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The plot of the original 1893 version deals with the adventurous career of Edgar Dalmore, a young English officer who, after quarreling with his father (a Cornish mine-owner) travels to Australia. On his arrival he is arrested and charged with the murder of his father. The crime was committed, however, by his cousin. Unable to prove his innocence, Dalmore escapes into the bush where he is befriended by cattle-rustlers. His military background eventually sees him lead the group and he becomes renowned as Captain Dart. A romance ensues with a banker's daughter but he is betrayed by another woman who's love he has not returned. After managing to escape the law complications arise when his murdering cousin arrives in Australia and attempts to defraud investors in a worthless mine. Dart becomes aware of his cousin's crimes and although unable to foil a plot to blow up the mine he is able to get his revenge, clear his name and win the hand of the woman he loves.
For their 1901 reworked version, Lincoln and Adam Pierre (Alfred Dampier) undertook considerable changes. They removed the British setting that started the original play and changed Dalmore from the son of a Cornish mine-owner to the son of a wealthy Australian station owner. His bushranging nom de plume was also changed from Captain Dart to the more romantically-sounding Captain Midnight. Other changes included the addition of a fifthact and the expansion of the previously minor role of publican Ned Harling (pub keeper). This was done in order to provide Alfred Dampier with a suitable role, as age and an expanding waistline had by then made it implausible for him to play the Dampier to play the lead. The expanded character subsequently became the cripple Humpy Ned.
The storyline of the re-worked version, based on the 1911 film, sees Dalimore tricked out of his inheritance by his cousin, Vincent Lennox. When is father is killed during a robbery (orchestrated by Lennox), Edgar is accused of the murder and is given a life sentence. He escapes with the help of Ned Harling (a bushman who worked for his father) and Ned's daughter Elsa (who loves Edgar). Despite Elsa's affections, Edgar is in love with a squatter's daughter Thelma Warren. A jealous Elsa betrays him to the police, but then changes her mind and helps him escape. Elsa comes forward with evidence that he did not kill his father. The killers try to kill Elsa but Edgar rescues her and in doing so clears his own name.
Adaptations
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form
y
Captain Midnight, the Bush King
The Bushranger's Bride (US title)
( dir. Alfred Rolfe
)
Sydney
:
Spencer's Pictures
,
1911
Z1914803
1911
single work
film/TV
adventure
crime
Edgar Dalimore, the son of wealthy station owner is tricked out of his inheritance by his cousin, Vincent Lennox. When is father is killed during a robbery (orchestrated by Lennox), Edgar is accused of the murder and is given a life sentence.
He escapes with the help of Ned Harling (a bushman who worked for his father) and Ned's daughter Elsa (who loves Edgar).
Despite Elsa's affections, Edgar is in love with a squatter's daughter Thelma Warren. A jealous Elsa betrays him to the police, but then changes her mind and helps him escape.
Elsa comes forward with evidence that he did not kill his father. The killers try to kill Elsa but Edgar rescues her and in doing so clears his own name.
Notes
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The Bush King was first produced in 1893 at the Surrey Theatre, London, beginning 6 November. Over the next five months it reportedly played at three London theatres, including a return season at the Surrey (Argus 1 October 1894, p.6) and a 10 nights season at the Britannia Theatre in March 1894 (Broadford Courier and Reedy Creek Times 27 April 1894, p.5). The Argus also records that the third theatre to stage the play was the Lyric (29 September 1894, p.12).
Following Lincoln's return to Australia in 1894 the play was given its Australian premiere by Charles Taylor and Ella Carrington at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne (29 September). Although praised by several Melbourne critics the play lasted only one week. Lincoln was undeterred by its lack of success and after some alterations managed to get it staged at the Novelty Theatre, London for a brief season in 1897 (Fotheringham p.117).
In 1900 Alfred Dampier (writing as Adam Pierre) collaborated with Lincoln on a re-worked version of The Bush King. It was staged for the first time at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney on 28 January 1901.
The Bush King's popularity with audiences meant that Dampier was able to revive the play on a frequent basis through until late 1908. It was also adapted into a film version in 1911 by Dampier's son-in-law, Alfred Rolfe, who created the Captain Midnight role for the reworked version of 1900. With Rolfe and Lily Dampier reprising their roles, the film was released under the title Captain Midnight, the Bush King.
[Source: 'W. J. Lincoln' at Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
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The South Australian Chronicle reports in 1893 that The Bush King had been written 'partly by an antipodean named Lincoln and partly by Mr Lestocq' (9 December 1893, p.5).
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Further Reference:
- Fotheringham, Richard. 'The Bush King.' Companion to Theatre in Australia (1995), p.117.
Production Details
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1893: Surrey Theatre, Lambeth, Greater London (England); 6 November -
- The Bush King was also reportedly staged at the Lyric Theatre followed by a return season at the Surrey. A third London production is said to have been staged at the Britannia Theatre in March 1894.
1894: Theatre Royal, Melbourne; 29 September - 5 October.
- Producer Charles Taylor and Ella Carrington.
- Cast incl. G. Patten (Edgar Dalmore), Isabel Vernon (Thelma Warren), Ella Carrington, J. J. Ennis, J. E, Haynes, Newton Griffiths, J. Puget, F. C. Appleton, T. Willets, C. M. Keegan, J. B. North, H. O. Williard, T. Mortimer, A. H. Elvins, T. Anderson, G. Wilson. E. Martin, May Herford, and Miss Stuart Gleeson.
1897: Novelty Theatre, London; no details.
1901: Criterion Theatre, Sydney; 28 January -15 February.
- Producer/Manger/Lessee Alfred Dampier; Director Katherine Russell.
- Cast incl. Alfred Rolfe (Edgar Dalmore, aka Captain Midnite), Alfred Dampier (Humpy Ned), F. C. Appleton (John Stirling), Lily Dampier (Lily Harling), Rose Dampier (Thelma Warren), George Buller (Joe Crawler), Cecil Calvert (Inspector Cummins), Edmund Holloway (Wattie Wigglesworth), W. Howard Smith (Jack Hall), John Forbes (Tom Helville).
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Entries connected with this record have been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian popular theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Theatre Royal
1894
single work
review
— Appears in: Coburg Leader , 6 October 1894; (p. 1)
— Review of The Bush King 1893 single work drama -
Theatre Royal : 'The Bush King'
1894
single work
review
— Appears in: The Argus , 1 October 1894; (p. 6)
— Review of The Bush King 1893 single work drama -
Plays and Players
1893
single work
column
— Appears in: The Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader , 23 December 1893; (p. 6) -
Anglo-Colonial Gossip
1893
single work
column
— Appears in: South Australian Register , 16 December 1893; (p. 9)
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Theatre Royal : 'The Bush King'
1894
single work
review
— Appears in: The Argus , 1 October 1894; (p. 6)
— Review of The Bush King 1893 single work drama -
Theatre Royal
1894
single work
review
— Appears in: Coburg Leader , 6 October 1894; (p. 1)
— Review of The Bush King 1893 single work drama -
Anglo-Colonial Gossip
1893
single work
column
— Appears in: South Australian Register , 16 December 1893; (p. 9) -
Plays and Players
1893
single work
column
— Appears in: The Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader , 23 December 1893; (p. 6)