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y separately published work icon Billy Barlow : An Eccentric Farce in One Act single work   drama   humour   - One act
Alternative title: The Barlow Family
Issue Details: First known date: 1843... 1843 Billy Barlow : An Eccentric Farce in One Act
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

George Coppin gained great popularity in Australia as the raggedly dressed 'new chum' Billy Barlow, a stock character who grew out of several British street ballads.

Notes

  • The play's original title, The Barlow Family, was preferred for it's debut performances so as to distinguish it from the songs. Dibdin wrote the play especially for George Coppin after the actor/manager first performed the song in Australia at the Royal Victoria on 13 April 1843 (ctd. Maryanne Dever. 'Notes on the Play.' Australasian Drama Studies April 1989, pp. 89-90).

  • Billy Barlow is one of two plays by Charles Alexander Dibdin which are held in the New South Wales State Records. The other play is The Queer Client.

  • Further Reference :

        • Dever, Maryanne. 'Notes on the Play,' Australasian Drama Studies April (1989), pp88-93.
        • Pelosi, Janette. 'Colonial Drama Revealed ; Or, Plays Submitted for Approval.' Margin 60 (2003), pp21-34.

Production Details

  • First produced as The Barlow Family at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, on 12 October 1843 as a benefit for Mrs Coppin.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1843
      .
      (Manuscript) assertion
      Note/s:
      • The title page of the manuscript is dated 'Sydney July 1843'
      • The extant sequel was submitted on 1 August 1843 by the author who stated it was written for Mr. Coppin (CSIL 43/5607).

      Holdings

      Held at: State Records, NSW
      Local Id: SZ49
      Note:
      Holding details : Colonial Secretary Correspondence ; play enclosure (43/5607) ; covering letter (43/5607 in 4/4559.1) ; play (SZ49) ; microfilm copy of play (see SR Reel 29).
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Works about this Work

Notes on the Play Maryanne Dever , 1989 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , April no. 14 1989; (p. 88-93)
Notes on the Play Maryanne Dever , 1989 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australasian Drama Studies , April no. 14 1989; (p. 88-93)
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Last amended 8 Sep 2008 09:01:00
Subjects:
Settings:
  • Sydney, New South Wales,
  • 1840s
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