George Darrell

George Frederick Price Darrell (1851–1921) was an Australian playwright best known for The Sunny South (1883), which was made into a film The Sunny South or The Whirlwind of Fate.[1]

George Darrell 1869 State Library Victoria H12080/2

Darrell began his professional career with Simonsen's Opera Company in New Zealand; but, on migrating to Melbourne, took to the regular dramatic profession, earning some distinction as a juvenile supporter of the once idolised Walter Montgomery.[2] He married Mrs. Robert Heir (née Fanny Cathcart), the admirable tragédienne, and subsequently visited professionally America and England, where, at the Grand Theatre, Islington, he produced his play The Sunny South.[2]

His last play, The Land of Gold was staged by Charles Holloway at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney in 1907.[3]

In 1878 he formed the "Australian Dramatic Company",[4] which name was subsequently used by Alfred Dampier, but the connection between the two, if any, has not been found.

Darrell's body was washed ashore at Dee Why on 29 January 1921. He had died by drowning, found to be suicide as evidenced by the note he left for his landlady, Mrs Barnet.[5]

As a playwright his name has been confused with that of Charles Darrell, author of When London Sleeps,[6] The Power and the Glory[7] and Defender of the Faith.[8]

  1. ^ 'Darrell, George Frederick Price (1851–1921)' Van Der Poorten, Helen M.; Australian Dictionary of Biography; National Centre of Biography; Australian National University; accessed 6 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b Mennell, Philip (1892). "Darrel, George" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
  3. ^ "Criterion — "Land of Gold"". The Sunday Times (Sydney). No. 1140. New South Wales, Australia. 24 November 1907. p. 2. Retrieved 25 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Important Victorian News". The Evening News (Sydney). No. 3443. New South Wales, Australia. 29 July 1878. p. 3. Retrieved 11 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "George Darrell's Death". Referee. No. 1770. New South Wales, Australia. 9 February 1921. p. 15. Retrieved 25 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "The Stage". The Queenslander. Vol. LXI, no. 1352. Queensland, Australia. 19 October 1901. p. 771 (Unknown). Retrieved 25 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Evening Entertainments". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LVI, no. 13, 138. Queensland, Australia. 20 February 1900. p. 6. Retrieved 25 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Music and Drama". The Week. Vol. XLIX, no. 1, 256. Queensland, Australia. 19 January 1900. p. 31. Retrieved 25 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.