'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)
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.
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.
