The Native Born
Encyclopedia
The Native Born is an Australian play written by Bert Bailey
and Edmund Duggan
under the name of Albert Edmunds. It was first produced in 1913 by Bailey's own company.
. Neal Blackmore, a land speculator, discovers a gold deposit on the property owned by selector John Hillgrove and tries to get his hands on it. Blackmore desires Lily Armidale, who is in love with Hillgrove's son Jack - who is loved in turn by Blackmore's sister, Alma. The Blackmores henchman Solly Steele uses a loaded whip to kill an old fossicker called Kosciusko Joe, who also knows about the gold deposit, and frames Jack Hillgrove for the murder.
Comic relief is provided by Miss Cruikshank, Lily's man-hating maiden aunt; a magician called Charles Spinnifex (who falls for Hillgrove's daughter Cissie) and his assistant Willie Staggers; and a Scottish policeman. During one scene, Spinnifex's magic abilities allow Jack to escape the villains; in another, they enable the heroes to play upon the superstitions of the Blackmore henchman, Barcoo. The climax involves Jack rescuing Lily from Blackmore's henchmen during a snow storm.
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Bert Bailey
Albert Edward Bailey , better known as Bert Bailey, was a New Zealand-born writer and actor best known for playing Dad Rudd on stage and screen.-Biography:...
and Edmund Duggan
Edmund Duggan (playwright)
Edmund Duggan was an Irish-Australian actor and playwright best known for writing a number of plays with Bert Bailey including The Squatter's Daughter and On Our Selection . His solo career was less successful than Bailey's. His sister Eugenie was known as "The Queen of Melodrama"...
under the name of Albert Edmunds. It was first produced in 1913 by Bailey's own company.
Synopsis
The plot is set in the region near near Mount Kosciusko during the early days of European settlement of New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Neal Blackmore, a land speculator, discovers a gold deposit on the property owned by selector John Hillgrove and tries to get his hands on it. Blackmore desires Lily Armidale, who is in love with Hillgrove's son Jack - who is loved in turn by Blackmore's sister, Alma. The Blackmores henchman Solly Steele uses a loaded whip to kill an old fossicker called Kosciusko Joe, who also knows about the gold deposit, and frames Jack Hillgrove for the murder.
Comic relief is provided by Miss Cruikshank, Lily's man-hating maiden aunt; a magician called Charles Spinnifex (who falls for Hillgrove's daughter Cissie) and his assistant Willie Staggers; and a Scottish policeman. During one scene, Spinnifex's magic abilities allow Jack to escape the villains; in another, they enable the heroes to play upon the superstitions of the Blackmore henchman, Barcoo. The climax involves Jack rescuing Lily from Blackmore's henchmen during a snow storm.
Reception
They play was popular, although not as much as Bailey and Duggan's earlier collaboration, On Our SelectionOn Our Selection (1912 play)
On Our Selection is a 1912 Australian play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan based on the stories of Steele Rudd. Bailey played Dad Rudd in the original production....
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Original cast
- Bert BaileyBert BaileyAlbert Edward Bailey , better known as Bert Bailey, was a New Zealand-born writer and actor best known for playing Dad Rudd on stage and screen.-Biography:...
as Charles Spinnifex - Alfreda Bevan as Miss Cruikshank
- Mary Marlow as Lily Armidale
- George Treloar as Neal Blackmore
- Lilias Adoson as Alma Blackmore
- Edmund DugganEdmund Duggan (playwright)Edmund Duggan was an Irish-Australian actor and playwright best known for writing a number of plays with Bert Bailey including The Squatter's Daughter and On Our Selection . His solo career was less successful than Bailey's. His sister Eugenie was known as "The Queen of Melodrama"...
as John Hillgrove - Alred Harford as Constable Finegan
- Guy Hastings as Jack Hillgrove
- Laura Roberts as Cisse Hillgrove
- Fred MacDonaldFred MacDonaldFred MacDonald , was an Australian actor best known for playing Dave Rudd opposite Bert Bailey on stage and screen, starting with the original 1912 production of On Our Selection...
as Willie Staggers - George Kensington as Solly Steele
- Arthur Betram as Kosciusko Joe
- J K Lennon as Barcoo