For the Term of His Natural Life (play)
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| For the Term of His Natural Life | |
|---|---|
| Written by | "Thomas Somers"[1] (aka Thomas Walker[2]) |
| Date premiered | 5 June 1886[3] |
| Place premiered | Royal Standard Theatre Sydney |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Melodrama |
For the Term of His Natural Life is an 1886 Australian stage play adaptation of the novel For the Term of His Natural Life.
It was originally produced by Alfred Dampier, who played Reverend North. The play was adapted by Thomas Walker using the name "Thomas Somers".[3] (Walker later became a speaker for the West Australian Parliament.[4])
The structure of the play was as follows:[5]
- Prologue-England, 1827. The "Spaniards" Inn, Hampstead, Winter – with Rev North, Maurice Frere, Richard Devine, Lady Devine, Sarah Rex – ending in "The Murder in the Snow"
Then the rest of the play set in Van Dieman's Land 1830-37:
- Tableaux 1; Convict Settlement at Sarah Island – The Cannibal's Return – The Smuggled "Wood" and its Consequences – The Story of Two Birds of Prey- Revolt of the Convicts – I'll teach you to flog a man on gruel – The Broad Arrow.
- Tableaux 2 : After the Revolt – The Island – The Surprise Hunger and Solitude have tamed me, Sir. Scene 2 : Another part of the Island – Lost in the Bush – The Alan-eaters – The Lottery of Death. Scene 3 : Near the Sea – The Coracle – A Mother's Death – Sylvia's Loss of Memory – The Accusation – Destiny in His Hands.
- Tableaux 3: Hobart Town – Exterior of Frere's Residence – The Rev. Mr. North's Dilemma – And, this Is Sylvia's Husband – Forsaken – "The Day will come when I'll prove myself your friend,"
- Tableaux 4 : England – Lady Devine's Town House – Lady Devine and Sarah Rex – The claimant- 'This man maybe your husband, but he is not my son" – The Confession – The Arrest – The Claimant's Future – Norfolk Island.
- Tableau 5 : Norfolk Island – The Prison Yard – North's Failing – The Demon Drink – Remorse- 'Our smallest sins have ghosts that haunt us like tho Spirits of Murdered Men" – The Rack "One Hundred Lashes. "
- Tableaux 6: The Condemned Cell. Scene 2: That Brutal Face – Sylvia Regains her Memory. REDEMPTION.
It originally ran for only a week at the Alexandra Theatre in Melbourne, and had an unsuccessful revival there in 1890 and in Sydney in 1893.[6]
