Melbourne Comedy Company

UK vaudeville troupe which toured Asia during 1915–1916.

“The Melbournes have a world wide reputation as laughter creators and have appeared successfully in every town in England, South Africa, Calcutta, Bombay and Colombo…” [Singapore Free Press, June 19, 1915, p. 1]

Performed at:

• Early 1915 – “South Africa, Calcutta, Bombay and Colombo…” [Singapore Free Press, June 19, 1915, p. 1]

• 19 June – 1 July 1915 – Bijou Theatre (Palladium), Singapore

• 3–12 July 1915 – Raffles Hotel, Singapore

• Late 1915 – Early 1916 – Hong Kong, Shanghai

• 18–24 April 1916 – Alhambra Hotel, Singapore

THE PALLADIUM – The comedy duo, Tom and Eileen Melbourne are announced to appear at the Palladium tomorrow night in their clever vaudeville turns. The two come with an absolute first-class reputation and will be found to be exponents of some extremely funny turns. While in Calcutta and Rangoon they took every audience by storm. [Malaya Tribune, June 18, 1915, p. 10]

THE PALLADIUM – The cinema and vaudeville entertainment running at present at the Bijou Theatre continues to draw full and appreciative houses. The rollicking fun of Tom and Eileen Melbourne and the catching absurdities of the humorous songs rendered by Tom Melbourne create continued hilarity and applause. Miss Eileen Melbourne, the charming soubrette, deals with her clever songs with greatest vivaciousness and is a most entertaining performer. The selection of films is judiciously chosen… [Malaya Tribune, June 22, 1915, p. 9]

THE PALLADIUM – Saturday night saw a full house at the Bijou Theatre when Tom and Eileen Melbourne appeared in a new and screamingly funny revue entitled The Passing Show. The songs rendered by Eileen Melbourne were well received by the audience, the choruses of each being screened which enabled the audience to join into them—though they failed hopelessly to do justice to the jaw-breaking song of “Sister Susie’s Sewing Shirts For Soldiers.” … The introduced burlesque versions of a local character, The Singapore Suffragette, The Ham Fillet Co., and The Snaffles Cabaret Duo raised loud laughter and applause and all were decidedly good. The Passing Show will be staged again tonight… [ Malaya Tribune, June 28, 1915, p. 9 ]

THE MELBOURNES AT RAFFLES – The Raffles had a most enthusiastic audience on Saturday night, when Tom and Eileen Melbourne entertained and the band of the Shropshire Regiment played a fine selection of music… Tom and Eileen Melbourne gave a ripping good entertainment and were received with vociferous encores. [ Malaya Tribune, July 12, 1915, p. 9 ]

MELBOURNE COMEDY COMPANY – “Undoubtedly the finest combination that has ever visited the East” (Shanghai Times); “Both the vocalism and the refined humour are of the highest order which appeals to all lovers of amusement” (Hongkong Daily Telegraph); “Not one dull moment in their sixty minutes of mirth and melody” (Shanghai Mercury). So speaks the China press of the company formed by Mr. Tom Melbourne and who, under his leadership, have earned a most enviable reputation wherever they have played in the East… On Monday next the company will give their opening performance at the Alhambra… [Malaya Tribune, April 13, 1916, p. 9*]

MELBOURNE COMEDY CO. – A crowded house at the Alhambra on Saturday night was joyously entertained by the Melbourne Comedy Co.… With the exception of “The Sunshine of Your Smile,” sung sweetly by Ada Edney, and “Sing Us A Song Of Bonnie Scotland,” given with true zest by Eileen Melbourne, there was nothing pretentious in their performance—just a wholehearted and successful attempt to provoke honest laughter… [Singapore Free Press, April 24, 1916, p. 5]