Melodrama a community affair
High drama and heroism triumphing against all odds will be coming to the stage later this year with a community production of the 19th century melodrama The Duchess of Coolgardie.
A ripping yarn from the early days of the Coolgardie Goldfields, the play will be a highlight of Regional Arts Australia’s national conference, to be held in Kalgoorlie-Boulder from October 16-19.
The five-act play, originally performed in London’s Drury Lane theatre in 1896 to enthusiastic reviews, was written by a playwright who, although he had never visited Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields, managed to include vital elements of life here in the early days – miners from all nations, murder, gold stealing, Afghan cameleers and Aboriginal corroborees.
There is a winsome and beautiful heroine, a brave and handsome hero, an evil and dastardly villain, an exciting gold find and – in the best tradition of melodrama – a happy ending.
Director Norma Latchford said the production of The Duchess of Coolgardie will be as close as possible to theatre performances in London’s famous Drury Lane, where it was originally performed in September 1896.
“We’re taking the audience back to the late 19th century,” she said.
“It is a typical melodrama of the period with heroes and villains, farcical elements, a love story running through it and, of course, it has a happy ending.
“What’s distinctive about it for me is that one of the heroes is a young Aboriginal man who, at the end of the performance, kills the villain and saves the hero and heroine.
“It is very funny, but it also has elements of high drama. There is a murder, an illegitimate child, gold stealing, Afghan cameleers and pub singing.”
The Goldfields Repertory Club is staging the play in partnership with a host of community groups and local talent, including the Goldfields Brass Band, the Two Up Two Down Choir, the International School of Music, local Aboriginal performers and actors, the Eastern Goldfields Historical Society, the Australian Prospectors and Leaseholders Association and the Eastern Goldfields Highland Pipe Band.
