The Duchess of Coolgardie

By Euston Leigh and Cyril Clare

The Duchess of Coolgardie by Euston Leigh is about the time-old fight between Bendigo Bill and Sailor Jack. Excerpt: "MINERS. (Give orders together.) A go of Irish. One of Scotch for me. Mine's rum shrub. Gin and bitters. Same as afore. Stout and bitter, Missis! Look sharp! Bustle now! Stir your stumps! KATH. (At counter.) Aist boys, aisy! Remember I have only one pair of hands. (THEY ALL go up to bar for their glasses, and pay during dialogue.)"

• Language: English
• Publisher: DigiCat
• Release date: Nov 22, 2022
• ISBN: 8596547407775

Book preview

Euston Leigh, Cyril Clare

The Duchess of Coolgardie

EAN 8596547407775

DigiCat, 2022

Contact: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

COSTUMES.

MEN.

WOMEN.

PROPERTY PLOT.

ACT I.

ACT II.

ACT III.

ACT IV.

ACT V.

GAS PLOT.

ACT I.

ACT II.

ACT III.

ACT IV.

ACT V.

LIMELIGHT PLOT.

ACT I.

ACT II.

ACT III.

ACT IV.

ACT V.

CALLS BEFORE THE CURTAIN.

ACT. I.

ACT II.

ACT III.

ACT IV.

ACT V.

ACT I

SCENE 1.

SCENE 2.

ACT II.

ACT III.

ACT IV.

SCENE 1.

SCENE 2.

ACT V

THE END

"

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

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THE WARDEN OF

COOLGARDIE GOLD

FIELDS          — Mr HERMANN VEZIN

LORD GLENDARGLE — Mr ERNEST BERTRAM, Mr OSWALD YORKE

HERR VON SWOP  — Mr GOFTON

 

Miners:

 

BIG BEN        — Mr CHARLES GLENNEY

SAILOR JACK    — Mr LAWRENCE CAUTLEY

YORKSHIRE DICK  — Mr J M LOWNE, Mr JOHN L SHINE

IRISH MYLES    — Mr RICHARD PURDON

THE CAPTAIN    — Mr VANDERFELDT

BENDIGO BILL    — Mr EDWARD O'NEILL

MELBOURNE JERRY — Mr WALTER BRUNTON

 

MACDONALD,

Chief of Police

— Mr ISAACSON

WALLAROO,

An Aborigine

    — Miss LAURA JOHNSON

KATHLEEN O'MARA — Miss LAURA LINDEN

 

Sisters:

 

NELLIE GREY    — Miss EDITH JORDAN.

SYBIL GREY      — Miss HILDA SPONG

 

[Two Ruffians, Act One Scene Two]

 

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COSTUMES.

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MEN.

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1. THE WARDEN is a mature man, between fifty and sixty. He should be of stalwart proportions, has been a soldier accustomed to command and to be obeyed. He speaks brusquely and imperiously. Undress officer's uniform.

2. LORD GLENDARGLE is a handsome manly Johnnie slender and of middle height, distinguished by a certain air of distinction though without an atom of side. He is a man of thirty-five, light brown hair and moustache. 1st Dress.—A light tweed suit, rather soiled, a soiled lawn tennis shirt, yellow boots, and brown felt hat. 2nd Dress.—ACT V. Frock coat, white vest, light trousers, white hat, and wedding favour.

3. VON SWOP, a German speculator. A man of sixty, with pronounced features. 1st Dress.—A vest of opal velvet is festooned with huge chains, and there is a great diamond stud in his shirt front. A pickle cabbage necktie, white hat with a broad black band. A flaming crimson silk handkerchief continually in evidence. When he is not smoking a cigar he is taking snuff. His hands are covered with rings. He carries a pocket-book full of bank notes, attached to a chain in his pocket. 2nd Dress.—Change for wedding—equally loud toned, a crimson vest, etc.

4. BIG BEN—A handsome, stalwart, broad-chested, finely proportioned man of forty, bronzed and bearded. His hair has been a golden brown, and though streaked with grey here and there, catches the sun, and retains traces of its former beauty. When he makes his first appearance his hair and beard are matted, his eyes bloodshot and inflamed. His whole appearance indicates that he has been drinking, and is under the influence of liquor. His manner though brusque, abrupt, and taciturn has a certain air of distinction, and he is at all times a gentleman. He is sobered the instant SYBIL appears; from that time to the end of the play he casts his nighted colour off, and is himself again. Whenever he appears he dominates the Scene. 1st Dress.—That of an ordinary digger. Leather hunting jacket, grey flannel garibaldi, heather-brown knickers, old ridingboots, all travel-worn and soiled. Black silk handkerchief loosely tied round neck, soft brown felt hat. Digger's rug and impedimenta for 1st SCENE.

5. SAILOR JACK.—Tall handsome fellow of five or six and twenty, fair and bearded. Frank, open, sailor-like manners, but a little rough. and hot-tempered. Dress.—That of a man-of-war's, very soiled and worn. Trousers tucked into a pair of tanned leather leggings which reach up to the knee. This dress is worn throughout the play—except in Act V where he changes to light suit for wedding.

6. YORKSHIRE DICK, a genuine Tyke. Golden hair, whiskers, and moustache. A sturdily built fellow of five and thirty. He speaks with the accent of the West Riding. Tho' rugged as his native North, he is as modest as he is manly, as tender as he is true. Dress.-Brown leather jacket and trousers, tucked into leggings of tanned leather. A garibaldi of dark blue flannel. Act V. In deep mourning.

7. MYLES OF CLONAKILTY.—A bright, vivacious Irish boy of five-and-twenty; auburn hair and whiskers. 1st Dress.-Knickers of drab Irish freize. Soft felt steeple crowned drab hat. Knitted worsted stockings to match, rolled up above the knees. Yellow boots. Loose white flannel garibaldi. 2nd Dress.—Wedding dress: green frock coat, brass buttons. Drab vest and trousers. Pumps. White top hat. White shirt and green necktie.

8. THE CAPTAIN—Tall, handsome, well-preserved man of five-and-thirty; dark hair, dark military moustache, the bearing of an indolent soldier—a masher and a lady-killer. A man who has been a gentleman, and who still maintains the manners of one. He wears an eyeglass and smokes cigarettes. He is continually adjusting the one and smoking the other. Ordinarily he has a languid, insolent manner, but when roused to wrath he is terribly in earnest. His insolence and brutality are real, his love-making (notably Act III.) is false, but earnestly and admirably simulated. 1st Dress.—Brown velvet jacket. Scarlet garibaldi. Brown sash round waist. Yellow handkerchief for neck. Brown knickers. Yellow knee boots. Drab bowler hat. All kept much more smartly than those of any other man in the field. 2nd Dress.—Act V, The former, soiled and very much worn. His beard has grown. He is haggard, and a woeful looking object.

9. BENDIGO BILL.—An ex-pugilist; a great, stalwart, red headed ruffian with a broken nose, a patch over his left eye, a manner brutal and bullying. Dress.—Dark woollen jacket and trousers. Tanned leather leggings. Yellow garibaldi, striped with black. Black cowboy's hat.

10. MELBOURNE JERRY.—A larrikin of one-and-twenty, one of the criminal classes. A beardless young ruffian. Dark hair, cropped to the poll, except for two carefully-kept love-locks on either side. Dress.—Brown corduroy jacket and trousers. Red and black jersey outside trousers. Yellow and black cap. Trousers and jacket, cut like our own costers', and profusely decorated with mother-of-pearl buttons. 2nd Dress.—In Last Act a grotesquely-cut dress suit, ever so much too big for him.

11. WALLAROO.—Aboriginal Australian. A proper design will be provided for this character.

12. MACDONALD.—Chief of Police. Stalwart Scotsman of forty. Has been a soldier. Dress.—Accurate costume of the period.

WOMEN.

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1. THE WIDOW O'MARA.—Buxom fine woman of thirty. Frank, pleasant manners. Bright as sunshine. Dress.—Act I.—Light cotton gown. Tucker for neck. Coquettish cap and ribbon for hair. Nattily cut apron, with pockets. Act II.—Scotch kirtle jacket, turned up to elbows. Short woollen petticoat, giving glimpse of ankle. Act III-Dark gown, skirt pinned back showing green petticoat. Change to nightgown and cap for End Of Act. Act IV.—Black gown and dark shawl. Act V.—Wedding dress, orange blossoms, etc.

2. SYBIL GREY.—Young, accomplished, and well-bred. The best type of an innocent English girl. A stranger in a strange land. By her mother's death and the loss of her sister, she is driven to obtain her livelihood by honest work of any kind. Proud without being haughty, reticent without being rude. A daughter of the gods—divinely tall and most divinely fair; that is, as fair as a girl with hair of golden brown, deeply fringed eyelashes, dark brows, and rosy cheeks can be. Her voice is music and her breath sweet air. 1st Dress.—A dark grey woollen travelling costume; long cloak, hat and gloves. Dress quite plain, white band at neck, ditto at cuffs. 2nd Dress.—Cloak and hat removed. Apron with bodice piece, smart cap and ribbon. 3rd Dress.—Act II. Plain blue and white cotton striped blouse. Dark short woollen petticoat, apron dainty, trimned leather shoes, lavender c0loured stockings. 4th Dress.—Act III. Lavender coloured blouse and petticoat to match, trimmed with black, cap, apron. Change to nightdress and cloak of ACT I. 5th Dress.—Same as ACT I. Dark cloak and hat. 6th Dress.—Act V. Deep mourning. Long dark cloak and hat.

3. NELLIE.—Handsome, well-proportioned woman of four and twenty. Although rather coquettish, she is overshadowed with a great sorrow and a great remorse. She is of a weak, but warm and affectionate nature. 1st Dress.—A worn blouse of soiled pink, a striped petticoat, both very much worn and soiled; a worn cloak thrown over her shoulders, a coloured handkerchief over her head pinned under her chin. Everything coquettish, but the worse for wear. 2nd Dress.—Act II. All very bright. New cotton blouse of pink, petticoat and bunch of ribbons to match, dainty embroidered scarlet stockings, natty shoes of tanned leather. 3rd Dress.—Sailor's man-o'-war's man shirt and straw hat, band round it. Blue serge shirt, all very smart and bright. Change to nightdress. (Note.—No petticoats undemeath.)

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PROPERTY PLOT.

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ACT I.

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SCENE I.—Rough wooden Bar, with bottles of spirits and champagne (2 to open), glasses, etc. etc., R.H. All secured with wires to bar, so that nothing can be upset during change. Letter rack, mourning letter in same. Large earthenware jug on counter. Small rustic table with pots and glasses on same. Three rustic stools round same—R.C. Four wine cases piled up R.C. Small rustic table and stool.—L.C. Two rustic tables and stools up L.H. Long table with several copies of 'Graphic' on same—L.H. Couple of barrels and a few cases up L.C. Rustic seat outside C. opening.

HAND PROPERTIES.—Dummy Child, beautifully made and dressed. Miner's Pack-Pipe and Tobacco—piece of ore and crown for BEN. Whip, five sovereigns, and revolver for CAPTAIN. Hand bell ready off L.1 E. for PROMPTER. Nugget for MYLES. Coach bells and horn ready off L.

SCENE 2.-Large nugget R.C. Long grass. Horse for SYBIL. Waggon