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y separately published work icon William Light - The Founder single work   drama   - Three acts
Alternative title: Light - The Man; Colonel Light - The Founder; Awake My Love
Issue Details: First known date: 1936... 1936 William Light - The Founder
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

This play is based on the life of Colonel William Light, the first surveyor-General of South Australia. When the action takes place, Light has arrived in South Australia to find that his surveying equipment and staff are not up to the huge task before him. Tempers rise in the colony when immigrants arrive to find that the land they purchased has not yet been surveyed. Light’s antagonist, John Hindmarsh, is determined to compromise Light’s career. Amongst the jealousy and anger, Light finds comfort in a young woman named Linda Manners. Awake My Love depicts the struggle of an honest, admirable man against the unrelenting torments of rivals, heartbreak, illness, and misfortune.


Characters

COLONEL WILLIAM LIGHT

GOVERNOR HINDMARSH

MRS. ORCHARD

MR. ORCHARD

AMELIA ORCHARD

MRS. MANNERS

MR. MANNERS

LINDA MANNERS

TRAVERS FINNISS

DIXON - MANNER'S HOUSEKEEPER

MARIA - LIGHT'S HOUSEKEEPER

STEVENSON

GILLES

HERBERT

ALGERNON

Exhibitions

Adaptations

form y separately published work icon Genesis Max Afford , Adelaide : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1936 8666331 1936 single work radio play historical fiction

A specially written (and heavily truncated) version of Afford's play William Light: The Founder, written for broadcast on the centenary of Adelaide's founding.

Notes

  • M&M erroneously suggest the earlier version of the play, 'William Light - The Founder' is published.

Production Details

  • 1936

    First produced (as 'William Light - The Founder') at the Tivoli Theatre, Adelaide, by the Adelaide Repertory Theatre, 7 November to commemorate the centenary of South Australia. Production continued until 14 November. 

    Composer: June Sterne

    Costume Designer: Thelma Thomas

    Producer: Frank Johnston

    Stage Director: Eugene Thomas

    Cast: Max Basford, Arthur Bateup, Max Caddy, Elizabeth Campbell, Muriel Craigie, David Dawson, Betty Diamond, Jack Ham, Iris Hart, Jack Havey, Cedric Hele, Edna Heysen, Frank Johnston, Beryl Kook, Llandaff Matthews, Thelma Seaman, and Mostyn Skinner. 

    1945

    Produced at the Independent Theatre, North Sydney, 18 June. 

    1947

    Produced at the Independent Theatre, Sydney, from 4 September 1947, under the title Awake, My Love.

    Director: Doris Fitton.

    Costumes: Thelma Afford.

    Composer: Henry Krips.

    Cast: Paul O'Loughlin (Colonel Light), Diana Perryman (Linda Manners), and Kevin Brennan (Governor Hindmarsh).

    1986

    Produced at the Lentara Community Centre, Magill, South Australia, from June to 5 July under the title Colonel Light - The Founder.

    Director: Pauline Terry-Beitz.

    Production Company: Burnside Players.

    Cast: Bill Boyley, James Cameron, Ruth Frost, Inara Gehling, Michael Hammer, Jo James, Polly Meldrum, Bob Roddy, Heather Trowse, and Patrick Walsh.

    1995

    Produced as 'Light, the Man' by the Adelaide Repertory Theatre, from 27 April 1995.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

      1936 .
      (Manuscript) assertion

      Holdings

      Held at: State Library of South Australia State Library of SA
      Local Id: SSL D6032
      Note:
      Contains production notes from the first season. Also held is a souvenir programme of the first season entitled 'Colonel Light - The Founder'. The programme includes an introduction by Ernestine Hill and a note from the author about the writing of the play along with the written judgements in the Centenary Play Competition.
      1947 .
      Alternative title: Awake My Love : A Romantic Drama based on the life of Colonel William Light, first Surveyor-General of South Australia
      Description: Typescript (carbon copy) in paper covers.
      (Manuscript) assertion

      Holdings

      Held at: University of Queensland University of Queensland Library Fryer Library
      Location: The Hanger Collection of Australian Playscripts
      Local Id: H0011-H0011C
      Note:
      Note: Fryer Library has several Manuscript copies, with varying sub-titles.
  • Appears in:
    form y separately published work icon Mischief in the Air : Radio and Stage Plays Max Afford , St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 1974 Z334737 1974 selected work drama radio play St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 1974 pg. 79-170
    Note: With title Awake My Love
    • Sydney, New South Wales,: Whitehall Productions , 1960 .
      Alternative title: Awake My Love
      Extent: 56p.
      Description: illus., music, port.
      Note/s:
      • Edited and Abridged for Drama and the School.
      • Includes song 'I saw you on a Blue Spring Day'; music by Henry Krips
      • Copy sighted at State Library of South Australia has annotations by Thelma Afford, Max Afford's wife, correcting some incorrect biographical details.
      Series: Drama and the School series - publisher

Works about this Work

Introduction : Max Afford, Playwright Leslie Rees , 1974 single work biography
— Appears in: Mischief in the Air : Radio and Stage Plays 1974;
Drama in Sydney Leslie Rees , 1947 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Quarterly , September vol. 19 no. 3 1947; (p. 128-131)

— Review of William Light - The Founder Max Afford , 1936 single work drama
Drama in Sydney Leslie Rees , 1947 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Quarterly , September vol. 19 no. 3 1947; (p. 128-131)

— Review of William Light - The Founder Max Afford , 1936 single work drama
Introduction : Max Afford, Playwright Leslie Rees , 1974 single work biography
— Appears in: Mischief in the Air : Radio and Stage Plays 1974;
Last amended 4 Apr 2019 14:22:02
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