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y separately published work icon The Golden Sword single work   drama  
Issue Details: First known date: 1961... 1961 The Golden Sword
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Described by the author as "a crazy mixed-up anachronism", this romp lies somewhere between a spoof and a satire. An impoverished royal family struggles with red tape and bureaucracy. The Prince wants to marry the foundling taken in by his parents at birth, but King Coal wants him to marry a rich pickle heiress. The magic Golden Sword is the solution to all their problems but has not been used, for no obvious reason, until now!' (Source: Helen Haenke Plays Table - Fryer Library, University of Queensland)

Notes

  • Characters

    King Coal: middle-aged, in rather saggy bowling clothes, and large gold crown.

    Queen Hildegarde: a gardening matron. Garden apron, with twine, snips etc., and garden gloves. Smaller gold crown.

    Prince Stephen: son of the king and queen. In tennis shorts, with racquet. Very small gold crown.

    Lady Andrea: adopted daughter of the king and queen, lady-in-waiting to the Queen. In tennis dress, with racquet.

    Accountant: preferably dyspeptic and definitely harassed. Shirtsleeves and waistcoat, with glasses and green eye-shade. 

    Fool: the off-beat type, off-beat.

    Cook: in jungle-greens and army boots with traditional Cook's cap.

    Witch: Traditional black pointed hat and enveloping cloak. She's Queen Ermingarde in disguise - wears cocktail dress underneath. Carries shoes and biggest gold crown of all in black dilly-bag.

    Time

    Your guess is as good as mind. Now, or then, or tomorrow. [Verbatim from author's manuscript]

    Place

    The backyard of the Palace of King Coal. Due to the King's financial embarrassment, the yard is not at all smart. In fact, it should be aggressively suburban, with a suggestion of washing (suitably cyphered with CVR) on the line, lawn-mowers, garden tools, and a rubbish tin or two. A row of 12 would of course be more suitable for such an establishment. With luck, they may run to a tatty rustic table under a faded beach umbrella.

    Space

    Mid-morning.

Production Details

  • Presented by Brisbane Arts Theatre. Performed at South Brisbane Municipal Library, South Bank: 5 September 1961. Staged with VJ Moran's 'Find Me at the Federal' and Win Davson's 'The Stars Grow Pale'.

    Director: Jack Hollingworth.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1961
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Helen Haenke Collection Helen Haenke , 1955-1989 14265233 1955 archive

    The University of Queensland's Fryer Library holds a substantial collection of Helen Haenke's literary works. The collection includes plays, short stories, novels, poems, and prose, all in manuscript form. Several of these works were published, but only the manuscript and electronic text versions are included in the collection. 

         1955-1989
      1961 .
      Extent: 12l.p.
      (Manuscript) assertion
      Note/s:

      • The Helen Haenke Collection at the University of Queensland's Fryer Library holds one copy of 'The Golden Sword'. The script has been typed with a typewriter onto thin white paper. Underneath the title and author's name there is a note that reads 'Note: It is intended that this play should he topical within the area in which is it performed. The producer is offered a free hand to make any suitable alterations to King Coal, place-names, industries, etc.'. 'Coal' has been underlined. At the top of the page a note has been written in lead pencil: 'Performed by Arts Theatre for a one-shot festival of Aust'n plays at Sth Bris. Library hall, '60-ish. It was very slick and great fun. J. Hollingworth directed.' 

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Last amended 4 Apr 2019 16:06:27
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