The Boss Cockie

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The Boss Cockie
Written by Randolph Bedford
Date premiered26 June 1920
Place premieredVictoria Theatre, Newcastle, NSW
Original languageEnglish
Genrecomedy

The Boss Cockie is a 1920 Australian stage play by Randolph Bedford. [1] [2] It was one of Bedford's best known works. [3]

Contents

Bedford applied for copyright in 1915. [4] The play was based on Bedford's book Aladdin and the Boss Cockie which was published in 1917.

The play's first production occurred at the Victoria Theatre, Newcastle, NSW with opening night being Saturday 26 June 1920. [5]

Critical reception

Referee said "the humor of the play is so broad as to become almost burlesque in some situations, and laughter is forced from the audience almost continuously after the first act". [6]

The Argus said "it sparkles throughout with bright, wholesome humour, and with literary merit, and portrays true Australian types of men and women". [7]

The Sydney Morning Herald thought Bedford "wasted his gift of humour and his literary ability on a thing of shreds and patches. .. dour unjointed acts of much-ado-about nothing". [8]

Table Talk said "while it has some of the characteristics of previous Australian plays, it has far less exaggeration, and is more likely to appeal because of Its nearer approach to the real thing". [9]

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References

  1. "The All Australian Play The Boss Cockie", The Bulletin, Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1 Jul 1920, nla.obj-678944611, retrieved 10 May 2024 via Trove
  2. ""The Boss Cockie"". The Newcastle Sun . No. 698. New South Wales, Australia. 19 June 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 May 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Death of Mr. R. Bedford". The Telegraph . Queensland, Australia. 8 July 1941. p. 5 (City Final Last Minute News). Retrieved 10 May 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Proceedings Under the Copyright Act of 1912". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette . No. 9. Australia, Australia. 20 January 1916. p. 105. Retrieved 10 May 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  5. ""The Boss Cockie"". The Newcastle Sun, 19 june 1920, p6. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  6. "THEATRES". Referee. No. 1745. New South Wales, Australia. 18 August 1920. p. 13. Retrieved 10 May 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Playhouse—"The Boss Cockie."". The Argus (Melbourne) . No. 23, 160. Victoria, Australia. 25 October 1920. p. 10. Retrieved 10 May 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  8. ""THE BOSS COCKIE."". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 25, 776. New South Wales, Australia. 16 August 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 10 May 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  9. "The Playhouse". Table Talk . No. 1839. Victoria, Australia. 28 October 1920. p. 13. Retrieved 10 May 2024 via National Library of Australia.