Fortune's Fool (play)
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Fortune's Fool | |
---|---|
Written by | Alfred Dampier |
Date premiered | October 2, 1897[1] |
Place premiered | Lyceum Theatre, Sydney[2] |
Original language | English |
Fortune's Fool is a 1897 Australian play by Alfred Dampier.[3][4][5] It depicted "the Strange and Adventurous Career of a Vagabond Wanderer and his Daughter."[6]
Dampier performed in the play before heading to London.[7]
Reception
[edit]The Sunday Times said it "contained enough blood and thunder to satisfy the palate of even the greatest lover of the sensational."[8]
The Daily Telegraph said "The plot of the piece is ingenious, and gives plenty of scope for fine work, both on the part of the playwright and the actors."[9]
The Australian Star called it "nothing extraordinary... a piece of a class which may be characterised as strong or heavy, but it is interesting, and a great deal of the heaviness is removed by a vein of comedy which is introduced in parts by the subordinate characters."[10]
Dampier took the play with him to London and tried to sell it as With False Colours (as another play used Fortune's Fool). However he was unsuccessful.[11]
Premise
[edit]Harold Norton is an actor who wanders the country after the death of his wife.[10]
Cast of original production
[edit]- Lily Dampier as Mary Norton and her daughter Jessie Norton
- Alfred Dampier as Harold Norton
- Edmond Holloway as Fergus Graham
- George Buller as Grim Ned
- Katherine Russell as Nelly Parkins
Everyday London
[edit]Dampier presented a play the following year with a similar plot called Everyday London. This may have been Fortune's Fool rewritten.[12][13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Advertising". Sunday Times. No. 613. New South Wales, Australia. 26 September 1897. p. 2. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "NEWCASTLE LICENSING COURT". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 18, 561. New South Wales, Australia. 10 September 1897. p. 6. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "PLAYS AND PLAYGOERS". The Daily Telegraph. No. 5968. New South Wales, Australia. 30 July 1898. p. 6. Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "LYCEUM THEATRE". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 18, 580. New South Wales, Australia. 2 October 1897. p. 10. Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "THE LYCEUM THEATER–FORTUNE'S FOOL". The Daily Telegraph. No. 5707. New South Wales, Australia. 4 October 1897. p. 6. Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 18, 579. New South Wales, Australia. 1 October 1897. p. 2. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SUMMARY". The Daily Telegraph. No. 5706. New South Wales, Australia. 2 October 1897. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "LAST NIGHT'S AMUSEMENTS: Stage Gossip". Sunday Times. No. 614. New South Wales, Australia. 3 October 1897. p. 2. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "THE LYCEUM THEATER–FORTUNE'S FOOL". The Daily Telegraph. No. 5707. New South Wales, Australia. 4 October 1897. p. 6. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "STAGE, SONG AND SHOW". The Australian Star. No. 3014. New South Wales, Australia. 4 October 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "PLAYS AND PLAYGOERS". The Daily Telegraph. No. 5968. New South Wales, Australia. 30 July 1898. p. 6. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ ""EVERY-DAY LONDON" AT THE CRITERION". The Daily Telegraph. No. 6041. New South Wales, Australia. 24 October 1898. p. 7. Retrieved 7 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "CRITERION THEATRE". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 18, 911. New South Wales, Australia. 24 October 1898. p. 4. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.