Collits' Inn, 1935-1951

Component identifier:

Series 2

Content Summary:

In collaboration with T. Stuart Gurr, Monk wrote the musical comedy, Collits' Inn as an entry in a competition run by Natalie Rosenwax of the Opportune Club. A romantic comedy, it was based on the story of Pierce Collits and his wife Mary, who, it is claimed, travelled with Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth across the Blue Mountains in 1813. The Collits remained at Hartley Vale, where they opened the first inn on the western side of the range. Collits' Inn was first presented as an amateur production by Natalie Rosenwax in the Mosman Town Hall. The show was offered to J.C. Williamson, who turned it down. It was F.W. Thring (Efftee Productions) who finally undertook to stage the musical professionally, in a bold attempt to provide an Australian alternative to the predominately overseas shows featuring overseas artists, which dominated the Australian theatre circuit at that time. The musical was a huge success, receiving enthusiastic reviews and delighting audiences with its portrayal of colonial Australian life.

With its premiere at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne on 23 December 1933, Collits' Inn became the first professional production of an Australian musical. Produced by Claude Flemming, the cast included Gladys Moncrieff, George Wallace and Robert Chisholm and after completing a four month season in Melbourne, the show moved to the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney for a three month season. The production was also notable for incorporating the first revolving stage ever used in Australia.

This series contains a large collection of papers, which relate mainly to the professional production of Collits' Inn. Included are orchestral parts, voice parts and scripts. In many cases there are several arrangements of the same work, including those by both Howard Carr and Hal Evans, and it is difficult to determine which is Monk's original work. There are also photographs and technical details of stage settings, lists of performers, wardrobe lists and designs for costumes.

A small amount of correspondence is included in this series, the bulk of which comprises letters from Howard Carr. There is also a letter from Monk to Sir Oswald Stoll in London (1935), broaching the possibility of the musical being produced over there.

Included in this series are the words and/or music for the following compositions: Aboriginal chant; Australia; Blue Mountains; Bushrangers' song; The chaperone; Corroboree ballet; Dangerous Dandy Dick; Drinking song; Duddawarra River; Happy with you; How I love you; I'll wait for my true love; Last year; Making memories; A laugh and a kiss; The man in the cabbage tree hat; Melos; My desire; My valentine; Next year; Only you; Outlaw's song; Overture; The Redcoats; The road song; The rouseabout; Sally at the sliprail; See what loves done to me; Some distant day; Square dance; Stay while the stars are shining; Sweet William; That's what love does to me; They're in love; This year; Waltz ballet and We're singing of Australia

Immediate source of acquisition:

The bulk of the collection was originally acquired by the National Film and Sound Archive (later ScreenSound Australia) in 1986, from Monk's daughter, Pam Evans. It was transferred from ScreenSound to the National Library in 1998. In 1969, 14cm of material relating to Collits' Inn was donated to the Library by Monk's son, Ian.

Names:

Varney Monk

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