Hands Up (Leitch play) explained

Hands Up is a 1893 Australian play by George Leitch.^{[1] [2]} The play was specifically devised to be a vehicle for Mrs Keightley, the wife of a gold commissioner at Bathurst, who was robbed by Ben Hall the bushranger. Keightley played herself^[3] The Mercury said it was "especially composed and arranged for her, containing many incidents not merely probably but absolutely true."^[4]

Reviewing the production, The Mercury called it "this splendid portrayal of life in the old bushranging days."^[5]

It is not to be confused with the play Hands Up about Ned Kelly.

Notes and References

1. News: MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES. . . 17,224 . New South Wales, Australia . 3 June 1893 . 9 May 2024 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
2. Book: Rees, Leslie . 28. Towards An Australian Drama. 1953.
3. News: Theatre Royal. . . 3804 . Tasmania, Australia . 18 April 1893 . 9 May 2024 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: "AN AUSTRALIAN HEROINE." . . LXI . 7,219 . Tasmania, Australia . 15 April 1893 . 9 May 2024 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: THE MERCURY. . . LXI . 7,222 . Tasmania, Australia . 19 April 1893 . 9 May 2024 . 2 . National Library of Australia.