"And Here Comes Bucknuckle"

 

Peter Curtin (as 'Achilles') and Noni Hazlehurst (as 'Lil') in the ABC-TV production

"And Here Comes Bucknuckle" is the story of a racehorse, and the sequel to Alan Hopgood's well-known play "And the Big Men Fly". Anyone familiar with the first play will need little introduction to the central characters of "Bucknuckle". Achilles Jones, "the mystery man from Manangatang", is given a horse by the Williams brothers to replace Milly, the horse shot in their continuing feud. This 'hopeless nong of a nag' turns out to be a champion, capable of winning the Melbourne Cup.

Thie 'tall story' examines and enjoys one of the great Australian passions - horse racing.

"And Here Comes Bucknuckle" is ideal for both performance and play-reading in the drama classroom.

CHARACTERS

  • Achilles Jones
  • Lil
  • J. J. Forbes
  • Wally Sloss
  • Wobbly Coates
  • Murph Newby - Race caller
  • Lurking Leo - Race caller
  • Les, Pete, Willy - The Williams Brothers
  • Chassa Mickles - Race fixer
  • Percy White - hoodlum
  • Colonel Sir Aubrey Mannix, Sir Fred Nuttall, Herbert Waters - The 'Woofer' Brigade
  • Narrator
  • Various racegoers (man with spasm, headbanger, racebook eater)
  • Bookmaker and Clerk
  • Brass Band Members

    • For more information, please email plays@bsp.net.au

    Created by: Simon Bolch (sbolch@dingoblue.net.au)

Maintainer: Fincina Hopgood (fhopgood@ormond.unimelb.edu.au)