Outlaw Kelly

Outlaw Kelly is a 1899 Australian play about Ned Kelly by Lancelot Booth.

Outlaw Kelly
Written by	Lancelot Booth
Directed by	W.J. Coulter
Date premiered	19 August 1899[1]
Place premiered	Victoria Theatre, Newcastle
Original language	English
Subject	Ned Kelly
Genre	melodrama

Lawsuit

The author of The Kelly Gang took out an injuncton to prohibit the play being put on, claiming Outlaw Kelly infringed his copyright.^[2][3][4]

The Mercury said "The narrative has been founded on the most stirring incidents in the career of the notorious Kelly gang... most of the time in the portrayal is taken up with the humorous side of it, and which is partly burlesque and partly farcical. This feature of a play... contributes to specially commend it, at it would be altogether too tragic to pursue the string of so many melodramatic incidents without frequent intervals of mirth and ridiculous situations."^[5]

A reviewer in the Advertiser said the author borrowed from the stage adaptation of Robbery Under Arms claiming he took two Irish and an Aboriginal character from the latter.^[6]

Synopsis

• "Act 1: To the Bush. Kate Kelly's appearance. Conflict with Police. The Oath.
• Act 2: Outlawed. Scene 1 -Police Station, Euron. Aaron BSlherrit, the betrayer. Scene 2 Wombat Ranges Daft Dick and Kate Kolly. On the trail. Scene 3-Kelly's Stronghold, Strathbogie Ranges. Kate warns thle Gang. Sherrit leads the troopers. Ned's Vengeance and Death of Fitzpatrick.
• Act 3: Bail Up, £2000 Stolen. The Blacksmith's Forgo. At work on the Armour. The Informer's Doom. Romance and Murder.
• Act 4: The Battle. Glenrowan Hotel. Stuck up. The Railway Line torn up. Fire at his legs, ho e ha his Armour on. A Warning to all Evildoers."^[7][8]

References

1. "Advertising". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 7720. New South Wales, Australia. 9 August 1899. p. 1. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
2. "The Kelly Gang". The Daily Telegraph. No. 6293. New South Wales, Australia. 12 August 1899. p. 7. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
3. ""The Kelly Gang"". Evening News. No. 10, 059. New South Wales, Australia. 2 September 1899. p. 2. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "In Chambers". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 19, 180. New South Wales, Australia. 2 September 1899. p. 12. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "Outlaw Kelly". The Mercury. Vol. LXXIV, no. 9236. Tasmania, Australia. 9 October 1899. p. 2. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Amusements". The Advertiser. Vol. XLIII, no. 13, 185. South Australia. 21 January 1901. p. 7. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "Advertising". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 7722. New South Wales, Australia. 11 August 1899. p. 1. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "Henry Dramatic Company". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 7724. New South Wales, Australia. 12 August 1899. p. 4. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

External links

• Outlaw Kelly at Ausstage