Nat Phillips

Nathan Robert "Nat" Phillips (born July 21, 1883 in Brewarrina , New South Wales , † June 21, 1932 in Sydney ) was an Australian theater director, comedian and entertainer.

The son of singer Louis Phillips and actress Rebecca Tolano , a sister of theater manager Joe Tolano , made his debut as an acrobat at an amateur show in Sydney when he was eight. At the age of ten he teamed up with dance acrobat Tommy Armstrong and toured Australia with him. In 1903 he went to the USA and performed there and in Europe over the next few years. In 1912 he returned to Australia with his wife Daisy Merritt .

From 1914 he managed the Princess Theater in Sydney, later the Gaiety Theater and the Bijou Theater in Melbourne. In addition to his evening appearances, he often wrote and composed the pieces himself. His most popular role was Stiffy , which he created in 1914 and around which he staged a number of one-act musical comedies ("revusicals").

In 1916 he opened the Princess Theater with What Oh, Tonight with his new stage partner Roy Rene , who as Mo occurred. The performance became such a resounding success that they toured Australia and New Zealand together as Stiffy and Mo until 1925 . After that they both worked separately with other partners until they reunited in 1927 and performed successfully as Stiffy and Mo for another year and a half.

Phillips then founded the Whirligig Revue Company , which also included his wife and brother Jack Phillips . However, like many others at the time, he was unable to assert himself with his vaudeville venture against the emerging sound film. He died unexpectedly in 1932 while preparing to perform in Melbourne and at the Grand Opera House in Sydney under contract with Connors and Paul Theaters, Ltd.

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personal data
SURNAME	Phillips, Nat
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Phillips, Nathan Robert (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Australian theater director, comedian and entertainer
DATE OF BIRTH	July 21, 1883
PLACE OF BIRTH	Brewarrina , New South Wales
DATE OF DEATH	June 21, 1932
Place of death	Sydney