THE DRAMA IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7253, 16 May 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE DRAMA IN AUSTRALIA.

Notes by Scalfax,

Melbourne, May 5.

"La Petite Madoreoiselle " fall off considerably last week, so much bo that a change was considered advisable; and "lolantbe" not being quito ready, the over popular opora " La Mascotte"was put on for "one week only.1 Tbis opera was first produced at the PrinC3Sß Theatre at Christinas timo two years ago, and had an extraordinary run. Mr A. T. Dunning waß then playing " Manola" at the Opera House, and that opera, in all its first blush of scenory and costume, could not stand against Audran's veritable "Luck biirjgor." Lacocq's opera would have proved a gold mine to Dunning at any othor period; as it was, it failed. As you have seen this opora in New Zealand I refrain from outlining the plot, Bottina is a hoydenish character, one that an actress might eanily bo tempted to overdo, but Miss Maggie Moore has managed to hit the happy medium, and her present performance vocally and artistically is evon an improvement on that of two yeara ago. Signor Brocolini is replaces Signor Vordi aa Pippo, but otherwise the cast ia similar to the earlier one. Signor Brocplini is well suited with his role, and leaves nothing to be_ deßired. Mr Woodfield appears as Frittelini, Miss Nellie Stewart as Fiametta,- Mr Hnrwood as King Laurent, and Mr Kelly as Rooco. ■ On Saturday next we aro to have "lolanthe," and extra preparations are being made for it. The principal characters will be distributed as follows: —lo'anthe, Mias Emma Chambers; Phyllis, Miss Nellie Stewart; the Lord Chancellor, Mr Robert Brough ; the Earl of Tololler, Mr Frank Boyle; and the Earl of Mountararat, Mr W. H. Woodfield. "lolanthe" waa first produced at the Savoy Theatre, London, on Saturday, November 25,1882. It had a very fair run in London and the provinces, but by no means came up to " Pinafore." In America it was not so successful, as the whole plo and scencery is entirely English, or, to coin a word, Londoniah. The British peers, Grenadier Guardsmen, and Reform Bills, and Lord Chancellors are, no doubt, fair objects for satire to aeiaa upon, but many of the good things must be lost upon people to whom all these are but a name. However, I shall let you know all about it next week. "Bobadil"' was not ready last Saturday for production at tho Bijou Theatre, so "La Perichole " was put up for a week, with Miss Gracie Plaisted and Mr Charles Harding in the leading parts. Searello's new opera is positively announced for Saturday next. " Called Back" is still on at the Opera House, but I fancy everyone who wants to Bee it has done bo by this timo. "Youth" will be revived at this theatre as a delicate attempt to sustain our martial ardour by showing how Mr Rignold can charge a battery of Arabs— it's sure to be Arabs this time—and overcome them ainglehanded. Western and Hussey's Minstrels are doing good business at the Nugget Theatre; and the "Red Stockings" are also attracting attention at St George's Hall.

The Harry Rickard's Company left for Australia, as I have already told you, on April 15, By the kindness of a correspondent lam enabled to give you the namea of the company. The ladies comprise the Misses'Janny Wilson, Daisy Creman, and R. Robie; and the gentlomen, Mr Rickards, and Messrs Austin, Phillips, and Creman. The company are expected to open at tho Adelaide Academy of Music (now building) on the Gth proximo.

The irrepressible " Vagabond " haa been at it again. Not satisfied with showing us "No Mercy," he haa written a new drama, "England and Russia; or, tha White Hand." Sounds good, doesn't it ? It was inflicted upon a Sandhurst audience by Mr Dampier on the 15th ultimo, There must have bean something in tho drama, dynamite perhaps, for it seemed to go; and the author waa allowed to leave the town alive. If ever I write a play I'll try it in Sandhurst first.

The Melbourne Dautsoha Turn-Verein have been holding high carnival in celebration of their twenty fifth anniversary, and the proceedings culminated in a groat concart in the Exhibition on Saturday night. The three local local Liedortafols and the Adelaide Quartette Vorein assisted in a programme of unusual excellence. The Govornor and suite ware present on Friday and Saturday, Friday was the gymnastic day, for you may know that a Turn-Verain is principally a gymnastic club. Lady Loch presented the oak laurels and diplomas on Saturday, On Friday the club paraded the streets in gymnastic uniform, and their fine manly appearance excited much favourable comment. Tha Adelaide Quartette "Verein came over en masse, they number fifteen, and Bang aa no club of oura can. Their conductor was presented to the Governor by his Excellency's request, and was congratulated upon tha ability of the singers under his control. There was also a Bier Festival, which was not public, and the quantity of lager stowed away that evening was enormous, Another minstrel company has designs upon us, as it seemß that Leon, the woman impersonator, who waß hero some years ago, is forming a combination for a descent upon those shores. And yet we are afraid of the Russian?.

Adelaide. —Miss Genevieve Ward is playing her round of pieces at the Theatre Royal, and expresses herself quite satisfied with the business she is doing. Mr Genoso is arranging a company to open a season at Garner's Theatre. Mr Liddy, Miss Ward's advance agent, waß presented with a set of gold studs prior to bis departure for Queensland to arrange Miss Ward's tour there.

"Confusion" has been playing down in tha western part of the Colony for some weeks past. The company open shortly in Brisbane. Wybert Raave and company should be in Auokland by this, aa they left on Friday week. The company comprises Mrs Chippendale, the Misses Alice Deorwyn, Constance Deorwyn, Lily Bryer, and Messrs Raeve, Gladstone, Harris, Fitzgerald, and J. B. Steelo.

Brisbane.—The Dunning Opera Company are doing pretty well in Brisbane, and the last Sandgate train is put back so that suburban residents may sit out the operas. The Matthews Circus is also in Brisbane, and St. Laon's is promised. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" has had its turn at the Academy of Music, and the South Brisbane amateurs have trying their hands with " Aurora Floyd." The Musical Union, the Orchestral Society, and the Liedertafel are all doing good work. Klaer and Olman's Surprise Party had a bad season in Brisbane, and are now on their way to the East. Miss Kate Ramsden, of aorial suspension notoriety, and Signor Canna, who plays something under 200 drums at once, are of tho company. Miss Eloise Juno, and Leon Caron's opera company are at Gympie. Marian Willis w&b, at last hearing, playing at Joowoomba.

Tasmania.—Hall and Hamilton's company are at the Theatre Royal, Hobart; and Webb's Marionettes are, or wers, at the Town Hall. Mr J. O. Williamson leaves San Francisco for Melbourne on May 0. He has purchased Gilbert and Sullivan'B latest opera, "The Mikado;" and he hopes to be able to induce Dion Bouoicault to visit Australia. He has actually novelties of which he does not, and will not, know tho name for many a day to come. At all events we have got loads of things to exppot, so we may rest happpy, Sydnoy.—Miss Jeffreys- Lewis is playing " Odette " at tho Opera Hpuse to fair lpusinose, " B6tey >■ is the pisct (?p rQUtynft «t

the Theatre Roynl; Emerson's Minstrels are at tha Gaioty Thoatro; the Federal Minstrels »re at tho Academy of Musio; Gbiarini's Oirous ia in B&lmore Park; and G. A. Sala fo lecturing. John F. Sheridan, and "Fun on the.Bristol" are in Sydney, and I believe, have played at Pamimatta. They con template a Quaonaland tour. . Having a little space on band thia week, I vyill devote it to a little Btage history anont the reprehensible practios cf calls beforo tbe curtain. ' This_ mark of approval is almost ■legrading in its commonness at tho present sime; and even apart from the optiqiie dv, theatre has much to be said against it. On tho 9ch of April 1791 V a singer who made bis dehU in Sodaine and Gretry's comic opera " Guillauma Tell," in Paris, was callod for by tbe audience. His name is forgotton, but "tbe circumstance is not. He refused to appear, and the pittites tore tbe curtain. Calls were then so frequent that a newspaper of the day stated that "to be called before the curtain is no 'longer an honour," In the veteran Maoready'a " Reminisoenoeß " he states that the " call" system was first introduced at Covent Garden, on the oocasion of bis appearance in "Riohard III," on October 19, 1819. The custom waß not introduced into opera until 1824, when Rossini was director of the King's Theatre, London, and his wife, Madame Colbran, and Signore Paata, atsd Catalani were stars, Parke, the oboi player, in his " Musical Memoirs," a most interesting work on early English opera—mentions that Signora Catalnm was " called" after "II Fanatico psr la Muaica," In 1836, the first composer was called before the curtain, and hia name is well known in Eogland yet, It was Mr X J. Loder, and the compliment wao paid to the composer of " Nourjahad,," produced at the English Opera House, now the plnce where Henry Irving and Mary Anderson have been " fretting their feeblo hours." The first autbocalled before tho curtain in France was Voltaire, after " Mnrope;" the second was Marmontel, after "Dionyse." • This anecdote explains a peculiarity you may have often noticed in connection with operatio choruses. When M. Vaucorbeil, lately deceased, was manager of the Grand Opera at Paris there was a strike in the chorus. Questioned aa the cause, tbe lender explained: " The thing is simple enough, m'eieu; we are lyric artists. We are engaged to eing, and sing we will; but as for the gestures, you must ongaga pantomim'sts to do them, A chacxm son rOk. A chacun stin rang."