''Caroline'' is a musical with music and lyrics by
Peter N. Pinne and book and lyrics by
Don Battye
Donald Gordon Battye (29 September 1938 – 28 February 2016) was an Australian composer, writer and television producer, best known for his work with Crawford Productions and Reg Grundy Organisation (known then as Reg Grundy Productions).
Biogr ...
from an idea by Leila Blake. It concerns the life and times of
Caroline Chisolm
Caroline Chisholm ( ; born Caroline Jones; 30 May 1808 – 25 March 1877) was an English humanitarian known mostly for her support of immigrant female and family welfare in Australia. She is commemorated on 16 May in the Calendar of saints (Ch ...
, a nineteenth century social reformer known for her work for the welfare of female immigrants in colonial Australia.
It premiered at St Martin's Theatre in Melbourne in February 1971, directed by
Jon Ewing.
The cast included Leila Blake, Geoff Hiscock, Cindy Wright,
Ian Smith
Ian Douglas Smith (8 April 191920 November 2007) was a Rhodesian politician, farmer, and fighter pilot who served as Prime Minister of Rhodesia (known as Southern Rhodesia until October 1964 and now known as Zimbabwe) from 1964 to 1979. He w ...
, Geraldene Morrow, Bryon Williams, Patsy Hemingway,
John Frawley,
Lesley Baker
Lesley Baker (born 20 January 1944) is an Australian actress, singer, dancer and comedian. She is best known internationally for her small screen roles in cult series ''Prisoner'' and her recurring role in ''Neighbours''.
Career
Early career ...
, Brent Verdon, Carole Walker, Rod Anderson, Karin Murphy and Kevin Howard. The production toured to Canberra after its Melbourne season.
''The Age'' described the original production as "a large and ambitious venture which attempts rather too much", but also that "it has some fine episodes and it rings true all the time" and it "should not be missed".
A cast album was released, and re-released on CD in 1998 b
Dress Circle
References
{{Reflist
Australian musicals
1971 musicals
Biographical musicals
Cultural depictions of activists
Cultural depictions of Australian people
Musicals set in Australia
Caroline Chisolm