'The scene of this play is in a squatting district, and the time 50 years ago, and the leading character is a convict, whose crime was forgery, but who had also witnessed another forgery, for which the wrong man was convicted. The opening of the drama shows the first criminal and the innocent man in alliance as mates, and the real criminal, for whom the innocent man had suffered, is a military swell in the colony. The innocent man falls in love with a squatter's daughter, upon whom also the military scoundrel has matrimonial designs. The victim giving himself up to despair, takes to the bush, is apprehended, and sentenced to death, but recommended to mercy, because he had saved the life of the young lady with whom he had fallen in love. While the recommendation is under consideration, he escapes, and renders his chance of pardon precarious, but his friend, the first convict, is busy in his interests, and after much trouble and suffering, brings the real villain to justice. There is a rather pretty episode in which the heroine voluntarily becomes a convict, in order to save her Iover's life, and, for the denouement, she is assigned by the Governor to him for life, her father consenting to the arrangement. It will be seen, therefore, that the materials of this play are thoroughly Australian, and as the author is Australian too, and is not unfavourably known in the other colony, its success will testify to literary ability in this part of the world. It is to be hoped that attention has been paid to its presentation with proper scenic illustration.'
Source:
'Entertainments', The Australasian, 3 September 1881, p.18.
Produced at the Princess's Theatre, Melbourne, on 3 September 1881. No further information on the length of the run is available, but reviews were not particularly glowing, and it seems likely the run was short.
