Based on an idea by Leila Blake, and conceived as a musical to be staged by high school students, Caroline is based on the life and times of Caroline Chisholm - known during her lifetime as the 'Immigrants Friend,' and recognised today as the original 'lady on the five dollar note.'
Songs written for the show include : 'What Have You Got to Offer Me' (Tom and Company), 'What Am I Doing Here' (Flora), 'Finding Flora a Position' (Caroline and Company), 'There's So Much More to Be Done' (Caroline), 'A Woman's Place Is in the Home' (Company), 'Lady in the Bonnet and Shawl' (Flora), 'Give You Money' and 'Here I Stand' (Caroline and G. Gipps), 'I Was Always There' (Archibald), 'This Room' (Caroline), 'She's the One to Blame' (Tom and men), 'The Lonely Men' (Tom, Archibald and Men), 'Bushrangers, Bunyips and Blacks' (Girls), 'On the Road' (Caroline and Girls), 'New Found Freedom of the Poor' (Company), 'Search for Man' (Caroline and Company), 'Where is He?' (Ann and Tom), 'Come Emigrate' (Caroline, Archibald and Tom) and 'The Call of Gold' (chorus).An original cast recording (from the 1971 production) was released on the Dress Circle Recordings label in 1997 (CD 001).
The tracks are : 1. Caroline's Theme ; 2. What Have you to Offer Me? ; 3. Give You Money ; 4. Here I Stand ; 5. A Woman's Place is in the Home ; 6. I Was Always There ; 7. She's the One to Blame -; 8. The Lonely Men ; 9. There's so Much to be Done ; 10. Bonus tracks : 11. What am I Doin' Here? ; 12. This Room.
1971 : St Martin's Theatre, Melbourne ; 24 February -* Dir. Jon Ewing ; Music Dir. Brian Adamson ; Chor. Jack Manuel ; Design/Cost. Paul Kathner ; Lighting. John Morrison - Cast: Leila Blake (Caroline), Geoff Hiscock (Archibald), Cindy Wright (Flora), Ian Smith (Tom), Geraldine Morrow (Ann), Bryon Williams (Govenor Gipps), Patsy Hemmingway (Lady Gipps), John Frawley (Dr John Lang), Lesley Baker (Mrs Winthrop), Brent Verdon (Earl Grey), Carole Walker (Maureen), Rod Anderson (Samuel, Karin Murphy (Katherine) Kevin Howard (Earl Grey's Aide).
Caroline has been staged on numerous occasions by amateur companies since it premiered in 1971. Some known productions are :
This entry has been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian-written music theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.
