THE GAIETY COMPANY OFF THE STAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9763, 13 June 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GAIETY COMPANY OFF THE STAGE.

The members of Messrs Williamson and Musgrove's London Gaiety Company, who have for the past week been performing to crowded houses at the Princess Theatre, where they have fully sustained their reputation as accomplished burlesque aiiiists, are also—or at least a number of them are—proficient exponents of the melodramtic sensational school, in which the eye of the audience is feasted with thrilling incident such as murders, fires, assaults, riots, suicides, and so on. The opportunity for a display of their capabilities in melodrama having been presented to them, they were not slow to take advantage of it. The opportunity came in the publication in the Otago Workman, issued at the close of last week, of statements affectiDg the characters of the ladies of the Gaiety Company — statements which were brought under the notice of the management, and which could not be allowed to pass unchallenged. Counsel was hastily taken on Saturday night, as a result of which it was decided that, failing an apology, the editor should be horsewhipped. Nothing seems to have been eaid on Sunday about the contemplated proceedings, and there was some reason to believe that the storm of indignation excited by the published statements had to some extent passed over. It was bat the calm, however, preceding the tempest. A rehearsal of the company had bsen called for 11 o'clock on Monday, but two hours before that the members had mustered on the stage, and six of the most stalwart ladies of the chorus were picked out to represent the whole number in seeking satisfaction for the aspersions that had been cast upon their characters. They were supplied with " property " whips, armed with which they marched to Kensington on their errand. They were preceded by Mr H. Musgrove, Mr W. Hughes (the business manager), and Mr-B. J. Lonnen, who, on reaching the office, interviewed the proprietor, Mr Lister. They directed his attention to the paragraphs of which they complained, and asked him whether he accepted the responsibility for them. He replied that the insinuations contained in the paragraph must be true, or else they would nob have appeared in the paper. Mr Musgrove, who apparently was not so lirmly convinced of the veraciousness of the paper, demanded that an apology should be made, but did not obtain a satisfactory answer. The business representatives of the company kept Mr Lister engaged in conversation until the arrival on the scene of the ladies who had been depntßd to vindicate the honour of those who had been maligned ; and when everything was in readiness for the attack tiie cue waa given and promptly accepted, the ladies troouping in in dramatic style; and, on having Mr Lister pointed out to them, proceeding to lash their whips vigorously about his head and shoulders. The employes in the printing office came to the proprietor's rescue, and a tenoral melee ensued, in the course of which Mr Lpnnen received a nasty blow on the eye, given by someone behind him. The ladies were driven back, bat the reserve was then brought up, consisting of some stage hands, and the whole of the premises were turned upside down and every window in the place smashed in the conflict. While the free fight was proceeding between the stage hands and the compositors, the ladies re-entered and made havoc of the office—tearing up manuscripts and throwing documents about with a mo3t sublime disregard of their literary value. The one of the defending' force who fared worst was in the act of flight when he was intercepted by a couple of the attacking party, who smeared his face so that he resembled an Australian blackfellow. Having wrought sufficient havoc to satisfy their wounded feelir>g3, the theatrical party were preparing to return to town, when Constable Higginr. happened to appear on the scene, and Mr Lister frantically rushing out and addressing him, besought him to arrest three men, whom he pointsd out, fcr damaging his property and for assault. 'Hie constable took the men indicated into chaige; and they were brought in custody to the police station, where charges were formally laid against them and others.

An application was almost immediately mads to Inspector Pardy to" bail out the three who had been arrested; but as Mr Lister declared that he believed that the whole of the company must have participated in the wrecking of his premises, it was suggested that to save trouble and annoyance the informaa should have an opportunity of identifying those whom he could before anything further was done in the matter. Fourteen others were subsequently taken iuto custody and handed over to the charge of the watchhousekeeper. When the whole party, now numbering nine gent'emen and eight ladies, appeared at the police station a great many persons crowded about the doorways, and anxiously endeavoured to get a glimpse of the fair culprits and their male companions. The scene at the station was certainly a very novel and amusing one. Never before had so many persons been brought there at one time; and never bsfore did offenders against the law appear to enjoy the situation so much. While the officer whoso duty it was to record the charges against the accused was busily engaged in taking down their names and making out the several charges agaicst them, they beguiled the time with talking jovially over their recent exploit, their conversation being enlivened with merry laughter and frequent jest. It seemed, indeed, aa if a picnic party had paid a surprise visit to the police station, and were jocularly pretending to bs implicated in some offence against the law. What further gave thair visit to ths station the appearance of a picnic was the fact that at frequent intervals members of the Gaiety Company who were not under arrest appeared on the scene with refreshments, which were demolished by the- party in custody with evident zest. Then when the charges had been duly recorded, the whole party drove away, noS in the customary dingey vehicle in which accused are generally conveyed to tha Police Court, but in carriages drawn by high-stepping steeds. It seemed as if they were ridiug in triumph to some joyful event —tho reward of their past victory—rather than being taken by the "minions of the law" to the awful precincts of the police court. Even when they arrived at the court their high spirits forsook them not. They appeared as excited and jubilant aa players who had achieved a sucoes3 before a large audience. And they had a large audience, for the court was thronged with spectators, who evidently enjoyed the scene as much as the mock court scene in the company's burlesque of "Miss Esmeralda." One of the counsel and several of the jury in that court scene now figured as accused ; while the bench, instead of being occupied by a learned judge, smoking a long clay pipe, who displayed a remarkable skill in gymnastics, wa3 filled by three gentlemen whose athletic Eehievernersti do not now extend beyond participation in a mild game of bowls. In tho cold language of the charge sheet the accused were arraigned in the first instance for wilfully and maliciously damaging property of the value of £10 at Kensington, belonging to Samuel Lister. Then they were charged with assaulting the said Samuel Lister and also his sons John and Alexander. The namos of the culprits were as follows:—Thomas Mervin Yates, James Gilkison Arnot, William Hiland, Thomaa Barnes, Edwin George Murphy, Edward J. Flavelle, Edward J. Loimen, Herbert Harlem, Harry Musgrove, Kate Heheir, Marcelk Day, Laura Travers, Laura Hopo, Dora Hope, Ada Davidson, Maggie Bell, and Edith Villers. Messrs R. H. Leary, J. Mill, and J. H. Morrison, J.P's., composed the bench, while Mr J. F. M. Fraser appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Sim for the accused.

As soon a3 the first charge was read over, learned counsel for the prosecution asked that the value of the property as set down en the charge might be reduced to £4- 10s, and Mr Sim oiferhig no objection, the Bench granted the required amendment. Mr Fraser then asked leave on behalf of the prosecutor to withdraw the charges, statiug that the matters being of summary conviction, he apprehended that there could be do objection to tho adoption of that course. Mr Sim consenting, and tho police offeriug no objection, tho Bench allowed the casea to be withdrawn. Then uiembcru of the company, who had had such an eventful day, Hhook hands cordially with the police, thanked them for their courtesy, and withdrew, still jubilant, from the nrecincta of the court, Ijater on in the day they enjoyed a veritable triumph in a more legitimate sphere, on the stage of the Princess Theatre.

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