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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
Considered one of the Popular Theatre Troupe's most accessible shows, The Millionaire's Handicap was the result of Albert Hunt's last visit as a consultant and director for the company.
'Based on a booklet published by Action for World Development about the activities of the Comalco Bauxite Mining Company in North Queensland, where the aboriginal people had been removed at gunpoint from their tribal lands. There was also evidence of transfer price fixing in Hong Kong to deny Australia a share of the profits resulting from the mining, The Millionaires Handicap used training and racing horses as a metaphor for the treatment of different "races" of people by big business.'
Source: Errol O'Neill. Challenging the Centre, p.65-66.
Notes
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Errol O'Neill further recalls that The Millionaire's Handicap marked the beginning of a major change in the Popular Theatre Troupe's personnel, with only Richard Fotheringham and Roslyn Atkinson remaining at the end of 1976.
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The show was extensively rewritten and re-staged for productions in 1977. The new version was shortened specifically so it could be staged during factory lunch breaks.
Production Details
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1976: First staged in August, The Millionaire's handicap played Sydney, Melbourne (Pram Factory) during the year.
- Directors Albert Hunt and Richard Fotheringham.
- Cast: Roslyn Atkinson, Duncan Campbell, Nick Hughes, Judith James and Janet Mahoney.
1977: North Queensland tour; no details
- Cast: Janet Mahoney, John Lane, Nicola Scott, Greg King, Errol O'Neill.
- The tour itinerary included mining towns. Errol O'Neill records that the tour took place during the first half of 1977.
