OBSERVER: Entertaining Mr Coppin


The Show Room at Arts Centre Melbourne was packed to capacity for the launch of Simon Plant’s exciting new book Entertaining Mr Coppin:An Antipodean Showman in Civil War America, commissioned and published by Theatre Heritage Australia.
Actor, digger, entrepreneur, innovator, influencer, traveller, speculator and politician George Coppin (1819-1906) also undertook an extraordinary journey to America in 1864-65, which until now has been lost to history.
In Entertaining Mr Coppin: An Antipodean Showman in Civil War America, Simon Plant has researched and reconstructed the arduous two-year tour the enterprising actor manager undertook with English tragedians Charles and Ellen Kean.
At the launch, after a welcome from Theatre Heritage Australia President Dr Simon Piening, writer/broadcaster Fiona Gruber conversed with Simon Plant onstage about his writing and research process for the book.
Suddenly the interview was interrupted by the arrival of one of Coppin’s favourite characters, costumed high spirited 19th century ‘busybody’ Paul Pry, who divulged stories about his good friend George Coppin.
In the blink of an eye and a change of top hat, the more seriously grounded and business-like George Coppin himself appeared, obviously delighted to be joining in the launch celebrations and congratulating Simon Plant in fun style on the book – ‘my’ book, no, ‘your’ book!
Hats off to director Babs McMillan and actor Michael Treloar (Paul Pry/George Coppin) for creating the entertaining and informative performance segment, and to producer Matthew Peckham.
Hearty congratulations to Simon Plant, and to editor Elisabeth Kumm, assistant editor Judy Leech and Simon Piening (design/page layout) for a splendid 323-page publication.
Entertaining Mr Coppin: An Antipodean Showman in Civil War America is available for $50 incl. postage within Australia from theatreheritage.org.au/buy-coppin-book
Cheryl Threadgold

Pictured: Theatre Heritage Australia President Simon Piening (left), moderator Fiona Gruber and author Simon Plant celebrate the launch of Entertaining Mr Coppin: An Antipodean Showman in Civil War America.
Photo: Malcolm Threadgold