Cirrus@Austlit

Described in Everyone's as "a new Australian play" (12 Sept. 1928, 45), and "Australian in sentiment" (19 Sept. 1928, p.45), the Sydney Morning Herald similarly notes that this 'new Australian comedy… [is] Aussie through and through' (21 Sept. 1928, p.2), and a 'hilarious Australian comedy of sunshine and laughter' (28 Sept. 1928, p.3). The Herald also provides some insight into the book:

It is a very plain story about a misunderstood hero, with a square jaw, sad blue eyes, and the other characters are those familiar in melodrama. In short, My Pal Ginger is the old story in which the hero, after suffering silently the suspicion that he is leading a life of deception, finds his reputation restored at the eleventh hour. The drama has the additional attraction of being about Australia. Mr. George Sorlie played as the hero's pal, Ginger, who, though he has spout most of his life in prison, has a heart of gold ('My Pal Ginger.' 24 September 1928, p.7).

In relation to the lead character, the The Sun] (Sydney) describes Sorlie's portrayal as 'something new to this type of play. He was a little of Ginger Mick with much more polish about him - a Don Quixote of Surry Hills, a Robin Hood of the streets, who finds himself suddenly in the bush' ('My Pal,' p.6).

The production, which opened George Sorlie's season at the Grand Opera House in September 1928, is said to have also featured the latest song numbers and introduced many novelties (Everyone's 19 Sept. 1928, p.45). Among the songs were 'Broken Hearted,' 'Blue Heaven,' and 'Magnolia' (all sung by George Sorlie).

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]