''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, 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 Jon Douglas Ewing (6 October 1936 – 14 March 2014) was an Australian actor and director best known for his stage work. Life and career Ewing was born in Paddington, New South Wales and attended Sydney Boys High School. He studied under Hayes Gor ...

. The cast included Leila Blake, Geoff Hiscock, Cindy Wright, Ian Smith, Geraldene Morrow, Bryon Williams, Patsy Hemingway, John Frawley, Lesley Baker, 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.

References

{{Reflist Australian musicals 1971 musicals Biographical musicals Cultural depictions of activists Cultural depictions of Australian women Musicals set in Australia