Note - Publicity Unlimited
Anthony Hordern & Sons Ltd.
Pretty Bargain, A
Family Relations
Money
Length: One Act
Setting: The Hanson's home.
Characters:
JULIAN HANSON
ESTHER, his wife
SAMUEL, Julian's brother
JENNY, his wife
JANE HUMPELDRICK, aunt to Julian and Samuel
ALICE, parlour maid to the Hansons
Armstrong, H.D.
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection. [Two versions held in the Campbell Howard Collection]ANL holds a collection of Louis Esson papers, MS 3185, and Esson playscripts in the British Drama League (Australia) manuscript collection, MS 5579.
[not stated in UNE collection record]
1939
University of New England Library, New South Wales, Australia
No known copyright restrictions
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
PDF 3.77MB
en
Text
arms-prettybargain-a4.pdf
Australia; 1920-1955
Died of Wounds
Anzac Legend
Family Relations
Politics and Ideology
Returned Servicemen
Suicide
War
World War I
Length: One Act
Synopsis: John Sturdee has political ambitions, but is embarrassed by his drunken brother David. David is an ex-serviceman, decorated for bravery. He is loved by his sister-in-law and adored by his nephew Lenny. Before World War I he had been a poet. He returns from the war without any sense of purpose and finds consolation in drink. Unable to face teh future, he takes poison and dies. John sees political advancement stopped because of the possibility of ensuing scandal. His son ironically closes the play quoting his father's punch line from the speech which will now never be given, ""the soldiers shall live forever in the hall"".
Setting: A living room in John Sturdee's house. About 8.00 p.m.
Characters:
JOHN STURDEE, Master grocer
MARY STURDEE, his wife
LENNY, their eight years old son
DAVID STURDEE, John Sturdee's brother
Bell, Harold G.
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
[not stated in UNE collection record]
1938
University of New England Library, New South Wales, Australia
No known copyright restrictions
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
PDF 4.36MB
en
Text
bell-diedofwounds-a4.pdf
Australia; 1920-1955
Moon Child, The
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Indigenous Australians
Fantasy
Mythology
Play Length: One Act
Synopsis: Fireheart and Moonchild are lovers in defiance of Mohabie, who desires to wed Moonchild so that he can start a new race. Before Mohabie can take vengeance, the Bunyip arises from his pool. The monster protects Fireheart and Moonchild from Mohabie and predicts that from their union will spring a nomadic race to prey upon that of Mohabie's creation.
Setting: A valley surrounded on three sides by steep, wooded hills, whose crests are tipped with the gold of the rising moon.
Characters:
FIREHEART
MOONCHILD
MYAMYN
MOHABIE
MINYIP
PURDEET
MIAKITE
MINHAMITE
BIOLITE
MURRUM
MITA
BUNYIP
SAPLING MAIDS and YOUTHS
BRACKEN MAIDS and YOUTHS
Davidson, E. Coulson
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection. [Two different versions in Campbell Howard Collection]
[not stated in UNE collection record]
1915
University of New England Library, New South Wales, Australia
No known copyright restrictions
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
PDF 6.22MB
en
Text
davi-moonchild-a4.pdf
Australia; 1920-1955
Fight, The: A Play in Four Acts
Play Length: Four Acts
Synopsis: Tom Inglis has refused to marry Dr Stanhope's nurse - Nance Crosswaithe. He avers he has tuberculosis. In fact, he is syphilitic. Stanhope knows Inglis has fallen in love (so he thinks) with Ettie Beaumont, the orphan daughter of Lord Beaumont and his abandoned wife. Ettie is brought up by Mr and Mrs Shotwell, but on a Guy Fawkes night her sight is ruined by a firework explosion. It is partially restored, but she inadvertently learns of Inglis' past. She plans to suicide, but is persuaded to live and to love Dr Stanhope. All this is against the background of the Shotwell's life-savings being lost by bank crashes and rash investments. To add to their disasters, they have badly invested the money Ettie's mother left them to provide for her. However, Ettie's father miraculously provides for her.
Setting:
I A wood-panelled room in Shotwell's house. Evening.
II The same. A month later.
III A room in Dr Stanhope's house. Noon six weeks later.
IV The same. A day later.
Characters:
1. MAGGIE
2. MRS SHOTWELL
3. MR SHOTWELL
4. TOM INGLIS
5. BOBBIE, their nephew
6. DR STANHOPE
7. ETTIE BEAUMONT, a niece by adoption
8. MRS STANHOPE
9. NANCE CROSSTHWAITE, nurse
10. FLORRIE
Cast:
1. Miss E. Montague
2. E.C. Davidson
3. Percy Henry
4. J.A. Davidson
5. Baden Gilbert
6. E. Bryning
7. Isobel de Soyers
8. J.M. Wilson
9. Peggy Mudge
10. E. Montague
Davidson, E. Coulson (as George Byfield)
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection. [Typescript in Campbell Howard Collection written under the name George Byfield]
[not stated in UNE collection record]
1915
University of New England Library, New South Wales, Australia
No known copyright restrictions
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
PDF 9.32MB
en
Text
byfi-fight-a4.pdf
Australia; 1920-1955
Shipwreck: A Drama in Four Acts
Bush Life
Crime
Length: Four Acts: Six Scenes
Synopsis: The play is set on the lonely Gippsland coast in the late 19th century. Stumpy Johnson lives by the old Cornish trick of luring ships to destruction and collecting and selling the flotsam and jetsam. Martha Kennedy forces her daughter Madge to become Johnson’s second wife. The police catch up with Johnson and he goes to gaol. During his absence his son by his first marriage and Madge fall in love and live together. A child is born. Johnson is released before his full sentence is served, returns and in his vengence kills the baby, shoots his son and chains Madge to the wall of the house. He whips the bullocks with a barb wire lash which flies back and tears his eyes, the bullocks stampede and rush over him and he staggers back to the house, but of course Madge cannot help him, and wouldn't. He dies and Madge is rescued by a passing coastal vessel which calls in, and Johnson’s corpse is taken on board to be tipped over the side when the vessel is at sea.
Setting:
I.i Stumpy's bar-room. A stormy night in winter.
I.ii The same. Two months later.
II On a cliff. Three days later.
III A kitchen and living room. About a year later.
IV.i The same. Three days later.
IV.ii The same. Evening of the same day.
Characters:
"STUMPY" JOHNSON, a shanty-keeper
TOM, his son, a cattleman
CARL, an old Finnish sailor
BEN, his young mate, a sailor
SERGEANT GREGORY
MARTHA KENNEDY
MADGE, her daughter
Esson, Louis
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection. [Three different versions of this play are held in the Campbell Howard Collection]. ANL holds a collection of Louis Esson papers, MS 3185, and Esson playscripts in the British Drama League (Australia) manuscript collection, MS 5579.
Australian Drama 1920-1955, Department of Continuing Education, University of New England, Armidale, 1986
1928 ca
University of New England Library, New South Wales, Australia
No known copyright restrictions
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
PDF 6.88MB
en
Text
esson-shipwreck-a4.pdf
Australia; 1920-1955
Australia Felix: A Dialogue
Politics and Ideology
Length: One Act
Synopsis: Michael Gavan is left-of-centre and is disappointed with the trend in Australian politics. He speaks his mind to the Grahams, who are holidaying in the Gippsland area. A Nationalist-Country Party colaition is in power, led by Harding, a political colleague of Gavans's in the early days. Elections are being held that day and by means of the radio the news that the Liberal Party has been returned to power comes through. The curtain falls on the lines by Gavan and Graham hoping for a better future as they toast ""Australia Felix"".
Setting: Gavan's semi-permanent bush camp, a lonely but picturesque spot near Mallacoota Inlet in Far Eastern Gippsland, overlooking the Southern Ocean.
Characters:
MICHAEL GAVAN, a writer and a politican, about fifty-five
STUART GRAHAM, a young painter
HELEN, his wife
DICK, a bushman, about thirty
WILLIE, Gavan's son, about twenty
Voice of HARDING
Esson, Louis
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection. [Two versions held in the Campbell Howard Collection]. ANL holds a collection of Louis Esson papers, MS 3185, and Esson playscripts in the British Drama League (Australia) manuscript collection, MS 5579.
Originally published by Red Rooster Press, Ascot Vale
1926
University of New England Library, New South Wales, Australia
No known copyright restrictions
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
PDF 1.5MB
en
Text
ess0-australiafelix-a4.pdf
Australia; 1920-1955
Digger's Rest: A Comedy in Three Acts (a.k.a.The Battler)
Bush Life
Miners and Mining
Work and Business
Length: Three Acts
Synopsis: The Battler-Oglive-has returned after striking it rich in Western Australia. He discovers gold in an old abandoned working and the Digger's Rest community has wealth and life for a short while. But the mine folds and the prosperity is gone, though not for the Battler-his Southern Cross mine in Western Australia comes good. He sets off for the West, and the Digger's Rest community sinks back into torpitude.
Setting: An old deserted gold field.
Characters:
TERRIBLE MICK, an old fossicker
ANDREW, an old fossicker
JACK CONROY, estate agent and auctioneer
SAM CLARKE, a bullock driver
WATTY, Mrs Smith's son
CLARA, a girl working at the shanty
BILLY, a rouseabout
BELLA, Sam's wife
MRS JONES, an immigrant
MRS SMITH, the store and shanty keeper
GEORGE OGILVIE, a mining man
Esson, Louis
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection. [Two versions held in the Campbell Howard Collection]ANL holds a collection of Louis Esson papers, MS 3185, and Esson playscripts in the British Drama League (Australia) manuscript collection, MS 5579.
[not stated in UNE collection record]
1922
University of New England Library, New South Wales, Australia
No known copyright restrictions
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
PDF 9.63MB
en
Text
esso-diggersrestthebattler-a4.pdf
Australia; 1920-1955
Shipwreck: A Drama in Four Acts
Bush Life
Crime
Length: Four Acts: Six Scenes
Synopsis: Michael Gavan is left-of-centre and is disappointed with the trend in Australian politics. He speaks his mind to the Grahams, who are holidaying in the Gippsland area. A Nationalist-Country Party colaition is in power, led by Harding, a political colleague of Gavans's in the early days. Elections are being held that day and by means of the radio the news that the Liberal Party has been returned to power comes through. The curtain falls on the lines by Gavan and Graham hoping for a better future as they toast ""Australia Felix"".
Setting:
I.i Stumpy's bar-room. A stormy night in winter.
I.ii The same. Two months later.
II On a cliff. Three days later.
III A kitchen and living room. About a year later.
IV.i The same. Three days later.
IV.ii The same. Evening of the same day.
Characters:
""STUMPY"" JOHNSON, a shanty-keeper
TOM, his son, a cattleman
CARL, an old Finnish sailor
BEN, his young mate, a sailor
SERGEANT GREGORY
MARTHA KENNEDY
MADGE, her daughter
Esson, Louis
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection. [Three different versions of this play are held in the Campbell Howard Collection]. ANL holds a collection of Louis Esson papers, MS 3185, and Esson playscripts in the British Drama League (Australia) manuscript collection, MS 5579.
Australian Drama 1920-1955, Department of Continuing Education, University of New England, Armidale, 1986
1928 ca
University of New England Library, New South Wales, Australia
No known copyright restrictions
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
PDF 6.72MB
en
Text
esso-shipwreck-a4.pdf
Australia; 1920-1955
Out of a Clear Sky
Bush Life
Crime
Play Length: One Act
Synopsis: Jim and Bess are living together on their farm, trying to forget Jim's past involvement in a robbery that led to the murder of a storekeeper. By accident, Bess' brutal husband Jake Hamilton finds them one night and threatens to reveal Jim's true identity. He leaves and Jim goes out to shoot him. He bursts in a few moments later, however, admitting that he was unable to kill Hamilton.
Characters:
1. JIM
2. BESS
3. JAKE (The Stranger)
Cast:
1. Neville Malley
2. Joyce Lambert
3. P. Brigenhaw
Hayball, Doris
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
The Playbill, May 1935
1935
University of New England Library, New South Wales, Australia
No known copyright restrictions
NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection
PDF 1.78MB
en
Test
hayb-outclearssky-1000px.pdf
Australia; 1920-1955