F.F.F. (musical)

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.{{Cite news|url=https://theatreheritage.org.au/on-stage-magazine/song-dance/item/106-a-z-of-australian-musicals|title=Theatre Heritage Australia - The A-Z of Australian Musicals - The Adelaide Connection|last=Pinne|first=Peter|access-date=2017-06-12|language=en-gb}}

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.{{Cite web| url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/245878| title=AusStage - Reginald A. A. Stoneham|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2017-06-12}} Several of its songs were recorded and were popular in Australia for a few years.{{cite journal|last1=van Straten|first1=Frank|title=The Riddle of 'FFF,' a Forgotten Australian Musical Comedy| journal=Australasian Music Research| date=2002|issue=6|pages=105–119}}

Reviewers found this production one of the best shows seen in Adelaide.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73355958 |title=F.F.F. |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=South Australia |date=6 September 1920 |accessdate=20 October 2017 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} Some reviewers considered it equal to any import.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116129917 |title=F.F.F. |newspaper=The Farmer and Settler |volume=XV |issue=33 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 July 1920 |accessdate=20 October 2017 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}} The scenery and Australian character roused enthusiasm.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120529055 |title=F.F.F. Well Received |newspaper=The Sunday Times |issue=1811 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 October 1920 |accessdate=20 October 2017 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} Overall, the show had a successful run,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106555022 |title=F.F.F. |newspaper=Daily Herald |volume=XI |issue=326[?] |location=South Australia |date=6 September 1920 |accessdate=20 October 2017 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} but it was not revived.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

The musical incorporated sixteen songs, orchestrated for eleven musicians.{{cite web | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210243761 | title=02 Jul 1920 - "F.F.F." | newspaper=Australian | date=2 July 1920 }}

• "The Murray moon"{{Citation

| title=The Murray moon [music] : song / written and composed by R. A. A. Stoneham and C. J. de Garis

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942

| author2=De Garis, C. J. (Clement John), -1926

| year=1920

| publisher=Melola Phonograph & Publishing Co. for C. J. De Garis

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-169109149

}}[http://web.nfsa.gov.au/olcmedia/audio/00009103.mp3 OLC Media] nfsa.gov.au

• "Soli mio dazzle"{{Citation

| title=Soli mio dazzle [music] : song / written and composed R. A. A. Stoneham and C. J. de Garis

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942

| author2=De Garis, C. J. (Clement John), -1926

| year=1920

| publisher=Melola Phonograph & Publishing Co. for C. J. De Garis

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168266463

}}

• "Fitz-Fitz-Fitz-William"{{Citation

| title=Fitz-Fitz-Fitz-William [music] : song / composed by Reg. A. A. Stoneham and C. J. DeGaris

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942

| author2=De Garis, C. J. (Clement John), -1926

| author3=Hugh D. McIntosh (Firm)

| year=1920

| publisher=Melola Phonograph & Publishing Co. for C. J. De Garis

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-170987794

}}

• "The magic call Coo-ee!!" {{Citation

| title=The magic call Coo-ee!! [music] / composed by R. Stoneham and C. J. DeGaris

| author1=Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942

| author2=De Garis, C. J. (Clement John), -1926

| author3=Hugh D. McIntosh (Firm)

| year=1920

| publisher=Melola Phonograph & Publishing Co. for C. J. De Garis

| language=English

| url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-169046772

}}

• "The wattle waltz"{{Cite book | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/246914212 |title = The wattle waltz|year = 1920}}
• "A garden of girls"{{Cite book | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/246914211 |title = A garden of girls|year = 1920}}
• "O-o-meo"{{Cite book | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/167535826 |title = O-o-meo : Song|year = 1920}}
• "My name's Smith"{{Cite book | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/248178121 |title = My name's Smith : Song|publisher = Melbourne Melola Phonograph & Publishing Co. ... for C. J. De Garis|year = 1920}}
• "Proposing song"{{Cite book | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/41207850 |title = Proposing song|year = 1920}}
• "The riddle of F.F.F."{{Cite book | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/34083800 |title = The riddle of F.F.F. : Song|year = 1920}}
• "The Aussie glide"{{Cite book | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/177274408 |title = The Aussie glide : Song|year = 1920}}
• "Moo-Noo-Loo"
• "The Courtship"
• "Wait For Me"
• "We Feel Fine"

{{Reflist}}

• [https://archive.org/details/F.F.F./page/n9 Written dialog] on Internet Archive

Category:1920 musicals

Category:Australian musicals

Category:Musicals set in Australia

Category:Musicals set in England