Under the Southern Cross (play)

Under the Southern Cross, also known as Arnold's Luck or Under the Southern Cross is a 1885 stage play by Alfred Dampier. It was written at a time when Australian plays were relatively rare.[1][2][3][4]

Under the Southern Cross
Written byAlfred Dampier
Date premiered9 November 1885
Place premieredGaiety Theatre,Sydney
Original languageEnglish

The original production premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in Sydney on 9 November 1885[5] and starred Dampier, and his daughters Lily and Rose.[6] The plot involved twins and an Irish new chum. Reception was generally positive.[7]

It was accepted for production in England.[8]

The play shares the same title as a play by Edmund Duggan about the Eureka Stockade.[9][10]

Dampier reused the elements of a twin brother and Murrumbidgee whaler in his later play Marvellous Melbourne.[5]

Premise edit

The adventures of two twin brothers in Australia. One brother, together with a Murrumbidgee whaler, murders a man for his money. The other twin, poor but honest, is confused for his brother.

References edit

  1. ^ "Alfred Dampier" (PDF). Australian Variety Theatre Archive.
  2. ^ "MR. ALFRED DAMPIER". The Daily News. Vol. XIV, no. 6, 757. Western Australia. 17 April 1897. p. 5. Retrieved 21 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "A Young Australian Actress". Evening News. No. 7639. New South Wales, Australia. 21 November 1891. p. 1 (Evening News Supplement). Retrieved 21 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Advocate Magazine". Advocate. Vol. LXXXVI, no. 5110. Victoria, Australia. 2 July 1953. p. 9. Retrieved 21 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b Williams, Margaret (1983). Australia on the popular stage, 1829-1929 : an historical entertainment in six acts. p. 150.
  6. ^ "Advertising". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. Vol. XII, no. 1046. New South Wales, Australia. 19 December 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 21 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "VICTORIA THEATRE". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. Vol. XII, no. 1047. New South Wales, Australia. 21 December 1885. p. 2. Retrieved 21 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "PLAYWRIGHT AND PLAYER". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XXXIV, no. 9, 973. South Australia. 29 January 1897. p. 3 (ONE O'CLOCK EDITION). Retrieved 21 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "AUSTRALIAN DRAMA". Daily Herald. Vol. 2, no. 568. South Australia. 30 December 1911. p. 6. Retrieved 21 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Commercial Success with". The Sun. No. 1890. New South Wales, Australia. 18 June 1939. p. 11 (Sunday Magazine). Retrieved 21 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.