Fortune's Fool (play)

Fortune's Fool is a 1897 Australian play by Alfred Dampier. It depicted "the Strange and Adventurous Career of a Vagabond Wanderer and his Daughter."

Dampier performed in the play before heading to London.

Reception
The Sunday Times said it "contained enough blood and thunder to satisfy the palate of even the greatest lover of the sensational."

The Daily Telegraph said "The plot of the piece is ingenious, and gives plenty of scope for fine work, both on the part of the playwright and the actors."

The Australian Star called it "nothing extraordinary... a piece of a class which may be characterised as strong or heavy, but it is interesting, and a great deal of the heaviness is removed by a vein of comedy which is introduced in parts by the subordinate characters."

Dampier took the play with him to London and tried to sell it as With False Colours (as another play used Fortune's Fool). However he was unsuccessful.

Premise
Harold Norton is an actor who wanders the country after the death of his wife.

Cast of original production

 * Lily Dampier as Mary Norton and her daughter Jessie Norton
 * Alfred Dampier as Harold Norton
 * Edmond Holloway as Fergus Graham
 * George Buller as Grim Ned
 * Katherine Russell as Nelly Parkins

Everyday London
Dampier presented a play the following year with a similar plot called Everyday London. This may have been Fortune's Fool rewritten.