MELBOURNE’S-.FIRST THEATRE

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 9

MELBOURNE’S-.FIRST THEATRE

THE OLD QUEEN’S. ■MEMORIES OF COfPPIN AND v BROOKE. Tho-Bate of tho site, 191 Queen street, Melbourne, recalls interesting history (wrote the Melbourne ‘Argus’ of April 12). Tho Queen’s Royal Theatre, to give it its full name, was opened on April 21, 1845, by tho lato Mr George Coppm, who had leased it from Councillor Smith. Sometimes there would bo an overflowing “ house,” and at others ho and hie company would play, to empty seats. On September 1 of that year 1 Rent Day ’ was staged. Perhaps tho title was ominous; whatever the reason, Dio patronage was disheartening, for while there were “ deadheads ” in abundance, there was imt one paying patron in the boxes. Coppm, however, .always breasted tho tide of adverse fortune bravely, and though money was very scarce with him ho gave a benefit for tho survivors of the emigrant ship Catararqui, which was wrecked oft King Island on September 18, 1845. lie took the leading part in ‘The Hunchback.’ Tho public responded so generously that there- was £66 available for these who had escaped drowning. It is interesting to road passages- from tho opening announcement of the old Queen’s. This was drawn up by John Davies, who was publicity man. The theatre would bo opened, said the handbills, on April 21, 1813, when Mr Coppm, through the liberality of Mr ,I*l T. Smith, would take a benefit. Davies then told tho public that the entertainments, which would bo selected by Air Coppiii while, he war. lessee of the theatre, would bo of so pure and moral a nature that ho believed tho boxes would be graced by the presence of all ladies of Melbourne. To e-nsuro that tho performances would go aft' with “eclat,” said Mr Davies, Mr Coppiii had obtained tho services of a most excellent “corps dramatiquo.” '.Mien the prices were given—and they were certainly not extravagant—but it was remembered that this was before tho discovery ot gold in Victoria. A. seat in the dress circle cost sa, in the boxes 4s. and in the pit os. Writing to a friend many years niter wards, Conpiri said that (he total weekly expenses in *tin> Queen's Theatre were at that timo £45 a week. In 18,55 Coppiii, with G. V. Brooke as a partner, purchased the lease of the ’i'l'cnlro Royal for £21,000. The venture was pot successful financially, hut fou years after this tho great tragedian decided once- more to trv hie fortune in Australia, where ho had obtained so many histrionic triumphs, Tie booked h? 3 passage on January, 1855, bv Money Vthgram’s ill-fated liner Lonoon, which was overwhelmed 1 by a storm on January 1. in tho Bay of Biscay. In this tragedy 2C6 lives wore. lost. Brooke played an heroic part. A fall, power!ul man, ho did yeoman service at the pumps, and white there was hope he, was the most cheerful man aboard the steamer. When (hero was no hope bis quiet acceptance of tho inevitable gave courage to those who wero less courageous by nature than he. There is -a. last picture of him, coatlcss. in a red Crimean shut, leaning against the saloon companion-way, swaying to and fro with the uneasy motion of tho waterlogged vessel, and calmly surveying Bio scene. Soon alter tlrir- the London sank.