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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
Musical farce.
Adapted from William Bayle Bernard's play The Dumb Belle, and written expressly for the Nelson family, the narrative concerns Harry Chester, a gentleman in search of a silent woman. He subsequently meets Ellen Wilton (a young lady who must be seen to be understood) and her younger sister Kate (a champion for the rights of her sex).
The songs incorporated into the sketch were the duets, 'Pause Before You Read That Letter' (Sara and Carry Nelson), 'A Trick I Will Play Him' (Sara Nelson), 'Oh! If There's One Thing in this Life' (Alfred Nelson), 'Mr Jingle Jerry' (Carry Nelson), 'O, How Happy I Shall Be' (Carry and Alfred Nelson), and the finale 'We Wish You All Good Night.'
Production Details
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1853 : Protestant Hall , Melbourne ; 11, 14, 20 January. Troupe : Nelson Family. - Cast: Alfred Nelson (Harry), Sara Nelson (Ellen), Carry Nelson (Kate). Musician: Sydney Nelson (piano).
1853 : Protestant Hall, Melbourne ; 8 March. Cast and production as for previous Melbourne season.
1853 : Mechanics Institute, Melbourne ; 20 September. Cast and production as for previous Melbourne season. Presented along with Romance and Reality (q.v.).
1854 : Mechanics Institute, Melbourne ; 21 April, 9 June. Cast and production as for previous Melbourne season.
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This entry has been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian-written music theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.
Details have also been derived in part from the Annotated Calendar of Plays Premiered in Australia: 1850-1869.
