Sing for St. Ned

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Sing for St Ned
Written byRay Mathew
Original languageEnglish
SubjectNed Kelly
Genrehistorical comedy fantastia

Sing for St. Ned is a 1951 Australian stage play by Ray Mathew about Ned Kelly.

The play was described as a "fantasia". It was critically acclaimed, receiving special mention in the Jubilee Play Competition but struggled to be produced as was the case with many Australian plays of its era. Nonetheless, it is regarded as one of Mathew's key works. [1] [2] [3]

The play anticipated the musical satire of later Australian works such as The Legend of King O'Malley with its use of improvisation and Brechtian techniques. [4]

One writer called it "partly a parody of Stewart's Ned Kelly , and includes group asides, soliloquies, and direct audience address". [5]

Leslie Rees argued Matthews was "ahead of his time with" the play although he also felt it "did not quite 'jell'". [6]

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References

  1. ↑ "A Bun for the Playwrights.", The Bulletin, John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues)., 72 (3744), Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 14 Nov 1951, ISSN   0007-4039, nla.obj-526419636, retrieved 7 September 2023– via Trove
  2. ↑ "Playwrights' Advisory Board", The Bulletin, John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues)., 74 (3805), Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald (published 1880), 14 Jan 1953, ISSN   0007-4039, nla.obj-532497033, retrieved 7 September 2023– via Trove
  3. ↑ "Place in Australian" Plays Eunice Hanger The Australian Quarterly Vol. 34, No. 2 (Jun., 1962), pp. 67-73 Published By: Australian Institute of Policy and Science
  4. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Peter (1979). After "The doll" : Australian drama since 1955. p. 78.
  5. ↑ Carroll, Dennis (1985). Australian contemporary drama, 1909-1982 : a critical introduction. p. 107.
  6. ↑ Rees, Leslie (1987). Australian drama, 1970-1985 : a historical and critical survey. p. 317.
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