THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA. NOTES BY SOALFAX.

Otago Witness, Issue 1805, 25 June 1886, Page 23

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA. NOTES BY SOALFAX.

Melhourne, June 14. Our rival operatic management^, with that cheerful and kindly consideration for one another's interests which is so characteristic, determined to spoil one another's business on Saturday night by producing a fresh opera a-piece. If ever you are in want of real skim-ice-nitroglycerine-please-don't-touch courtesy go out into the highways and seek out rival managers ; and, when found, plant yourself there and watch. You will enjoy a comedy which is full of endless surprises. "Estrella" was the means of drawing a crammed house to the Theatre Royal, Mr Phil Day's popularity as the Doge assisting largely. I have already described the plot on its first production at the Princess Theatre, with almost the same cast, in the latter end of 1884. Personally, I consider " Estrella " the best of all Mr Luscombe Searelle's works. " The music is bright and singularly melodious, although perhaps not strikingly original. The libretto, by Mr Walter Parke, a well-known London litterateur, is intensely humorous. It is curious to note that a mock point of law on which all the fun of the second and third acts hinges was actually tried in the courts of law in Sydney, within the last few weeks. In " Estrella " Count Pomposo, to test his wife's loye, gives it to be understood that he is dead, and writes a letter stating that he is on the point of death, adding instructions for his funeral. The count, coming to life finds, that his wife has married again ; and unnaturally, as some married men may say, wants her back agnin. The case is tried before the Doge, who rules that when a man of good repute and truthfulness gives it under his own hand and seal that he is dead he becomes so in the eyes of the law, and the second marriage holds good. The Sydney case was that of a prisoner who had been sentenced to death a sentence afterwards commuted to imprisonment When his term was up his wife wanted him back, again,a proceeding which did not appear to be to his taste. His defence to the summons for maintenance, I believe, was that having been sentenced to death, he was dead in law, although not so in fact. His ingenious argument was overruled. Suppose he was really dead In law, what would have become of him ? He would have

no status, and it being illegal for corpses to wander at large, I suppose he would have to beburied. Mios Nellie Stewart was as charming and vivacious as " Estrella " as we are accustomed now to expect her to be, and her beautiful solo, with humming chorus, in the last act wae deservedly encored. Mr W. H. Woodfield was effective iv .singing and acting as the lover Lorenzo ; and Mr W. H. Vernon gave point to the absurdities of Count Pomposo. I can say nothing of Mr Phil Day, as the Doge that I have not said before. It is a performance that cannot be described; it is so unapproachable out here. It is one huge gag from beginning to end, and were Mr Parke to hear it he might take to throwing things, bat he would have to laugh. You may remember that the Doge is 100 years old, with au eye for a pretty woman and a tendency to fall asleep at trying moments. Miss Alice Barnett had a thankless part as Tartarella ; while Miss Ida Osborne was well suited as Brigetta. " Estrella" will be the last opera played this season.

At the Opera House, " Princess Toto" is relied upon to fill the treasury, but I am unable to say, at present, whether it will. The opera opens in King Portico's Palace. The king (Mr E. Kelly) is a personage who has a mortal dread of public opinion, and a very high estimate of his own position. He has a daughter, Princess Toto (Miss A. Ivanova), who is the source of endless trouble to him. The Princess is romantic to the last degree, and is as forgetful as a night porter. In her early years she was bethrothed to Prince Doro (Mr Armes Beaumont), but the Prince is popularly supposed to have graced a cannibal feast as " cold pig," and Prince Caramel (Mr_T. B. Appleby), a gentleman who goes in for I tatting and crochet work, holds her affections. Prince Doro, however, is not eaten, but turns up safe and hearty, aud immediately replaces Caramel in the Princess' affections. Caramel, to win back the Princess, disguises himself as a dreadful brigand, and the inconstant Princess deserts Doro to live in Caramel's den. Her father and the Count, to wean her from her dangerous affections, disguise themselves as Red Indians, and she deserts Caramel to become a squaw. The Count gets drenched in a shower of rain on the way home, the Princess sees the deception, learns a lesson, and all ends as it was expected to. The music of the opera is light, waltzy, almost expresses it, without much attempt at concerted writing. All the numbers are melodious, and the orchestration is pleasing. The libretto is not in Mr Gilbert's usual satirical style, although the repartee is biting at times. Miss Ivanova was not at her best as tho Princess, and her voice sounded warm. She did not sing the last two nights of " Falka," her place being taken by Miss Colbourne-Baber at a moment's notice. Mr Baber succeeded beyond expectation, and was rewarded with a crowded house on the last night. Miss Beaumont was accorded a hearty and long-continued reception on his appearance, after an absence of several years from the stage. Mr Brough appeared as Zapeter, Portico's Prime Minister, his originnl part in London. The scenery was all new, and the dresses have been specially designed.

I regret to announce the death of Mr A. TDunning, the late well-known operatic managerTowards the end he had to be kept alive by morphia injections. Those who know the pleasant, smiling little man in health would hardly credit the extent to which he wasted away. He died from a complication of diseases in . which the lungs and kidneys were prominently affected. He had retired from theatrical life, and settled as host of the Earl of Zetland Hotel prior to his death. His lavt days were soothed by the unceasing attention of his wife, and Mr T. B. Appleby, an old friend. It was remarked with much surprise that the hotel was not closed on the day of his death.

Signor Majeroni has not done so well out of "Only Dust" as was expected, public favour having turned away from the comedy markedly during the week. " Jealousy "is to be revived on Friday next, and it might be insinuated with some little truth that we have probably seen that drama often enough. When it is not " Je »lousy," it is " Temptation," or " Traviatar " or " Lucretia," or "La Dame aux Camelias"; the main incidents are all the same.

Some weeks ago I announced the marriage of Miss Martina Simonsen to Mr Geo. Schreiber. The wedding took place on May lat the German Church, Sydenham, the Rev. Mr Wagner officiating, and the bride being given away by Mr W. Howard Smith, junr. After the usual indigestible breakfast the happy pair — I must get that in— left for Marseilles, via Paris, and sailed on the Bth May in the M.M. s.s. Salazie, arriving in Melbourne last Sunday.

The Fisk Jubilee Singers are making money enough to go back to Tennessee aud found another university, (Curious word, found. When a man goes to a place where there is no school and puts up oue, he founds it ; if there is one already, he finds it, and moves along.) They are singing in the Town Hall every evening, and are going to give a morning concert on Wednesday next. Their next step, will be to visit all the suburbs and then the country towns.

Sydney, — "Hazel Kirke" is doing fair average business at the Theatre Royal. "His Natural Life " is a positive success at the Standard, and Mr Alfred Dampier, who is the real author, is to be congratulated. John F. Sheridan now fires the young lady out of a cannon on the stage into the arms of a trapezist suspended in the dome of the Gaiety, and all Sydney is waiting for the night when someone will miss a grip. The variety shows at the Alhambra and Protestant Hall are getting their shave, of returns. Miss Annetta Scasi has joined the Alharabra company. When I fjrst saw Miss Seasi— if you read her name backwards you got her real one— she was a first-class burlesque artiste, with a big screw and an awful temper. Three years ago I wandered into the Academy of Music, Sydney, and to my great surprise found an old friend, greatly altered in vesta amor. She had evidently gone back to the old name now. Comic opera still runs at the Opera House.

D.'Grsay Ogden was sued lasb Friday by his orchestra for salary due. It appears that they are four Italian brothers, and that they earn an honest living as street musicians. Their salary at the Nugget Theatre was £2 per week each, but there were dismal weeks when no salary was paid. The summons was dismissed on technical grounds, but the leader openly vowed to have his rights before leaving the court, so we may expect a renewal of the case.

The " Silk Stockings" combination are popular at the Victoria Hall. Several new features have been introduced into the first part. A matinee in aid of the Ly-ee-moon fund was given last Saturday, but the returns were notoverpoweringly large.

Oscar Smith's "Indian Tourist Party," and Penman's "Juvenile Musottes" are now occupying St. George's Hall. Them is nothing new or striking about the combii ation, and we are a little tired of them.

Herr X'abst, a well-known and popular musioian, is giving a series of classical concerts at Glen's rooms with the view of producing specimens of the works of all the great masters of musio,

more especially those which are rarely met with uow-a-days. His wife, Madame E. Pabst, an accomplished musician, assists him. The Wednesday popular classical afternoon concerts are now in much demand by those who ha -c no business occupations to detain them. You see they are so fashionable, you can meet anybody who is anything there sometime or another. They are also so haudy for lovers. What can be more charming than sweet words of love whispered through a waltz by Chopin? The first continental concert was given in the exhibition last Saturday before the Governor and Lady Loch, and a good humoured crowd, who drank their beer and smoked their cigars with much amusement to themselves and profit to the caterer.