THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA. NOTES BY SCALFAX.

Otago Witness, Issue 1778, 19 December 1885, Page 23

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA. NOTES BY SCALFAX.

Melbourne, December 8,

In electing to produce Mr Henry Jones' drama " Saints and Sinners " last night, Monday, the Theatre Royal management made a serious error. Saturday is the recognised day for first performances, and our public cling to their customs with the tenacity of an octopus' The critics, too, are generally in good humor on Saturdays, and they have all Sunday to consider their notices. At the gathering of the forces last night loud complaints were made at Monday being selected, and the critics sat down with woeful thoughts as to how they were going to get to their suburbs at 2 a.m. To add to the lists of discomforts it may be observed that it was the hottest night of the year, and it wanted $ great amount of nerve to calmly sit oneself in the stifling atmosphere of the theatre. I have already given you the previous history of this drama, and will launch at once into the plot. We are in the pretty village of Steepleford, where the Rev. Jacob Fletcher (Mr J. C. Williamson), "passing rich on £80 per year," has a pretty daughter Lottie, personated by Miss Essie Jenyns. Lottie's mother went wrong years ago, and is now dead. Lottie, herself, is a wilful, spoiled child, who hates her own pleasant village, and longs for love and London. George Kingsmill <Mr.W. Holloway), a worthy farmer, loves and would wed her, but Lottie wants a romantic lover. Plain, business-like wooing she cannot understand. A certain Captain Eustace Eanshawe, dark and romantic, crosses her path, and he ends by inducing her,, at a Sunday-school picnic, to elope with him to London, where he of course promises to marry her. This occupies two acts, and gives Mr Williamson an opportunity, ably seized, of some fine acting when the »ews of -his daughter's disgrace is broken to him. The third act finds Lottie living in gilded sin and wretchedness at Torquay. The Captain puts the marriage off from day to day, and at last gets ordered to the Cape. During temporary absence Raddles (Mr Seagrave) has an Interview with Lottie, and she learng that a female Baddies is entitled to the Captain's .affections, and that she can only be his mistress. After a stormy scene with her guilty loyer she is persuaded to remain as Fanshawe's mistress,, and to go to the Cape with him. Her father manages .to turn up just jn time, and finally persuades .her to return home and forsake Fanßhawe. .Geprge ftingsmill also .arrives full of vengeance,, b.u.t the mild reproofs of the forgiving

clergyman induce him to forgive the seducer of his love. Looking at it from a dramatic point of view the curtain could well fall here. The act is a powerful one, and the finish would %i make " many a worse drama. The author, however, is not going to allow Lottie off so easily. The story of her disgrace is promulgated in Steepleford by Samuel Hoggard, a wealthy tanner, who desires the clergyman to assist him in a fraud upon a widow, which, of course, the clergyman indignantly refuses. Lottie and her father are driven from Steepleford, and meet with many reverses, but their luck at last turns ; George Kingsmill comes back to England as a wealthy colonist, marries Lottie, and her father is once more inducted to his old curacy. Iloggard gets into prison, and Fanshawe gets shot by the Zulus. " Saints and Sinners " is the first drama which Mr Jones has produced without a collaborateur, and, despite the sneers of Mr Herman, proves that he is capable of good honest work. There is nothing tricky or sensational in the drama ; it is human, it might have happened yesterday, and many such dramas are being enacted in the busy world at the present moment. Certainly it lacks originality, but the characters are drawn with a firmer hand than usual. The study of the old clergyman, as represented by Mr Williamson, was admirable; he held the sympathy of the entire house. Miss Essie Jenyns has not, I fear, improved during her absence from the stage. She used to be fresh and natural ; but her acting last night was simply acting ; she was counting the bouquets thrown on the stage during one of her finest scenes. She has gained tricks of speech, sudden transitions to deep chest notes, which are unpleasant to hear. I can only trust she may cast these acquired accomplishments away and become her former self agaiu. We shall all like her better. Mr Holloway, as George Kingsmill, was inclined to be melodramatic, and Mr Cates was an admirable Captain Fanshaw. He excels in polished villainy, and exceeded himself lasfrnight. The other characters, who have little to do with the story, were well filled.

Fryer's Circus opened on Saturday evening at the corner of Exhibition and Lonsdale streets. Long before the hour for commencing every seat was taken, the reserved seats being rushed by the mob. The greater part of the programme consists of the usual circus business, some very clever acrobats and clowns attracting special notice. The greatest novelty is two goats, who ride on horseback and do some wonderful things — for goats. In the ring most of the riding is done by dogs, monkeys, &c, and a comic finale, "Circus riding exposed," which I have seen before, concludes. Business has, so far, been of the best.

" Faust " is drawing well at the Opera House, and will not be taken off before the holidays. Miss Flora Anstead has left the company, and Mrs Wooldridge supplies her place. " Henry V " is in active rehearsal — 10 to 4 every day — and is to outrival any previous performances.

" The Magistrate " is still crowding the Bijou Theatre, and there are no signs of failing popularity.

Leon and Cushman's Minstrels are now in their fifth week, and presented their second programme on Saturday. The piece de resistance is a negro drama entitled "Way Down South," purporting to represent negro life " befo' cle war."

Emerson's Minstrels sailed on Tuesday last for Hobart, where they play a week. They will reach Dunedin by the boat which carries this letter. The two best members of the company, the Cogill brothers, were left behind, as there were some people very anxious that they should remain. So anxious were they that legal proceedings were resorted to. Mr Alf . Lawton was hurriedly secured as a substitute, and he is but a weak one.

I learn privately that Miss Jeffreys-Lewis will come out to the Colonies once more when her present engagements are filled. I should have supposed that she had seen quite enough of them. She struck the blackest luck she could out here, and were it not for the libel laws I would write what she suffered publicly and privately as a -warning to all stage aspirants. Some day I may tell you.

Mr George Darrell has been amongst us securing talent for his New Zealand tour. Miss Annie Mayor, a pleasing, but at times monotonous, young actress, has been engaged to play the heroines. The tour opens in Auckland on Boxing night.

Sydney. — " The Mikado "is crowding the Royal every evening, and will run until " Cinderella" is put on. This opera follows our Royal pantomime. Mr Anson is playing " Noah's Ark " at the Opera House. Business is bad; he is said to be badly managed. Mr Dampier is playing " The New Magdalen " at the Gaiety. His season closes next Friday, and he plays " Brought to Justice " in Newcastle on the 12th. He returns to the Gaiety on Boxing night, where he plays " A Christmas Carol." Charles Reade's well-known drama " Drink " will be played by him early in the new year. "Court Cards" and "The Maid and the Magpie " are the attractions at the Olympic. The pantomime at this theatre will be " Old Mother Goose," localised by Mr H. R. Duff, a clever and competent author and critic. Miss Kate Lovell, a London burlesque actress now on board the incoming mail boat, will probably be secured for the lead. Miss Lovell wired from Colombo to the triumvirate for a place in our Royal pantomime, but was too late, all the parts being filled. Mr Harry Rickards and his company are still at the Academy of Music. " The Great Pink Pearl" is to be Mr Anson's Christmas novelty.

Mr Grattan Riggs is the only actor of any importance starring in Adelaide. ' Clark and Ryman's Minstrels, at St. George's Hall, and the Federal Minstrels at the Victoria Hall, are doing average business.

I mentioned last week that M. Poussard was going to give an opera season at our Opera House in January next. It appears that there will be some complications, as the directorate would be glad to be rid of Mr Rignold, but he does not mean to go.

The Irish Carnival at the Exhibition is attracting large bodies of spectators, and the receipts are averaging well. It may be that this carnival is taking much money from the more legitimate places of amusement. Mr and Mrs ,G. A. Sala arrived in Sydney yesterday from New Zealand. Some weeks ago I gave you particulars of a Dramatic Fah> held in the Exhibition in aid of the dramatic almshouses. A mepting of the Dramatic Association was held to-day tp consider the best means to do away with a deficit of £400. No quorum being present, the meeting lapsed; but the master, Mr G. B. W. Lewis, and the secretary, Mr Symes, had a lively altercation, and called one another charming names before the meeting was adjourned for a week.

A stranger was passing one of our halls the other evening when he heard sounds of steady and hearty laughter. Crossing to the doorkeeper he inquired the reason, tlnd was informed that an amateur performance was going on. "It must be very amusing," said he. "It is," replied the Cerberus. "What are they play:ing?" inquired the stranger. To which came ,the reply, '» Hamlet, sir,"