Cast:
Red Kelly (Ned’s father) – Alan Flint/Steve Wilkie
James Quinn – Steve Wilkie/Darren Rosenfeld/Alan Flint
Ellen Kelly (Ned’s mother) – Dianne Richter
Harry Power (bushranger) – Alan Flint/Trevor D’Ambrosio
Ned Kelly – Michael Try/Alan Flint
Publican – Steve Wilkie/Noel Rawson
Maggie – Robyn Mulder
Sergeant Steele – Gary Short
Kate Lloyd (Ned’s girl-friend) – Kylie Stacey/Cindy Smith
Mrs Scott (bank manager’s wife) – Mary Wilkie
John Gloster (travelling draper) – Neil Spitzer/Trevor D’Amborsio
Joe Byrne (one of the gang) – Colin Bland/Darren Rosenfeld
Ann Jones (Innkeeper where the Kellys hole up) – Jeanette Flint
Judge Redmond Barry – Ed Carter
Chorus: Jennie Gale, Kath Gawthorn, Gael Short, Malcolm Reeve, Daniel Gale
Narrators: Ed Carter, Darren Rosenfeld, Daniel Gale, Trevor D’Ambrosio, Malcolm Reeve
Performances:
02/10/2016 – St Margaret’s Anglican Church, Eltham
09/10/2016 – St John’s Anglican Church, Heidelberg
20/11/2016 – Ormond Uniting Church
26/11/2016 – Diamond Creek Uniting Church
18/03/2017 – Globe Theatre Winchelsea
19/03/2017 – St Paul’s Anglican Church Ringwood
Synopsis
1854
Ellen Quinn (future mother of Ned) meets John “Red” Kelly (ex-convict) who impresses her with his bush-skills and comedy making light of the hardships of selector pioneers. He and friend Joe sing of the ways of pioneering selector’s life.
“The Life is not so Hard.” Red and Joe
Red and Ellen elope and are married. Ellen (Nellie Kelly) 20, nursing baby Ned says farewell to husband John “Red” Kelly departing to the gold diggings in search of wealth, amid fears for his safety in the aftermath of the Eureka miner’s rebellion at Ballarat.
“Banished from His Rightful Home.” Ellen Kelly and Chorus
Red returns from the diggings but his property investment failed and he and Ellen move to Avenel Ellen becomes a widow when Red dies shortly after release from jail after being imprisoned for unlawful possession of a hide of a calf taken to feed the family, and she moves from Avenel to Greta to live with her sister Jane Lloyd.
After the Lloyd selection home is burned to the ground by Ned’s uncle Jim Kelly after Ellen rejects his drunken advances, she plans on operating a sly grog shop from a rough hut on her selection on the Beechworth Road at Greta to support her seven children.
“My Old Grog Shop.” Ellen, her sister Jane Lloyd and Chorus.
Squatter McBean rudely “offers” to take over the Kelly selection at half price in the belief Ellen will forfeit on the land by failing the requirements for cultivation and fencing of the selection. Ellen orders him off the property.
McBean and fellow squatters control Parliament and conspire to increase their wealth by manipulation of the Land Acts including using “dummy” selectors on their behalf to select additional best-watered land along creeks and rivers in excess of their legal entitlement to make selections uneconomic. Meeting, they also plan on seizure of selector’ s strays, to cause hardship and starvation so as to push selectors out.
“The Wealthy Squatters.” Chorus.
Drought strikes the Selectors hard and they struggle to make a living on the poor quality land left after the squatters have taken the best for themselves. The selectors are plan on “duffing” any unbranded or stray squatter’s stock for survival but are fearful of retribution.
“A Curse on the Squatter.” Chorus.
Ned, Ellen and family are visited by Harry Power, bushranger. Harry offers to take Ned in as an apprentice. Ellen consents to this in the hope this will bring additional income to support her children.
“The Gentl eman Bushranger.” Harry Power.
Ned, 16 returns home from Harry Power’ s tutelage very little richer and much wiser for the experience having been shot at by the squatter seeing them watching his valuable horses.
Ned under suspicion from police of having been assisting Harr y Power, rides into Greta on a distinctive white horse “borrowed” without notice by Isiah “ Wild” Wright from the Mansfield Postmaster, that strayed whilst Wright stayed at the Kelly’ s.
Wright has neglected to tell Ned of his “borrowing” and the horse is reported as missing. Ned is dragged from his horse by Greta’s 16 stone Constable Hall, frightening the horse which Ned attempts to recapture. Hall then attempts to shoot Ned three times with his Colt revolver but the gun misfires. Ned wrestles Hall to the ground but Hall calls for assistance and then viciously clubs Ned on the head with the butt of his revolver several times. Ned is sent to hard labour for two years.
“Greta, My home Greta” Ned, Ellen, Dan, Maggie Kelly.
Ned returns home and reminisces with his sister Maggie and mother Ellen and is looking forward to a peaceful new start in life.
“My Father Was a Farmer” Ned, Maggi e Kell y.
Ned meets Wild Wright and they settle their differences in a sporting manner in a bare -knuckle fist fight billed as “The Unofficial Heavyweight Boxing Championship of North-East Victoria ” in which Ned is victorious. Ned meets Katie Lloyd who treats him for his boxing wounds and they fall in love.
“Roll up, Roll up” Publican and chorus.
Under continuing persecution of the Irish settlers by the squatters and Police Ned is torn between him returning to bushranging ways or remaining in his law-abiding sawmill foreman occupation. He reminisces about the past and sees trouble ahead.
“Honour”. Ned Kell y
Orders are issued by police to curb thefts of stock and horses “ without persecuting the people in any way” by locking up any of the Greta mob for any infringement no matter how minor for a substantial term. Constable Fitzpatrick becomes infatuated with Kate Kelly Sgt. Steele talking to Constable Fitzpatrick welcomes the orders and suggests the Kelly’ s deserve what’s coming to them.
Attempting to preserve his position in the police force under severe funding strain with many dismissal s, Fitzpatrick attends the Kelly Homestead uninvited, on the excuse of serving a warrant on Dan Kelly but against standing orders to only go in pairs, and he makes a crude pass at Kate. A fight follows in which Fitzpatrick receives a small wound to hi s wrist but claims he was shot at by Ned 3 times at short range and struck on the Helmet by Mrs Kelly with a fire shovel in attempted murder. Ned, Dan go into hiding and are joined by friends Joe Byrne and Steve Hart. Ned’ s mother is arrested by Sgt Steele of Wangaratta with her three day old baby from her marriage to George King and is Imprisoned for attempted murder. Steele threatens to kill Ned.
Sgt. Steele is involved in regular visits to the Kelly Homestead searching for evidence of “the gang” and threatens Ned’ s siblings. Police poison the wells and dams of the Kelly’ s and supporters to prevent the gang from using them.
“Steele’ s Song.” Sgt Steele.
The gang are informed the police have had body straps specially made for their horses and a police search party is intending to hunt them down and kill them. They decide to disarm the police and take their guns and horses. They discover the police search party in the Ranges at Stringybark Creek and call on them to surrender but shootouts follow with the police and three of four in the search party are killed.
“God Forgive Us.” Gang (Ned Kelly, Joe Byrne, Dan Kelly, Steve Hart.)
The four friends now known as the Kelly Gang are outlawed by special acts of Parliament and may be killed or forcibly apprehended by any person. Katie Lloyd sings of her worries and love for Ned after he, Dan, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart are outlawed.
“Edward my poor Edward.” Kate Lloyd
The gang make plans to rob banks to compensate selectors for abuse of the Land Acts by the squatters and persecution by police that have locked up anyone suspected of being a Kelly supporter for months.
“Full Moon Rising” Chorus
The gang robs the bank at Euroa. Ned acts very politely to the bank managers family and young mother Mrs Scott is impressed with Ned and finds him very handsome. After the gang takes the bank staff prisoner and leave town for a “ picnic ” at Younghusband’ s Station, Mrs Scott recounts the episode to her friends in dramatic and romantic terms.
“Girls Girls Girls” Mrs Scott and Chorus
James Gloucester, the travelling Draper is accused of helping the gang the draper after having apparently assisted the gang with disguises, but cheekily proclaims his innocence.
“I’ m Just a Humble Draper. ” James Gloucester
The police search for the Kelly’ s proves unproductive. Superintendent Brooke-Smith is terrified of encountering the outlaws. The gang make fun of the police in the Jerilderie bank robbery. Ned and Joe Byrne recount portions of the Jerilderie Letter to a captive audience.
“ My Men Are Searching Searching.” Gang (Ned Kelly, Joe Byrne, Dan Kelly, Steve Hart.)
Joe Byrne si ngs about his concerns that his friend Aaron Sherritt in the pay of police is betraying them.
“Can It Be” Joe Byrne
Kate Lloyd sings of her fears for what is to come and whether the gang should resort to armed conflict with police.
“This Talk of Revolution”. Kate Lloyd
The gang decides to make armour to defend themselves in any continuing battle after their intended wrecking of the police train and declaration of a republic of North-East Victoria.
“Bring the Iron to the Fire.” Gang and Chorus
The gangs sings of their concerns and commitment to each other ahead of the coming battle.
“Now We’ve Been Friends.” Gang.
Aaron Sherritt is shot and killed as a traitor at his hut in Beechworth by Joe Byrne. The police living in the hut with Aaron do not exit until many hours later. The gang expect those police to telegraph Melbourne and the special police train will be sent promptly in response and will be wrecked just part Glenrowan by the gang having torn up the line. However, the train fails to arrive. Passers-by and Glenrowan’s Constable Bracken are kept prisoner in the Glenrowan Inn by Ned to maintain secrecy awaiting the police train. Ned treats Bracken well and makes an attempt to justify his actions. He pays for drinks for everyone and the evening in the Inn takes on a festive atmosphere. Ned permits schoolteacher Curnow to leave to care for his sick wife.
” Come Dancing with the Kelly’ s” Mrs Jones, Ann Jones, chorus
The gang are about to abandon their plan and leave the Inn when the police train, warned to stop by Curnow arrives safely at the station. The police led by superintendent Hare rush to commence firing on the Hotel. The gang open fire. Hare is shot through the wrist and eventually retires from the battle bleeding.
“The Battle” Gang
Sgt Steele takes command, and calls on everyone in the Inn to surrender but then starts gleefully shooting at civilians exiting the Inn in the darkness. Constable Bracken, having escaped the Inn is outraged and threatens to shoot Steele if Steele fires again.
Ned escapes from the hotel but his friends failed to follow. He meets with a band of selector supporters who offer to rush the hotel in support of him but Ned knows his plan has failed and the Republic will not succeed and he decides to go alone to face the police in attempting a rescue.
“Dare Go I” Ned Kelly
Ned is shot by Sgt. Steele in the legs and fall s to be captured. He fires a shot through Steele’ s hat as Steele moves in. Steele moves to kill Ned by shooting him but at the last moment Constable Bracken prevents Steele from doing so standing guard over Ned and saying he’ll shoot any man who tries .
After lengthy recovery from 28 wounds Ned faces Redmond Barry in the trial for his life over the murders at Stringy Bark Creek. Ned is represented by a junior barrister and is not called to give evidence. In announcing his guilt the judge asks whether Ned has anything to say before he sentenced. An extraordinary exchange follows.
Judgement ” Chorus ( society ladies and jury) , Ned Kelly, Judge Redmond Barry.
Ned is sentenced to death and Ellen and Katie Lloyd sing their farewells.
“Such is Life” Ned, Ellen, Katie Lloyd.
Ned makes a final speech opposing poor treatment of selectors by way of persecution and harassment and seeking that some good shall come of his death.
Neds Soliloquy.
Ellen Kelly placates conflict between settlers and authorities and tension eases and the community looks forward to a better future.
“ The Darkened Vall eys”. All cast and chorus.
trekmusicals.com 