AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 37

AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

October 7.

Dear Fasquin, — "Waller E. Baker was born on the spot in Sydney where Her Majesty's Theatre now stands. His firffc speaking part was that of a herald in "King Lear" with Shakespeare Sheridan at the Old Queen's Theatre, Sydney. Frank Cates was leading mail.

The Taylor-Carrington Dramatic Company wece to have commenced a Maoriland tour "next month" in March 1889. At anyrate you can expect them " next month." Same old next month. Fred Henningham reports " good biz." Some Australian Mikados — Mr John Forde, Mr Denbeigh Newton, Mr Albert Brenuir, Edwin Kelly, and Harry Benham. I recently saw it stated in a North Island wtekly that Johnny Foley was showing in the back blocks of Victoria. Are there two Johnny Foleys ? If not, who is the Johnny Foley performing in and about Otago Central goldfields ? And, how the missing word can a person be in Victoria and Ofcago (M.L ) at one and the same time? Then again, how can a company be touring Coalopolis, Westland (5.1.), and at the same time be waiting in Sydney for the departure of the Maoriland steamer ? Hellerism (!) or Fakeology, which ?

Mr Armes Beaumont, " the sweetest tenor of his day," during the 30 years he has been before the public has sustained the leading tenor parts in over 60 operas and some 40 oratorios and cantatas. I came acros3 some old playbills last week dated 1886. The following is a copy of one :—: — Sydney Opera House. LTJnder the management of Messrs Majeroni and Wilson ] Byron's Modern Comedy, " BAFFLED." MrGmwold W. E. Baker Signor Rumbalino John L. Hall (proprietor of a travelling circus) Daniel Dole Harry Power (his Chaucerian comique) Harry Greville PI. N. Douglas (the Signor's adopted son) Doctor Gapple F. Carden Kihel Carlingford Blanche Lewis ltuth Maggie Knight (the circus-master's daughter) Mrs Millidew Emma Fischer Madame Rumbalino Docy Mainwaring. Nearly all the above have toured Maoriland at one time or another. It was shortly after this that Harry Power went over your way with a comedy company, which, I think, went to pieces in the city ot the plains, Christchurch, The remainder went on to Wellington and formed themselves into a pantomime company. Good old George Melville and wife (Marion Medway), Harry Power, and the fascinating and favourite young Australian actress Lillie Bryer, and others, were members. They played " Babes in the Wood," " Cinderella" ; and in the pantomime Alfred Garnett was clown, Harry Power harlequin, and Miss Bryer columbine. If aoy one ever suffered from "big head" it was Harry Power. Some one — was it Herbert Flemming ? —told him he was the best comedian Australia ever saw, and poor Harry always thought so, too. However, I am pleased to hear he is stated to be doing well in *' The Wild Irish Boy " in the English provinces. By the way, Miss Nellie Bryer went 'Ome too, and the last I heard of her she was playing with the " Run Wild " Company.

Capping " out" in Sydney.

I see Bland Holt is playing "Alone in London "' on bis present Maoriland tour. Ib was in 1887 (I am open to correction) that Mr Holt introduced the Jay-Buchanan drama in your c 'lony with the following c\so of characters :—: — Annio Meadows \ Mrs Jiland Jlolt Nau (a llowev girl)J Mr Barnaby Mr A. Glover Walter Barnaby Harry Norman Ruth Clifton Moutie Fredericks I Richard Rcdcliife Frank Gates Little Paul Mabel Andrews KpritCgins Mr W. I f. Seagrave Jeukiu on (the benevolent one) ... I.land Holt Liswie (his daughter) Mabel Tracey .John Biddlecoiiib Walter Howe Charlie Johnson A. (!. Poulton (A humble "pro.") Tom Ohickwecd Ida Herbert liiddy Maloney Mrs W. Hill Jack Woods \ Mr E. llyan Ballad Singer J J Blind Billy Mr Maynard Jim the Lai ker Mr Hallows The Lime Duck Mr 0. Howard Lsaac-5 . "" Ferguson Hubert "... "... Mr F. A Howard David •' Mr J. lusher Mr AValter K. Bishop was business manager, and Me F. A. Howard stage manager. Only four of the above are with the present company. An exact " double "—Harry Hall, Harry Norman,

I bad a letter from a member of the Fauafc family party last week. He says the Victorian country towns are brightening up, and business is satisfactory.

You will have "Good old superior Lohr" with jou shortly. He will bring along the Brongh-Boucicault Comedy Company, which opens in Dunedin on Boxing Night.

Jack Hal l , son of the dead comedian, recently married Miss Hetty Leake, Billy Leake's widow.

Miss Eloise Juno will be round your way shortly on her farewell tour. Business manager l\-.t Finn, stage manager Dick Stewart. The company includes Misses Beatrice Oxford, Aimee Moore, Julie Merton, Maud Williamson, Messrs Bob Vernon, Frank Cates, E. Hay garth, Kingston, Owen Harris, and others. Miss J.mo's first appearance in Maoriland, was as Ophelia in Dunediu Princess Theatre some years Ago.

I lately came across George Dean, F. W. Went worth, Kuight Ashton, with whom I had a long chat. It seems a very long time now since George Dean stage managed A. T. Dunning's London Comic Opera Company through Maorilaud. T. B. Appleby was leading comecliau, Kuight Ashton was tenor, Mons. Loredan lead ; and F. Wentworth, Misses Avenel, Annette Ivanova, Lilly Kelly, A. Leaf, Annie Wybar, A. Schrader, Rosie Johnson, Annie, Kate, and H. Martin were members. t)harles van Ghele was musical director, and a Mr Boyd leader. It was at the end of their Wellington season that the management tendered a benefit to Mr George Ds.au at the Theatre Royal. J. F. Goldsworthy was treasurer. Tiie performance, which was under the patronage of '"Billy" Jervois (not very great at "fetching" a house), " the people's Gee-orge " (the mayor), the Speakers and members of both Houses, and sA\ the fore ; gn potentate?, began at 7.45 with John | Crook's three-act military opera " The King's Dragoons" cast as follows — ! Fdgar Mr Knight Ashton The Marquis Mr A. Lissant Kobin Mr T. B Appleby Sergeant Crow ... Mr Fred. Wentworth Corporal Stilt Mr C. Johnson Alice Misn Ivanova Dorothy Miss Leaf Susan Miss Avenel. [If I remember rightly the 'gram stated that "Mr George Dean would, on this occasion only, take part in the celebrated, extravagant., terp3iehorean whimsicality, 'The /Esthetic Quadrille,' " performed in the third act under the direction of Miss Annie Martin.]

The second part commenced with Mr Hutchinson playing the piccolo polka, «« Island Home," followed by the comic operetta, "The Rose of Auvergne," with Miss Ivanova as Fleurette, Mons. Loredan as Alphorise, and George Dean as Pierre. Miss Kats-' Martin contributed " her celebrated clog dance" from " Rip Van Winkle," followed by 15 minutes with "Kudatz" (Tommy Driver), the illusionist. "The Billet of All Nations" concluded the programme.

Just about this time "Good Old Lackie" M'Gowan was playing in Auckland his latest dramatisation, entitled "Hunted to Death."

Old playgoers will remember in tho same year Mdite. Murielle, a favourite cantatrice, made her flrat appearance in Wellington at a complimentary testimonial tendered by the Wellington Musical and Dramatic Amateurs to Mr R. W. Gary (as the 'grams spelled it). The Payne Family left Sydney by the Hauroto on Saturday, October 7. Since their last visit to Maoriland, some two years, two new artists have joined this talented musical party — viz , Miss Bella Handrick (solo violinist, a native of Victoria) and Miss Elflo Morella (soprano, from the Guildhall School of Music, London) . The remainder of the party includes Miss Lizzie Payne (Mrs R. Steele), Miss Maud Payne, Mr W. J. Payne, Mr R. Steele, and Mr Fred Dawson, representative.

Miss Carlotta May, who toured Maoriland in '92 with M'Lean's Young Australians Burlesque Company, is on the road with the Bijou Comedy Company. The Champion Lady Boxer of Australia is at present travelling the Land of the Moa with a big dramatic company.

Many Aucklanders and Wellingtonians will ba interested to hear of Johnny Collins (toured with the Sinith-Perman and Mokawk Minstrels and Comedy Companies, 1886 7-8). After travelling with Cogill Brothers and other shows he has "settled" with the Lyniih Family Bellringers now in your colony. I recently saw him do his six " turns "' in one night, and in the duet with Will W. Lynch, "England and Ireland's own" (which "turn" he used to do with that v&ry clever artiste Miss Laura Roberts when with the Perman Troupe) he received a double encore. Mr Collins is one of the very small number of variety performers classed "as Al. He is as good as ever on the boards," while off— well, Johnny's is " whuskey,"

On their return to Melbourne Messrs B. and B. will discard the Bijou and open at the Princess. (What does J. C. think?) Bob Courtneidge returns to the operatio stage. He is to make his appearance at an early date in Sydney as Rocco to the King Laurent of Mr Lauri in "La Mascotte," ' The Convict Hulk " Success," 104 years old, will travel Maoriland waters early next year, anchoring first in Auckland Harbour.

•'The Mystery of a Hansom Cab" (the author of which, Fergus Hume, is aDunedinite) was staged for the first time in Sydney on Saturday, October 14, by the George Rignold Company at Her Majesty's Theatre. Miss Polly Emery is specially engaged for the part of Sam Rawlins. ■

J C. Williamson had 400 applicants for the chorus of the big Italian Opera Company. Priddy's Electric Murrels, in Hobart — Lily Octavia,, Sylvo, Mina Nimmo, J. H. Wudley, 3VI Carina, and Horace B- n<i.

Harold AshtoD running sixpenny pops at Hobart Temperance Hall.

M'Adoo's Jubilee Singers recently afc Charters Towers (N.Q.). Four nights' takings, £4-25 The Singers are now in Brisbane.

Now the newspapers call him Welter Bentley. At Coogee Aquarium. — Five-year-old Biby Piiyllis Prirrier giving imitations of Teddy Lonuen and others ; Misses Maud Leamingbon (tier first appearance in Sydney for several years). Alma Obrey, Ada Towers, and Mons. Jules Simonson.

"The Mikado" was staged afc Sydney on Saturday, October 14, Nelly Stewart playing Yum Yum.

'Arry Riekards (shortly to reappear) has the following artists at the Tivoli Music Hall : — Leslie Brothers (first appearanc •), Will Bo vis and Griis Franks, Katie Riekards, Amazonian Club Swingers (10, under the instruction of the Prince of Club Swingers, Professor Benjamin), C. Fauning, C. Pops, J Daylcs. Professor Fred. Davys, who ran a show at the Exchange Hall, Wollington (M.L ), for 120 weeks— lß9l 92, and Georgia Devol are also at the " Tiv."

Millie Herbert, the contralto (round your way with Frank Clark's All-Star Company), and Wallace King are at the Bondi Aquarium Rawei is travelling Tasmania with Maori Muhic, Song, and Story — a la Sn*s i -lle.

It was up on the Murrunabidgee recently I had "a night off." The Great Langley-Leighton Variety Co. of 19 performers were in town, and were billed bo appear for "one night only,"

(It was a pity the whole show didn't dY.i-appear for ever). Well, the evening came, and "Yours truly" attended. The curtain rose at 9 o'clock (owing to the manager feeing bound not to "raise the rag" until the "rent" was taken), and on the stage were seven persons — • two cornermen, two " dummies," Miss Brady in the "centre," and Leighfcou aud Langley. Oa one corner was Charlie Blake, a Wellington youth, who held in his hands a shilling toy tambourine, which "busted" first bang: the bones had no "ivories." During the "first part " the audience showed signs of impatience and irritation, aud began to manifest their feelings in a very decided manner. Chas. Blake opened the second part by attempting to sing a sentimental song in Shakespearian costume, whereupon two Chinamen in the front seats, to show their appreciation, got up and walked out. Betore the singer could get through hi-* song, he was howled down and reauested in rather strong language to "git"; ft' not, he would get it for forgetting to get. It is needless to say he "got." Then a fat youth, who turned out to be a butcher boy from Goulboura, came on and attempted to play " Hi-tiddely-hi-ti " on a tin whistle ; but after a few awful shrieks he was asked to " play it the other way up." Not being able to accommodate the audience the performer retired, much to the satisfaction of the whole house. The audience shortly after took possession and rushed the stage, only to find the company had done "the disappearing tack." The first appearance of this company has thus resulted in a perfeefc/asco, and it is to bu hoped, for their own sakes, as well as for the people of Wagga, that their first will also be their last performance there.

"The Australian Charles Warner," Walter B. Baker. His Captain Vere (" See you in London, deah boy") in "The Bells of Haselmere" (a very creditable performance, indeed), introduced him to Maoriland playgoers with Bland Holt's 1891 company ; but I think his Jack Westward, in "A Sailor's Knot" (a character originated in London by Mr Charles Warner), eclipses all his previous performances, and it is questionable whether the great English actor played the part as well. Roceo, the character ia which Mr Robert Courtneidge will make hi 3 appearance on the operatic stage, was played through Maoriland by Howard Vernon, of the Royal Comic Opera Company, Mr W. Elton playing King Laurent. Pollard's Juveniles also played " La Mascofcfce " in your colony with Master Alf . Stephens as King Laurent, and Harry Quealey a3 Rocco. — Yours truly, Poverty Point, Sydney. 8.8.