Footlight Flashes.

Evening Star, Issue 7309, 6 September 1887, Page 4

Footlight Flashes.

Cellier’s opera of “ Dorothy ” achieved instantaneous success in Melbourne. Of Miss Leonora Braham (Mrs Duncan Young), who made he Australian dehut in the title role, one of the critics says : “ She has a pleasing voice, though, judging by Saturday night’s performance, not one of remarkable power. She is petite in figure, of prepossessing appearance, dainty and graceful in action, and one of the most finished actresses that have been seen here in opera bouffe. Her delivery has an archness, and her acting and her actions are marked by such intelligence, grace, and naturalness, that she takes rank as a comedienne of very high order. Mr Duncan Young also made his first appearance, and filled the character of Tom Strutt satisfactorily. The part, however, is not one that makes any special call upon the actor’s ability. The opera is admirably staged and mounted. The opera of “ Dick ” continues to fill the Melbourne Opera House, and Messrs Brough and Boucicault have veritably “struck ile.” Miss Fanny Robina is the life and soul of the piece. Emily Melville has given the Melbourneites a taste of her quality as a comedienne. She played Peg Woffington in “ Masks and Faces ” to Mr Reeve’s Triplet, and being supported by such capable artists as H. N. Douglas, Cates, and Miss Docy Stewart. Of the principals the ‘ Telegraph ’ wrote“ Possessing a quick and intelligent perception, an easy and attractive manner, a graceful carriage, and an absence of conventionalism, Miss Melville succeeded admirably in portraying the influence and charming imperiousness of the character, and at the same time evinced dramatic power of a good order. The general impression left is a very favorable one, confirming and enhancing the impression of Miss Melville’s ability as an actress; whilst if her delivery occasionally recalled the colloquial style of comic opera, it must be remembered that old associations are not to be dismissed all at once, and that such lapses would not be at variance with the character. Mr Wybert Reeve scored a marked and distinct success as Triplet, the author, actor, painter and perfect gentleman—in the true sense of the word—the part was well sustained throughout, by-play and demeanor being admirable.” The Williamsons have just finished a very successful season in Melbourne,

Tlie profession in Melbourne tendered George Darrell a complimentary benefit last week, and crowded round him to give practical expression to their sympathy. There was a splendid audience, and the matinde was artistically and pecuniarily a thorough success. A lady correspondent of the ‘Australasian’ writes : “ Patti at last begins to show her years in her face. For many years she warded off the ravages of Time by avoiding the üßb of water on her skin, cleaning her face exclusively with cold cream, but this expedient has at length failed, and the lines of middle age have developed suddenly, and are as marked as if they had never been checked. Last year she completed her happiness by regularly marrying Nicolinl J and her doing so, and the fact of her having derived happiness therefrom, Constitute striking evidence of the natural goodness and unselfishness of woman’s character. He is an ignorant boor of the first order, whose only theme of Conversation is cooking. She always obeys him like a Child, and never Seems to resent the ridicule and humiliation of his fetty , , Mr. L. j. Lohr writes to us from Sydney that he has arranged for a New Zealand tour by Mr Locke Richardson, the Shakespearian reciter, commencing in Dunedin about the middle of November. The 'Sydney Morning Herald ’ of August 18 has the following concerning him :—“ Mr Locke Richardson, who has now been in Sydney for the last three inbntlio, appearing before the most fashionable and intelligent audiences of the city and suburbs, gave his final recital yesterday afternoon. As usual, he had the pleasure of performing before a splendid audience, who could not but be edified as well as entertained. Never before has an elocutionist in our memory drawn such large audiences as Mr Riojrardsoni whose spCcess in every way is quite unprecedented. In Shakespeare’s plays he excels, being a whole company in himself—a fact which no one will gainsay having once heard him. But it is not alone by his Shakespearian recitals that he has won fame, for his miscellaneous programmes have been for tnrtny this ifidst finjoyablfe of all.’’ Mr Locke is at present in Adelaide, and goes thence to Melbourne for a farewell season before coming over here. He has been signally successful in the New South Wales capital, his season having extended from May to tho end of last month, full and appreciative audiences being the rule. A Sydney correspondent writes: “Tilings theatrically are brisk here. The thr-e theatres all do’ sg good business. B'asd Holt has been ‘scooping the pool.’ He will be down your way about the middle of October, and ought to do well. You will have some of the best scenery, at any rate, George Gordon having laid himself out for the occasion. I don’t know who he will take over, but if they are as good as he’s got here now they will be a very strong combination,” Miss Kate Bishop rejoins Mr Rignold’s Company at Sydney next month. Mr Ormdnd recently explained to his com itiittee the reason why he opposed the village settlements scheme of Mr Ballance. He was in favor of small settlements in the midst of larger hold) ags on which the settlers could obtam work, but he was not in favor of carrying the system to the extent it has been carried by Mr Ballance, because it was ruinous to the settlers themselves. He was one of the few employers of labor in the bush, and he could state for a fact that men were anxious to obtain contracts at bushfaffing or other work for half the money they asked two years ago. He asked the reason of this, and was told that the small settlers had becomfe so numerous that they competed with eaeh other for work at prices which would find them “bare tucker” only. They were tied to their sections and could not go far afield in search of work, hence the competition was very severe. Mr H. D. Bell writes to the' New Zealand Times ’ with reference to the correspondence between the Premier and the Agent-General on the subject of the elections, and in the course of his remarks says : “I write without any knowledge of the facts, but I venture to predict that when the facts are known it will appear that tho information was not supplied to the Press directly or indirectly by the Agent-General, and, further, that the person who did supply it must have grossly betrayed my father’s confidence.” Speaker Lalor Is about to resign owing to continued ill-health, and the Victorian Government will ask Parliament to give him a money grant in recognition of his services