DRAMATIC GOSSIP.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8541, 22 July 1893, Page 8

DRAMATIC GOSSIP.

Lord Carrlngton wrote to Mr George Musgrove (of the firm of Williamson and Masgrove) in. London congratulating him upon the engagement of the high-class Italian, opera co-pany for the colonies "(mentioned by mc last week) arid referring to the arrangement as a " plucky ' venture." , Ada Fitzroy and Oscar Smith (who have recently returned from.New Zealand) are showiug in the N.S.W country districts with Amy Kennedy and Sam Parlatto. They are giving Sunday performancesafternoon and evening.

Referring to Mr G. W. Anson's .first appearance on the Musical Hall board the Era says:—Mr Anson's first essay consisted of a nong Written In a sarcastic Vein, the gentleman represented being; a sort of Ch tries Peace, who, while proclaiming himself as gentle as a lamb, toys with a life-preserver, a revolver, and other trifles, without which the fit-out of the " enterprising burglar who goe3 a-burg-ling" could scarcely be said to be complete; The idea is a good o**<\ the son/? is Well written, but the hum b subtle. In bis second item the c. median affected tbe gaiety,-frolicsomen ess, and insouciance of a young blood, who is pleased to be designated "The King of the Strand," a song which depends for its popularity chiefly on the reftfain. Mr Anson was favourably received.

Instigated possibly by Bentley's advance agent, some forty Scots took the horses out of that much-advertised showman's buggy and drew him to his pub. That' was patriotism. At their owu instigation, afterwards, the clan stuck np £13 ICb.. in drinks. That was patriotism also.

Fox, famous for Wipes and a Theatrical Directory, committed suicide last week (says a London paper of May 19th). Business troubles aud the failure of speculations appear to have been the | cause of the catastrophe, though it is I stated that, he was perfectly solvent at the time, the' debts upon his books amounting to £3,000 more than his liabilities. Fox was wig maker to the Lyceum, and what that meant can be shown by tbe fact that when Mr Irving last crossed the Atlantic among his impedimenta were 1,100 wigs, while for •* The Dead Heart*' no fewer than 450 were required. A writer on theatrical subjects in New York has been round to various popular actors and actresses to ascertain from them the first words they ever spoke on the stage, and the chcumstances under which the words were spoken. Admirers of Mr Jefferson's "Rip van Winkle"—and who that has-seen it does not admire that delightful performance ?—will be surprised to hear that bis first appearance was with his f.ce blacked and thb''first words he "spoke " were sung in the shape of verses from the then familiar nigger song " Jim Crow." Rice, the comedian, used to sing thii song and do a quaint dance, and little Jefferson, a child of four, imitated tbe success of the moment. Rice had a benefit, and having seen the boy do his imitation, insisted that he should appear on tbe occasion. Jefferson was rigged out as a complete miniature likeness of the original, and Rice c_rried him in a bag on bis shoulders. Nothing was said about the affair in the bills, but when Rice had sung the first stanza of the song he turned tbe bag upside down and emptied Jefferson out bead first, before the eyes of the astonished audience. " Imagine the scene," said Mr Jefferson. " Rice was six feet high and I was four years old, and as we stood there dressed exactly alike the audience roared with laughter. Rice and I sang alternate verses. The picture ot the tall comedian and myself before the astonished autiiencei. one of tbe moat vivid recollections I have of my past life." It is a sign of tbe time, (says an English corre-'-poodect on June 9th) when we read that a special matinee of " David Garrick ** was given at the Criterion on Wednesday. afternoon in aid of the parish of St. Luke, Camberwell, jind realised over £400. I wonder what the late Dean of Carlisle, who, during his life, would never permit a dramatic performance to take place witSIn the confines of that town, would have said to this?