with the Royal Guards, Master J Calder as J Angostura Pickles, a disagreeable man, Master E Winter as Skeots, a clever burglar, Miss L Stewart as the young explorer, Jack Hemingway, Miss Connie Milne, as Olga the ice maiden and Miss A Lidman as Sister Heartscase Hobbs, a Quakeress. Nelly Sheddon as Phrynette and A Turner as Rosette of the Aurora Borealis Comic Opera Co were "Bonny in face and appearance, they captivated the hearts of the delighted audience, and their singing and dancing is really wonderful for such mites."

Hall's Australian Juveniles were scheduled to afterwards open in Bloemfontein on or about February 4 for three months and then probably to move on to Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Source

Eastern Province Herald, November 8, 1900.

Eastern Province Herald, November 14, 1900.

“South African Notes,” pg 10, The Referee (Sydney, NSW), Wed July, 1901.

“South African Notes,” pg 10, The Referee (Sydney, NSW), Wed March 5, 1902.

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