In 1920 Adelaide’s Prince of Wales Theatre (now Her Majesty’s) premiered The F F F which was billed as ‘Australia’s first musical comedy’.  Written by Reg A.A. Stoneham (composer) and C.J. De Garis (lyrics), the play was presented by Hugh D. McIntosh  and his company, and produced under the supervision of Robert Greig, stage director: Leslie Donaghey, musical director: Will Quintrell, wardrobe mistress: Ada Hurley, cast members: Minnie Love, Hugh Steyne, J. Dunn, Leslie Donaghey, Muriel Cathcart, David Loffman, Mabel Morgan, Marie Le Varre, J. Vincent White, Billy Rego, Lawrence Hardinge, Charles Workman, Rex London, Maggie Moore and William Valentine.

Reginald Alberto Agrati Stoneham was born in Carlton, Melbourne, 24 July 1879 (without his birth registration including Agrati) to Ellen (nee Wilson) and musician William Stoneham, who had children by three wives. Reginald’s first South Australia job  was drill instructor for Adelaide’s fire brigade. He became the first bandmaster of the Adelaide Electric Tramways Band. After serving as No. 82, Trumpeter, 4^th Imperial Bushman, SA Contingent in the Boer War he returned and married, at the  Adelaide Registry Office in 1901 Minnie “Addie” Lyons (1880-1859), daughter of Augusta Rachel and Aaron Joseph Lyons, of Unley. In 1902 their first child Val Augusta Elsa Stoneham was born. Commissioned in 1911 to write the song of the West Adelaide Football Club, Reginald became a successful songwriter and performer (under various names), especially of jazz and ragtime. His 1915 popular song Heroes of the Dardenelles, was sung as part of Victor Jacobi’s musical play The Marriage Market, and during silent films including The Dardanelles made by Australasian Films. With Clement De Garis he wrote The Tango Rag in 1914. In 1920 this song writing team also wrote for JC Williamson’s first Australian musical comedy called F.F.F.: an Australian mystery musical comedy. There were two hit songs as a consequence, including Murray Moon. It opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Adelaide but failed to live up to its potential. Yet, it inspired two members of its audience, Jack Fewster and Frederick J Mills, to write the next Australian musical: the first to be broadcast in its entirety on radio. Titled YANTABINJIE it had only one live performance, in August 1921 at Thebarton Town Hall. Wireless superseded sheet music.  Reginald moved to St. Kilda in Melbourne where he became bankrupt in 1929. He died 11 March1942.

Clement John J DeGaris was born in Melbourne 1884. Son of a Methodist Clergyman who turned to business, Clement worked with him and became involved in various enterprises including marketing Riverland dried fruits. Always at the vanguard of change, Clement owned a series of aeroplanes, hiring his own crew, to fly around the countryside in a time when this was amazing. He made and lost money, operated in Western Australia, was accused of fraud and eventually committed suicide in Victoria.

William Quintrell  was born at  Moonta 27 June 1880 into a musical family. Parents Janette Caroline Auguste Lutze who married a jeweller, Edward Quintrell, led their children in a bell-ringers’ troupe of educational, refined yet popular music from 1885 to 1905 where Will played cello and violin. He was educated at St. Peter’s College then Elder Conservatorium. He started conducting at Adelaide Tivoli 1911, becoming the circuit’s chief conductor at Melbourne’s Tivoli during the Great War, (when Edward was an Adelaide watchmaker). At the conclusion of hostilities, Will wrote the music for, and won the “Welcome Back” song competition with Home Again to dear old Aussie, and also wrote the words for George Dawson’s song There’s an old Bush Track. For JC Williamson’s musical comedy and ballet Will was conductor, including: in Adelaide 1920-1921; Musical Director of The F.F.F. and a fortnight at Theatre Royal’s Chu Chin Chow, then in 1929 Musical Director for J C Williamson’s tour of Rio Rita. In 1935 Will conducted their Adelaide D’Oyly Carte season. In Sydney and Brisbane Will conducted orchestras in prestigious Regent Cinemas in the late 1930s. He died in 1946.

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