Have you ever been to the “opening night” of an original play? Here is your chance, and you get to see two plays on the same program.
Saturday November 5, 2011 marks the opening night of “The Playing Fields of Eden” an original play by Rick Hutton. The one act play tells a story about Frederick and Lois Ball who, one hundred years ago, in November 1911, journeyed from England as young newlyweds and took up residence at “The Hill”, on Pallal Station just west of Bingara NSW.
History tells us that within months of their arrival, something went wrong, and Lois tried to poison her husband, and he, whether through malice or sympathy, shot and killed her.
As a consequence, William Frederick Ball, was tried, initially at Bingara Courthouse and sentenced to death by hanging. He was executed in Armidale Gaol on 29 June 1912, being the last person to be legally executed at Armidale.
In what is his first dramatic play, Rick Hutton has created an entertainment based around the scant facts regarding the event. Cast in the role of Fred is his son Nic Hutton and Nic’s partner Jessica Russell-Davies plays Lois. Both Nic and Jess are graduates of the Charles Sturt University, Acting for Stage and Screen Bachelor of Arts Course.
The Director, Terry Brady, has woven the play around the “bush environment” that would have then surrounded the homestead.
Tickets for “The Playing Fields of Eden” and the second play “Love Letters” by American playwright A.R. Gurney, can be purchased through the Bingara Tourist Office on 6724 0066. There are five performances of the two play program, on the evenings of November 5, 11 and 12 at 7:30pm, and two Sunday matinees at 2:30pm on November 6 and 13.
"Can you pick the killer?”
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| Nic Hutton | Fred Ball |
Submitted by NWTC Publicity Officer, Rick Hutton 0428 255380.
