E. Coulson Davidson (as George Byfield) - The Fight: A Play in Four Acts

Brief description

E. Coulson Davidson's The Fight: A Play in Four Acts forms part of the Campbell Howard Collection of Australian Plays in Manuscript, a resource that provides a unique body of research material concerning Australian drama of the period 1920–55.

Full description

Play Length: Four Acts
Synopsis: Tom Inglis has refused to marry Dr Stanhope's nurse - Nance Crosswaithe. He avers he has tuberculosis. In fact, he is syphilitic. Stanhope knows Inglis has fallen in love (so he thinks) with Ettie Beaumont, the orphan daughter of Lord Beaumont and his abandoned wife. Ettie is brought up by Mr and Mrs Shotwell, but on a Guy Fawkes night her sight is ruined by a firework explosion. It is partially restored, but she inadvertently learns of Inglis' past. She plans to suicide, but is persuaded to live and to love Dr Stanhope. All this is against the background of the Shotwell's life-savings being lost by bank crashes and rash investments. To add to their disasters, they have badly invested the money Ettie's mother left them to provide for her. However, Ettie's father miraculously provides for her.
Setting:
I A wood-panelled room in Shotwell's house. Evening.
II The same. A month later.
III A room in Dr Stanhope's house. Noon six weeks later.
IV The same. A day later.
Characters:
1. MAGGIE
2. MRS SHOTWELL
3. MR SHOTWELL
4. TOM INGLIS
5. BOBBIE, their nephew
6. DR STANHOPE
7. ETTIE BEAUMONT, a niece by adoption
8. MRS STANHOPE
9. NANCE CROSSTHWAITE, nurse
10. FLORRIE
Cast:
1. Miss E. Montague
2. E.C. Davidson
3. Percy Henry
4. J.A. Davidson
5. Baden Gilbert
6. E. Bryning
7. Isobel de Soyers
8. J.M. Wilson
9. Peggy Mudge
10. E. Montague

Notes

NUNE: Campbell Howard Collection. [Typescript in Campbell Howard Collection written under the name George Byfield]

Details for description taken from the Campbell Howard Annotated Index of Australian Plays 1920-1955, compiled and edited by Jack Bedson and Julian Croft.