The New Rush single work   drama   - 5 acts
Alternative title: Cardoc's Crime; The Queen of Coolgardie; The King of Coolgardie; The Land of Gold; The Road to Ruin
Issue Details: First known date: 1886... 1886 The New Rush
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

The story concerns a banker, Caradoc, and his wife Alice, who both live and gamble extravagantly. Complications arise when Alice's first husband, Marsden, who was long ago presumed dead, turns up and cheats Caradoc (he is unrecognised by Alice). As a result Caradoc is forced to close down his bank he is imprisoned for four years. During this time his sister, Kate, marries a new chum named Wyndham. Upon his release Caradoc meets up with Marsden and is informed that Alice is actually still married to him. In a fit of rage Caradoc throws him out a window and is subsequently sent back to gaol. With Caradoc out of the way Marsden forces Alice to accompany him to the gold diggings, where they meet up with two low-life characters named Sogg (unemployed) and Stoyles (a bookie). Caradoc later arrives at the diggings and comes into possession of a giant nugget, which Marsden resolves to steal. Caradoc meets with Alice to tell her she is now once again rich, but after they part Marsden attacks her, striking her so violently on head that she appears to be dead. Although Wyndham and Stoyles accuse Marsden of the crime, Marsden and Sogg succeed in getting Caradoc charged with murder. However, when Alice recovers she is able to tell the true story. Angered by the deception and villainy the miners lynch Marsden and Sogg.

Notes

  • Further Reference :

        • Evening Post : 6 February 1905, n. pag. [advertisement]
        • Hobart Mercury : 23 April 1897, n. pag. [incl. synopsis]
        • Newcastle Herald : 23 January 1897, n. pag.
        • South Australian Register : 6 January 1906, n. pag. [incl. synopsis]
        • Sydney Morning Herald 11 November 1907, n. pag. [advertisement]
        • West Australian : 9 August 1897, n. pag.

Production Details

  • 1886 : Bijou Theatre, Melbourne ; 27 December 1886 - 14 January 1887. Prod/Mngrs. Eduardo Majeroni and W. J. Wilson (q.v.) ; Scenic Art John Hennings, C. F. Wennermark, W. Wilson Jnr ; Ast. Stage Mngr. M. Medcalfe. - Cast incl. George Darrell, Maggie Knight, Oliver 'Olly' Deering, Phillip Beck, Walter Everard, George Lash Gordon, Harry Taylor, Miss Boucicault, Blanche Lewis, Maggie Oliver, Millie Prescott, Mable Russell, Harry Douglass, George Collier, S. A. Fitzgerald, F. G. Martin, A. B. Read.

    1891 : Academy of Music, Ballarat (Victoria) ; 7 April -* [no details] as Carodoc's Crime.

    1897 : Newcastle (NSW) ; ca. 23 January -* [no details] as The Queen of Coolgardie.

        • Revised and localised.

    1897 : Perth (WA) ; ca. 9 August -* [no details] as The King of Coolgardie.

    1905 : Wellington (New Zealand) ; [no details] as The Road to Ruin.

    1906 : Adelaide (SA) ; ca. 6 October -* [no details]

    1907 : Sydney (NSW) ; ca. 16 November -0* [no details] as The Land of Gold.

  • This entry has been sourced from on-going historical research into Australian-written music theatre being conducted by Dr Clay Djubal.

    Details have also been derived in part from Annotated Calendar of Plays Premiered in Australia: 1870-1890 (q.v.).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Last amended 15 Aug 2008 12:31:52
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  • Coolgardie, Goldfields area, Southeast Western Australia, Western Australia,
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