THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1796, 24 April 1886, Page 23

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

NOTES BY SCALFAX. Melbourne, April 12. As I write these opening lines the intelligent compositor is setting up the account of another dreadful shipwreck on your coast with sad and terrible loss of life. Our breakfast papers this morning gave us the history of a wreck en our own coast. We are doing a lively business in wrecks ; and the Paul Jones was burnt only a few days ago. The Waihora came out of dock to-day, and immediately the U.S.S. Company have a new shock to stand. Their luck is pretty bad just now. There is nothing new to report concerning the Royal or " The Mikado." The attendance has shown a slight, but only very slight, drop ; and as the opera has now run eight weeks, it may be expected to fall off somewhat. Fifty nights of full houses at the Royal mean more than a hatful of money. The opera season will run well into May next, when the company goes to Adelaide, and drama will have a long innings. We are to have " The Harbour Lights " and " Hoodman Blind " to lead off, and are promised a succession of highly interesting dramas in which every form of agony and sensation will be represented. About the most novel sensation I remember occurs in an oldish drama, where a child is bound on to a pile-driver worked by a real steam-engine, and is only rescued just as the driver starts to fall. It was always a touch-and-go scene, where, if any mistake were made, it would be maiming, if not death, to the child. I have seen a drama in which all the ghastly circumstances of a hanging were represented, and I do not think Messrs Sims and Jones can exceed that. If they can Ido not want to see it. The only spactacle that would draw me now would be the roasting alive of an editor.

" Rip Van Winkle " has been condemned to walk the boards of the Opera House for another week. Miss Lizzie Colborne, the Dunedin young lady I mentioned last week, has made an unqualified hit, and the remainder of the company are proportionately jealous and spiteful. That is the way of the profession, especially the female side of it. It is rare, very rare, and more the pity, to see a helping hand held out to a promising aspirant. The newcomer might endanger my place and yours ; we, Envy and Malice, will crush honest Talent. And Envy and Malice can do unpleasant things. All honour to the noble few who are willing, and do help the nervous debutante with cheering word and kindly hint, instead of sarcastic compliment and sneering disparagement. It is curious to note, yet nevertheless true, that the actor who has passed the ordeal is severest on the one going through it. I suppose the remembrance of their recent suffering is too vivid. It does us good to see other people in trouble when we do not feel particularly comfortable ourselves. The theatre will close next week " for repairs," and on Saturday week " Falka " is to blaze upon us and take us captive — that is if it has luck. The company will be numerically strong, and will include many good names. Success is considered certain by people who know nothing whatever about it. " Falka" is a source of considerable anxiety to certain responsible people, and its first appearauce will be a nervous evening to them. It may take very little to make or mar it at the present time.

" Hazel Kirke" was played for the last time on Friday, and on Saturday the management gave Mr Anson a big opportunity by letting him produce " Grimaldi" and "The Puppets" — his own especial pieces. " Grimaldi" is a drama by tho elder Boucicault, known years ago as " The Life of an Actress." Its main object is to show

just what I have mentioned above— the petty jealousy and spite always existent behind the scenes. I give you just a brief outline of the plot, as the drama is rarely played now. Grimaldi (Mr G. W. Anson) is a poor Frenchman employed as utility man in a provincial theatre, where Julia (Miss Jenny Watt-Tanner) — ahe has no other name in the bill — is playing a star engagement. Grimaldi has a benefit, and asks the star to play for him, but she indignantly refuses. A street singer — Violet, no other name (Miss Trevalyan) — passes, and Julia and soiue of her swell visitors propose to have the girl up 'and amuse themselves. Grimaldi takes Violet's part, and gets turned out of the house, and jeeringly is told to make Violet play for his benefit. He takes the girl home, coaches her, and makes an actress of her. Julia hears that the girl is clever, and fearing a rival, aids Maltrasers (Mr Laurence) to carry her off after the second act on her debut and triumphant success in London. Grimaldi, aided by a faithful low comedian, chases Maltrasers on horseback,and they manage to rescue Violet just in time for Lord Shaftou (Mr Frank Cates) to make her an offer of marriage. " Grimaldi " is not the kind of drama to suit us now ; we perceive all the little incongruities we always carefully glossed over before. Our age is becoming critical. When we saw the noble hero ahvayb dodge up in time to save the lovely maid in the drama of the past we always accepted his presence as fact, although we knew he was 10,000 miles away an hour ago. Now, we want to know how he got there. Grimaldi, in the hands of Mr Aiibon, was an exceedingly clever character study. His broken French and his broken English were perfect. Mr Anson is an excellent French scholar, and I can call to mind occasions on which Miss Selina Dolaro and Mr Anson have played little French comediettas. "Puppets," the concluding farce, was one steady scream. Mr Anson appears as a marionette figure, and his actions — for he does not speak — wero so supremely wooden and comical that the most stoical smiled. A well-known and respected critic who sat near me had to occupy two chairs, as he said, "to roll about in." If ever Mr Ansou wanders your way, see " Puppets " by all means, even if you have to dodge in when the doorkeeper is not looking. On Wednesday Dion Boucicaulf;, jun., benefits in " A Model of a Wife " and " The Colleen Bawn," Mr Williamson appearing as Mylesna Coppaleen, Miss Ninaßoucicault .13 the Colleen, and the benejiciare as Danny Mann. This will be the last appearance of the Boucicaults, as their engagement has terminated. On Thursday Mr Frank Thornton plays " The Private Secretary," appearing for one week, and on Thursday week the theatre closes. On Saturday, April 24, the Majeronis appear in " Elizabeth." Great and elaborate preparations are being made for this revival. The framework for the scenery is being made by a highly fashionable city furniture-maker. That ought to ensure success. Leon and Cushman are playing their last nights now, and their season ends next Friday. Invercargill will be their next town on tour. The Hngo Minstrels still hold on at the Victoria Hall. _ Miss Helen, or Hellen, Fergus — she spells it either way when she feels inclined — opened the Nugget Theatre on Saturday last with a new drama, which, being taken from a well-known French original, was appropriately called " Theft." At the cheap rates charged Miss Fergus may hold on over Easter, aud the admirer of real, stirring sensation will know where to get it in lumps. I do not remember whether I mentioned last week that Mr Philip Beck, late manager for the Olympic Theatre, London, arrived last week by the Iberia. His intention is to give " Anecdotical Shakespearian" readings. Apropos of Mrs Conover, my last English Entr'acte unbosoms itself thus :— " Mrs Conover has been a manageress, and now she is getting coached up as an actress. It is pretty certain that bhe will be more fortunate in her new capacity than as a manageress, and because she will not be able to lose money. Some people must have made a nice little picking* out of Mrs Conover." What can it mean ? Mr Stuart Cumberland gave his thoughtreading seance in the Town Hall on Saturday last, and I do not think he convinced many people. His manifestations were too commonplace; if a man possesses the divine gift Mr Cumberland claims to have, it ought to be devoted to higher aims than finding concealed articles before an audience who pay for admission and want to be astonished. Mr Cumberland wished Mr Deakin, chief secretary, and Mr Fitzgibbon, town clerk, to enact a murder, ho that he could describe it on his return to the hall, but they refused. This annoyed Mr Cumberland, who mildly hinted that crowned heads invariably delighted in humouring him. Mr Cumberland was allowed to make an experiment last week upon two Chinamen suspected of having murdered a policeman, and who are known to have stolon some copperplates from a gold mine. Why he was. allowed to interfere with criminals awaiting trial is a deep and dark mystery, but the Chinamen were too deep for him. Nothing concerning the murder could he ascertained, and I should like to know what use it would be if it were. It is not evidence. Mr Cumberland even failed in his great fsat. One of the (Tiiu.tmen hid a piece of the stolen copper in a crevice in the desk and he failed to find it. Mr Cumberland then told a Herald reporter that he would never try Chinamen again, they could not concentrate their thoughts. On Saturday night the thought-reader was baffled by a twinging corn in one of his "localising pain" experiments, although he named the seat of pain, the under lip, in another case. When Mr Cumberland announced his last manifestation, there were cries of " Note, note," aud the chairman explained that he had received several notes containing suggestions for tests, which were submitted to the thought-reader, who preferred to follow his own programme. The hall was well filled. A second manifestation takes place to-morrow.

Sydney.— "The Great Pink Pearl" is a stupendous success at the Gaiety Theatre, Lord Carrington having already been to see it. "Dark Days" still rules the roost at the Theatre Royal ; and the old pre-adamite operas are, like John Brown's body, " a-mouldering " at the Opera House. It is not necessary to state that the Federal Minstrels are still at the Academy of Music.

Miss Emelie Melville wants to get the Bijou Theatre for a season. I understand that she arrived in Melbourne incognito as Mrs Derby, and is calmly resting in a popular suburb.

Mr Albort Brennir sued Mr S. Moore, of the Opera House, for wages due and breach of agreement last Wednesday. It was shown, amongst other things, that Mr Brennir was an uncertificated insolvent, aud that the action was vexatious and unnecessary. Case dismissed.

The Amy Horton season at St. George's Hall opens next Saturday with H. J. Byron's glorious old burlesque, " Little Don Giovanni, or the Maid, the Masher, and the Magpie." The company is a fairly good one, and burlesque is a want we sigh for just now.