AUSTRALIAN DRAMATIC NOTES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9458, 2 July 1896, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN DRAMATIC NOTES.

" Weakly Press and Rsforee." [From Our Own Correspondent.]

Sydney, Juno 8. The present season of the Brough and Bouoicaiilt Company is drawing to an end, and with the close of the Criterion season the pai'tnership which has long existed between Messrs Robert Brough and Dion Boucicault

will be dissolved, the senior partner keeping

on most of the present company, with which he will tour Queensland, Allan Hamilton,

one of our best advance agents, being in advance of the company.

During the present season, which has so far been a successful lane, several new plays have been produced, including "Thoroughbred," "The Benefit of the Doubt," "The Importance of Being Earnest," and "The Now Woman." I notice that Geraldine Olliffe, who replaced Mrs Brough during the latter's recent trip to England, has scored a success in H. A. Jonas'e new play, "The Rogues' Comedy," at the London-Garrick Theatre.

Kate Bishop (Mrs L. J. Lohr) was specially engaged for "The Benefit of the Doubt" production.

" Trilby " is booming at Williamson and Musgrove's Lyceum. The Melbourne season resulted in a clear profit of £3500. Edith Crane proves herself a very capable actress, and her handling of Trilby is a masterly one. Reuben Fox, as Svengali; is an ej'e-opener* and the more one aces of him the more is one impressed that he is a great actor, anyway of the particular character. The Gecko of E. W. Morrison is evidently a careful study and is due for praise. Jcannie Reiftarth's, Madame Vignard, is the best piece of old woman-acting we have had an opportunity to criticise for a long time, and as the Australian stage has lost its best old woman in the person of Robert Brough'a mother, Miss Romer, we trust that Madame Vignard may be prevailed on to extend, her visit to these shores, and let us see. her in some other characters. The Laird, Taffy, and Little Billec are sufficiently like the book to give every satisfaction, though, the Laird , might spend a few months inthe Scottish Highlands with benefit to his brogue. Zou Zou is made very amusing by Trader, who does not miss a chance of bringing the character to the front. The rest of the company are all well suited with their parts. A son of Signora Majeroni, which lady was erroneously stated in a recent Mirror as being a member of the Brough and Bouci. cault Co., is Manager Fa w. Mrs Brown Potter and Kyrle Bellew arrived here by the last Canadian mail steamer, both in excellent health and spirits, >and proceeded straightway for Melbourne, where they were to open last Saturday in "As You Like It." Their Australian repertoire includes "Charlotte Corday," "La .Tosca," "Francillon," "Cavaleria

— . Rusticana," "Camille," and "A RovalHl Divorce." J -~v Bland Holt has been staging the recent # London melodramas at the Royal, and hot' £-1 been doing splendid business. "One of a, Beat," "Saved From the Sea. ,, and "Th S" Derby Winner," have each been proJ,, Md fi with success. •* "" oAt Her Majesty's Theatre, the h ome O fj' Surrey side dramas, a fair business has pre . . ■ vailed. "Across the Continent" is th* '■ latest production. . - j In variety business Harry Rickards ha, - "'l had the field to himself, the Sydney M Usic - | Hall and the Opera House having been closed during the past month. George Adams ii '- getting on well with the building operation! of his Palace Theatre, for which Arthur Games is travelling America and Europe ia eearch of talent.

J. C. Williams on and Bert Royle are col% ' laboratiug in a comic opera to be called* "Captain Cook." Leon Caron is comi> o9 i n - -•« the music. v ' *

Harry Plimmei- has been engaged hi George Arnold to play Reginald Fttzdavi. in " Cheer Boys Cheer."

I hear that Joseph Tapley, W. and y C late tenor, now in Paris, is likely to vjrt America with one of Geo. ISdwardes'a coio panics.

Alfred Dampicr has concluded a succesafal " starring tour of our country towns. ' George Pack is to conduct Magcie Moore* - - season at the Royal, Melbourne. An original 1 - "Trilby" burlesque is in preparation f w • the season.

Alfred Woods, lessee of Her Majest»Y Theatre, has received two new plays from Mr Scudamore—" Against the Tide" »nd :--. " The Dangers of London." , ,;

"Djin Djin" opens at Adelaide J UM 25th. *

" Dot" Boucicault is to be benefited th« last night of season. ,'