THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Notes by Scalfax. Melbotjene, November 25.

There is not much that is novel to note this week— at least nothing of interest to my readers. Things are keeping on much the same in the various show lines, and there is a decided falling off in attendance, as was only to be expected. We are saving up our money now to have a real good time at Christmas — that is, those of us who have any money to save. We are not all in that fortunate position, which is only another proof that the world is not managed correctly, and a change is wanted somewhere. Don't you think so ? We ought all to have at least £1000 a year and extras ; but then I suppose we would want £1500. We aro so hard to please in these pushaway times. However, I should not nvnrt if some one woro to try me with a. thumping 1 lopacy, just to pse how I would bear it. Frieda at a distance will pleasa accept this intimation. All lettprs to be prepaid, anf] cheques rpgistered, not necessarily for publication, but jib a guarantee for drinks.

" Tbe'Engliah Rose " is in its last week at the Theatre Royal. That is rather a curious name for an Irish drama, don't you think? Why Messrs Sims and Buchanan selected it is a myßtory to moat people. It does not attract the Irieh attention as it ought, and when you mention to an Irish friend that the drama deals mostly with his country, he generally remarks, " Gerront. Who 'yer foolin'," in the expressive language of his native land. Irish is a fine language when you can surround its mysteries, bo expressive and bo full of meaning. What is more touching than " Braagbt lfkth st rogorab " ?

or sweeter than "A suilish mahuil agus machre " ? Don't speak to me of Chinese as a language of expression so loDg as there is any Irieh to be hud. Irish will drive you to in -^ sanity faster than any tongue under the sun, Gaelic not exoepted. However, on Saturday next we aro to have a revival of " Arrah-na-Pogue " and " The Wearing of the green " will ba sung again, this time by Miss Maggie Moore, who loaves the Prinoesßon Saturday to specially come down and play this part, Mr Grattan Riggs will appear as Shaun, and the rogular Royal company will fill the bill. If we do not have " The Shaughraun " next I shall be surprised. The Royal is getting very Irish of late. No so long ago it was intensely Italian, and before that Dutoh. It is a cosmopolitan bousa. m . " The Gondoliers " iB still doing good business at the Princess Theatre, and no date is Bottled yet for its removal. As I have already Bftid Miss Maggie Moore goes to the Royal on Saturday, and her place as the Duchess of Plaza Toro will be taken by Miss Elsie Cameron, a young lady whe is highly Bpoken of. Tbe Governor and suite were present last night, although it rained as it can only rain here when it trios pretty hard. They have got a new advertising agent at this theatre, and this is a specimen of what he turns out :— " The brilliant wit of tho libretto, written as only Gilbert oau write, and the charming melody of Sullivan's musical genius is being more and more appreciated upon repetition, whilst the management looks with pride upon the phenomenal success of this work, more especially as it has been maintained by strictly artistic and legitimate means, without the addition of vulgar interpolations and low-class downing, whicb is often, unfortunately, inflioted upon an intelligent public by inartistic exponents, in order to extract an occasional guffaw from the brainless section of an otherwise refined and appreciative audience." What do you think of that, now ? " Robbery Under Arms " is not quite so popular at the Alexandra Theatre as was expected, and will make way on Saturday for an original drama written by Mr Alfred Dampier, and called "For Love and Life." The principal action is to take place in Australia, and the plot is said to ba a very taking one. Mr Dampier haa several times dabbed in dramatisation— his version of " Les Miaerables " under the name of " The Yellow Passport," is a poworful play — but I think this will be the first entirely original work from bis pen. There will be a large.party of bis literary friends present, and they will carry torpedoes. There may be a vacancy on the stage that evening. The laut nights of " Impulse " are also announced at the Bijou Theatre, where Boucicault's comedy "The Jilt" is to be tried on Saturday next. This comedy is not new to us, having been played once or twice before, but it has never yet been placed in the hands of such a good all "round company a 3 Messrs Brough and Boucicaulfc have now under their control. Oh 1 thanks ; I don't mind if I do. About this timo o' day I always feal aa if a (Out out. Irrplevant.— Ed ) "Boccaccio" was revived at the Opera House on Saturday, and was placed on the Btage with that care and attention to detail Miss Nellie Stewart always has given to her work. Miss Nellie Stewart was Bocoacoio, of oourse, and gained several encores, one especially for a song of Mr Plumpton's, "Dearest and only love." Miss Fanny Liddiard was Leonetto, and had a nasty fall in the first act which cause i her to be very lame, and placed her at a great disadvantage during the rest of the evening. Miss Clara Merivale pleased as Fiametta, and Miss Lena Salinger did ditto as Isabella. A new lady, Misß Esdaile, appeared as Beatrice, and seemed to have a vast number of friends, to judge by the bouquets she reoeived. Mr W. H. Woodfield was the Prince ; Mr Snazelle, Lambertucoio ; and Mr Gourlay, Lotteringhi. Many of the solos and choruses were encored ; the scenery was some of Gordon's best ; and the dressing was superb. The opera oan only be played a fortnight. The Gaiety Theatre, whioh is the title by which they dignify a small music hall, was opened by Mr Frank Clark and his " Folly " oompany on Saturday. Tbe company includes no new names. The Victoria Hall is keeping its end up all right with a change of programme every week. The Waxworks has a Madame Loyola who slides down an inolined wire holding on to a roller by her teeth. She oould hold on evon to boarding- house steak and not mind it. Yesterday Ms Felix Tanner, the fasting man, commenced a 40 days' abstinence. He states he will not eat anything until the 4th January next. He is to be carefully watched by an independent committee of medical gentlemen. Lock him up for the time ; that's the beat way to watch him. The medioal gentlemen will get tired long before the 40 days are over, and won't care to Bit up all night. Look him vp — but there's no money in it then. Madame Patey, the great English contralto, gave her seventh conoert in the Town Hall on Saturday to a crowded house— so full, indeed, that peoDle wrote to tbe papers about being crowded "out of seats. Her Boloa were " The loat chord " (encored), " The minßtrel boy " (encore, " Meet me by moonlight alone "), and "Robin Adair," also encored. Miss Rossow and the Victorian Orchestra supplied the rest of tho programme. Madame Patey gave her eighth concert last night, and the Town Hall was almost empty owing to the heavy storm that was raging. Her solos were " There is a grGen hill far away " (Gounod), " A shadow " (Sullivan), both written speoially for her, and the well-known "What will you do, love?" Miss Bertha R'BBOW and the Victorian Orchestra assisted again. Her final concert iB to be gi?en on Thursday next, and then Madams Patey goes into rehearsal of tbe oratorios of "The Messiah" and "Elijah," whioh are to be produced at an early date with an extra large chorus. I rejyret that I am unable to give you any special Sydney news this week, ob I have just heard that my good correspondent of many years back iB dead, died suddenly and unexpectedly, and I have not been able to fill hia place yet. He was an excellent friend, a smart and pleasing writer, and bis loss will be deeply felt on several Sydney papers. The other afternoon I was taking a walk in our general cemetery — I wanted cheering vp — when I came across quite a patch of graves of people you all know, and thinking some of you mny have some desire to hear of almost forgotten friends. I copied a few of tho inscrip Honn. The first I c&me across was a qnint, unpretentious stone bearing this lettering :—: —

Erertpd by a few friends To tbn memory of

John Lawrence Stephest Steels Wrixhall,

Known aa John L Hall, comedian

There will be no necessity to mpntion who 11 Captain Gingah " was to any Now Zpalander, I think. Very near this stands another plain stone thus marked :—

This stone is inscribed To Charles Panruckkr Viner, Comedian,

Who departed this life on the lOfch day of May 1868 ; Aged 45. Erected by bis beloved and bQreaved Wife, Mid Sons,

i No exoroiaer harm thee, [j Nor no witchcraft, charm thee, i Ghost unlaid forbear thee. I Nothing ill come near thee, Quiet consummation have And renowned by thy grave. — Shakespeare, " Oymbeline." Old staters are still plenty who can remember Charles Viuer, and the merry Coppin days. Still near is the stone of another well-known comedian of the Coppin times— better known than ovon Viner. In memory of John Dunn, Comedian. Born in London : died in Melbourne, Aug. 17, 1875. He was a fellow of infinite jeit. With him are buried a son who died at the age of 41, and a grandson who died at the age of six weeks. Next to him is a Btone recording the death of three of the Duvalli family, once leading danseuses here, but only one appears to be buried there, as the others are said to have died in Leeds. A few paces away is an insoription that recalls a moat sad and painful story, and one many readers may recall. It has most romantic details, but for the poor girl's sake (she was only 24, I believe) they are beet forgotten. She made her last appearance, I believe, at the old Royal. The inscription is very simple : — Alice Jaouelinb Hyaointhe IVTabie St. Denis, nee Macs. Died October 24, 1868. One who loved not wisely but too well. i — Shakkspkark, " Othello," Act v, last Scene. 1 With her lies buriad her mother, whoße heart they say was broken by her daughter's untimely end. Still, within a radius of about i 50yds, we come upon a stone of a different class. Let it speak for itself. By the Athletes of Melbourne Thia Monument is Erected in the Memory of Clarence Whistler. Born 12 Jan. 1856, at Delphi, Carroll Co., Indiana, U.S. Died at Melbourne 6 Nov. 1885. "A peer amongst wrestlers." And what a wrestler he was ! He came here to beat Professor Miller, and did beat him, That ruined him. Sis success made him friends, and friends meant high living. Tbia inscription struok me when looking at John L. Hall's grave. It is a list of history in its way. Erected by a few early settlers in memory of Darrimut, tbe aborginal who saved IWkuor and others from massaora by tho northern tribes in 1835. Died in the Benevolent Asylum Aged about 47. But there, we are getting too much among the dead men. I have not told you a story for a long time, and I have just thought of a (rood one which, curiously enough, ia aroused by one !of the inscriptions I have just written. When Sarah Bernhardt went to Odessa she was I" pelted with pioklod cucumbers, a few only of coursp, of which ehe is said to be fond. Speaking over the circumstance with Laforriere, a well known French aotor, a oertain English friend asked him if it were a fact that in the good old days the gallery at Montmartre, the Surrey side of Paris, used to pelt the actors with oranges, bread, sausages, &c. " Ay, my friend," said Laferriere, " and I can assure you that many a time we poor devils swallowed the insult with pleasure."