Under the Southern Cross (play) explained

Under the Southern Cross
Premiere:	9 November 1885
Place:	Gaiety Theatre,Sydney
Orig Lang:	English

Under the Southern Cross, also known as Arnold's Luck or Under the Southern Cross is a 1885 stage play by Alfred Dampier. It was written at a time when Australian plays were relatively rare.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

The original production premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in Sydney on 9 November 1885 and starred Dampier, and his daughters Lily and Rose.^[5] The plot involved twins and an Irish new chum. Reception was generally positive.^[6]

It was accepted for production in England.^[7]

The play shares the same title as a play by Edmund Duggan about the Eureka Stockade.^{[8] [9]}

Dampier reused the elements of a twin brother and Murrumbidgee whaler in his later play Marvellous Melbourne.^[10]

Premise

The adventures of two twin brothers in Australia. One brother, together with a Murrumbidgee whaler, murders a man for his money. The other twin, poor but honest, is confused for his brother.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Alfred Dampier. Australian Variety Theatre Archive.
2. News: MR. ALFRED DAMPIER. . . XIV . 6,757 . Western Australia . 17 April 1897 . 21 August 2023 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: 21 November 1891 . A Young Australian Actress . 1 (Evening News Supplement) . . 7639 . New South Wales, Australia . 21 August 2023 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: Advocate Magazine . . LXXXVI . 5110 . Victoria, Australia . 2 July 1953 . 21 August 2023 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: Advertising . . XII . 1046 . New South Wales, Australia . 19 December 1885 . 21 August 2023 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: VICTORIA THEATRE. . . XII . 1047 . New South Wales, Australia . 21 December 1885 . 21 August 2023 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
7. News: PLAYWRIGHT AND PLAYER. . . XXXIV . 9,973 . South Australia . 29 January 1897 . 21 August 2023 . 3 (ONE O'CLOCK EDITION) . National Library of Australia.
8. News: AUSTRALIAN DRAMA . . 2 . 568 . South Australia . 30 December 1911 . 21 August 2023 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: 18 June 1939 . Commercial Success with . 11 (Sunday Magazine) . . 1890 . New South Wales, Australia . 21 August 2023 . National Library of Australia.
10. Book: Williams, Margaret. Australia on the popular stage, 1829-1929 : an historical entertainment in six acts. 150. 1983.