| GOLD RUSH An Aussie musical comedy by Gordon Gribbin |
THE STORY Bridie Brennan, a widow of Irish origin, who runs the pub at Balgarrie, in the Victorian goldfields in the 1850s, hears that local businessman Oliver Bent is plotting to buy her out and expand his monopoly on Balgarrie business. She vows she will never allow this to happen. Bent visits Melbourne and recruits Elsie La Bonque, a dance teacher and leader of a troupe of `Parisian' dancing girls, to visit Balgarrie. He is planning to upset Bridie's cosy little life by introducing competition into the care and comfort of lonely miners. Hot on his heels, though, is Willie Wombwell, a police inspector who suspects Bent of importing obscene French shoes. Madame La Bonque takes her girls to Balgarrie together with their new `porter', none other than Inspector Wombwell disguised as a Chinaman, Hi Pong Loo. Bridie doesn't like Madame La Bonque or her girls but it obliged to accommodate them at the Balgarrie Inn where they upset everyone. Bent finally agrees that the liquor licence will go to Bridie if she can put on a better show than he and Madame La Bonque can do between them. The second Act comprises the efforts of both parties to entertain whilst all manner of intrigues and romances take place backstage and outside. |
| The Songs Mainly in a robust Music Hall style with some Irish flavouring. There's Gold In Them There Hills Mick Murphy's Night Out Ta Ra Ra Boom-de-Ay Armpits and Crutch Girls of the Night I Remember Aunty Nora's A Snorer Mabel, Mabel Gold, Glorious Gold How Can You Buy Killarney? The Galloping Major We All Need Friends Orchestration for small ensemble available early 2001 |
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| NB:- Songs in .wav format so they take ages to download. |
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| THANKS TO MOTTS Theatre Group, Mentone, Victoria and Cheryl Threadgold Geoff Keogh the cast and crew for their hard work, skill and insight in producing GOLD RUSH in May, 2001 |
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