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His Last Legs (International) assertion single work   drama   humour   - Two acts
This international work is included in AustLit to identify a relationship with Australian literature.
Issue Details: First known date: 1839... 1839 His Last Legs
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Notes

  • William Bayle Bernard's His Last Legs is included in AustLit because it was produced in Australian theatres during the colonial era; and/or is the subject of Australian literary comment, adaptation or creative writing.

Production Details

  • First produced at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London, 15 October 1839. (Source: Nicoll, Allardyce. A History of English Drama 1660-1900. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1966.)

  • Performed at the Prince of Wales Opera House, Sydney, February and December 1868, and in an amateur performance at the Odd Fellows Hall, Newtown, Sydney, 8 July 1868.

  • Performed at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, July-August 1868.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1839
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Works about this Work

Our Letter Home 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Australasian , 15 August vol. 5 no. 124 (New Series) 1868; (p. 210)

'Our Letter Home' includes information on a range of political and social matters. The writer for the Australasian comments that 'matters theatrical and musical' are not in a 'flourishing condition', but he still reports in some detail on productions at the Theatre Royal (the Nathan Juvenile Troupe and performances of His Last Legs and Leah) and notes that 'the fortunes of the other two houses [The Duke of Edinburgh Theatre and the Princess's Theatre] are uncertain'.
Entertainment at Newtown 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Freeman's Journal , 11 July vol. 19 no. 1318 1868; (p. 10)
— Review of His Last Legs William Bayle Bernard , 1839 single work drama
Entertainments : Amateur Dramatic Performance 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Freeman's Journal , 27 June vol. 19 no. 1316 1868; (p. 15)

A review of an amateur dramatic performance held in 'the Hall of the Sacred Heart, for the benefit of the Christian Doctrine Society attached to the Church. The pieces selected were O'Callaghan on His Last Legs and Twenty Minutes with a Tiger.'
Prince of Wales Opera House : Colonial Experience, &c. 1868 single work advertisement
— Appears in: The Empire , 15 December no. 5324 1868; (p. 1)

An advertisement for the Prince of Wales Opera House production of Walter Cooper's Colonial Experience and William Bernard's His Last Legs on 15 December 1868. The evening's performance is a 'farewell benefit of [actor] Mr W. Andrews, prior to his departure for Melbourne'.
Oddfellows' Benefit 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Empire , 28 August no. 5233 1868; (p. 2)

A brief column noting the 27 August 1868 Prince of Wales Opera House production of George Henry Lewes's The Game of Speculation and William Bayle Bernard's His Last Legs. The performance was a benefit for the Oddfellows' Hall Building Fund, but the Empire reports that while 'the performances were good, ... the attendance was bad'.
Entertainment at Newtown 1868 single work review
— Appears in: The Freeman's Journal , 11 July vol. 19 no. 1318 1868; (p. 10)
— Review of His Last Legs William Bayle Bernard , 1839 single work drama
Prince of Wales Opera House : Not a Bad Judge, &c. 1868 single work advertisement
— Appears in: The Empire , 14 February no. 5066 1868; (p. 1)

An advertisement for the Prince of Wales Opera House production of John Robinson Planche's Not a Bad Judge and William Bayle Bernard's His Last Legs on 14 February 1868.
Prince of Wales Opera House 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Empire , 15 February no. 5067 1868; (p. 5)

A short column noting the 14 February 1868 production at the Prince of Wales Opera House of William Bayle Bernard's His Last Legs and James Robinson Plance's Not a Bad Judge. H. R. H. Prince Alfred was in attendance.
Prince of Wales Opera House : The Irish Emigrant, &c. 1868 single work advertisement
— Appears in: The Empire , 18 March no. 5094 1868; (p. 1) The Empire , 17 March no. 5093 1868;

An advertisement for the Prince of Wales Opera House production of John Brougham's The Irish Emigrant, Thomas Hailes Lacy's A Silent Woman and William Bayle Bernard's His Last Legs on 17 March 1868.

The advertisement also includes advance notice of Mr Hoskins's benefit on 19 March 1868, his 'last appearance but two, when will be presented The Poor Gentleman ... [and] The Artful Dodge'.
Prince of Wales Opera House : The Game of Speculation, &c. 1868 single work advertisement
— Appears in: The Empire , 25 August no. 5230 1868; (p. 1) The Empire , 26 August no. 5231 1868; (p. 1) The Empire , 27 August no. 5232 1868; (p. 1)

An advertisement for the Prince of Wales Opera House production of George Henry Lewes's The Game of Speculation and William Bayle Bernard's His Last Legs on 27 August 1868. The performance is a benefit for the Oddfellows' Hall Building Fund.
Oddfellows' Benefit 1868 single work column
— Appears in: The Empire , 28 August no. 5233 1868; (p. 2)

A brief column noting the 27 August 1868 Prince of Wales Opera House production of George Henry Lewes's The Game of Speculation and William Bayle Bernard's His Last Legs. The performance was a benefit for the Oddfellows' Hall Building Fund, but the Empire reports that while 'the performances were good, ... the attendance was bad'.
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Last amended 12 Nov 2014 14:04:56
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