THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 181, 6 August 1886, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

NOTES BY SCALFAX.

Melboukne, July 27.

The now well-known drama, " The Silver King," was revived at the Theatre Royal on Saturday last, before the usual crowded and noisy audience. Why is it that Saturday audiences are always so turbulent ? There was just as large an audience last night, but they were models of propriety. Is it beer, custom, or what 1 JtJii it may be mentioned that the law clerks have had a banner specially worked to take to the theatres when they honour— l suppose that's it I—them1 — them with their official presence. The medical students already have a cheering device of skull and crossbones to dangle over tho gallery ledge. These rising members of gentlernanlv professions sing, howl, and shriek worse than any gallery boy, and make themselves thoroughly obnoxious to the rest of the audience without the slightest compunction. They make you feel as if you wanted a can of nitro-glycerine to drop among them, and wanted it badly. The cast of " The Silver King" is, in the main, identical with that of former productions, the only changes of note being Miss ' Maggie Knight for Miss Annie Mayor as Nellie Denver, and Mr Harry Taylor for Mr A. Redwood as Elijah Coombe. Miss Knight's emotional acting is well suited to the part of the long-suffering wife, and the best praise I can give her is to say that she equalled her predecessor. Mr Taylor was a weak and washy imitation of a powerful original, and much regret was expressed that Mr Redwood had not been retained in the part. Mr Titheradge acted with his usual care as Wilfred Denver, and Messrs Garner, Leakc, Jewett, Phillips, and Phil Day were all acceptable. The latter gentleman " gags " the part of Daniel Jaikes unmercifully, and sometimes presumes upon his popularity. Coarseness is not wit. The heavy mechanical scenery worked well, and calls were frequent. "The Silver King" will only be played for a few nights.

Mr Pinero's three-act farcical comedy, " The Rocket," was produced at. the Bijou Theatre on Saturday before a fair house. " The Rocket " was written specially to exhibit the particular talents of a clever comedian, Mr Edward Terry, whose manner is as unlike Mr Reeve's as it is possible to conceive without the aid of stimulants. The oomedy was a dreary failure at the. Opera

House, Sydney. I shall not attempt any lengthened description of it this week, as I have more interesting matter. The central figure is one Count Walkinshaw, a vulgar, priggish, and impossible person, who has a daughter, Florence, who is really noc his daughter but his brother's, Joshua Mabel, a weak-minded sentimentalist. Florence is loved by Joslyn Hammersmith, a wealthy young fellow, and the rocket is primed. By means of Joslyn, Walkinshaw is introduced into good society in London (Joslyn meets them in France), and aspires to the hand of a rich widow, Joslyn's mother, whom ho avowedly despi&es. The rocket is then soaring, but events soon change. Joslyn clears Walkinshaw out of the house ; everybody gets down to the Lord Warden Hotel, at Dover, and plays the usual Pinero game of hide-and-seek ; Walkinshaw's wife — a tartar — turns up ; his identity is discovered, and the rocket falls like the stick. It is perhaps needless to say that Joslyn marries Florence. Mr Wybert Reeve as the fictitious Count succeeded better than I should have expected in a part which is out of his usual run. Mr Brian Darley was highly effective and beautiful as Joslyn, but Miss Constance Deorwyn was chilling as Florence. The balance of the cast was well filled. lam not inclined to consider " The Rocket " as likely to make any lengthened run.

" Nell Gwynne" is attracting audiences by fits and starts. You go in one night and you find, a poor house ; the next time you go it is crowded to the doors. The opera appears to be a paying venture, but you never can tell till the balance is struck. " Falka " was a financial failure in spite of its long run. " Maritana " is to be the next opera tried, and Miss Lizzie Colborne will be entrusted with the title role. From what I know of this young lady I think I shall be able to chronicle an unqualified success.

The Nugget Theatre has still got its AngloStatue Minstrels on the programme, and the Empire Music Hall is still open. If all I hear be true, the entertainment provided at the latter place is highly flavoured at times. The " Swinging Beauties " are drawing good houses at the Victoria Hall. St. George's Hall remains closed.

Mr John Fanning, late manager of the " Silk Stockings " Minstrel Company, sued Mr F. M. Clark for £41 15s 6d, salary and money due, last Wednesday, in the County Court. Fanning stated that he was engaged at £6 per week to manage the show, and had paid out money for printing, &c. There was also an amount due for a locket lent to Clark, which had never been returned. In cross-examination, Mr Gaunson tried to prove that Fanning had been advising people to leave the company, and to sue Clark for salaries, and trying to get articles written against Clark by a Sandhurst paper. A verdict was given for £35 15s 6d, and costs.

The Poussard case turned up again in the County Court on Thursday, when Horace Poussard, Felice Poussard, and Samuel Moore were sued by Schoh, Brugginann, and Co. for £152 7s sd, for goods supplied during the ill-fated Lottie Moutal opera reason. A verdict was given for £139 18s 9d, with costs. Mr S. Moore is the only one of the trio present in this colony, and it was only the last week he lost another action. The horizon looks pretty gloomy for him.

In order to add variety to Mr Moore's daily life, Mr Marshall, a member of the late opera company, sued the Opera House directors through him for salary due. When the last season ended so abruptly salaries were, in most cases, unpaid, and so they remain The case fell through, as it was proved that the Opera House directors had nothing to do with the company, Moore being entirely responsible. That must have been joyful news for him. He claims to have lost £1500 or so in the speculation. It is probable that he wishes he were up in Brisbane with the Poussards.

Another of those painful cases which, in spite of stringent prohibitive legislation, crop up every now and then, is being investigated by the police. A young girl, Georgina Warburton by name, died on Friday last at 25 Young street, under circumstances which, it is alleged, leave no doubt that a criminal operation had been performed on her. The notorious Mrs Taylor is said to be the guilty person, and is now under arrest. This woman has been accused of malpractice on four different occasions on which her patients have died, but has always managed to escape conviction. Miss Warburton was lately a member of the " Silk Stockings " Company, and was a daughter of the late Mr Percival Warburton, for many years box-office keeper at the Theatre Royal.

Mr Frank Weston, of Wizard Oil and Nugget Theatre fame, an insolvent, applied for an unconditional certificate on Saturday last. His liabilities were £1023, and his assets £1000. The case was postponed till to-day, whenhis Honor Judge Molesworth asked some pertinent questions as to what had become oE the assets. The liabilities were only £23 ahead of the assets, and yet a certificate was asked for without payment of anything. Mr Weston was stated to be unaole, at present, to give evidence in a satisfactory manner, but his Honor refused to accept a medical certificate, and intimated that he was prepared to issue a warrant for insolvents who did not attend to be examined. Finally, the case was adjourned to August 10. Mr Weston proposes to settle in Sydney when he gets his certificate, and a circular is being sent round calling a meeting to-morrow to arrange for the presentation of a purse of sovereigns. It appears to me that if the sovereigns were presented to the unfortunate creditors who get nothing they would be better applied.

Sydney. — The only novelty in this city lias been the production on Saturday last of a new colonial drama "Voices of the Night," at the Royal Standard Theatre. The scene is laid in Sydney, and the author is Mr Thomas Walker, I believe, once well known as a spiritualistic lecturer. Programmes at the other houses remain unchanged.

Adelaide. — The opera company is the only attraction of importance in this deadly-lively town, and it takes all the fascinations of the company to move the phlegmatic inhabitants. Our Governor is on a visit to Ade? laide just now, and he was entertained at a

concert and afternoon tea on the stage of the Theatre Royal, which had been artfully made to represent a marquee.

Amongst other interesting correspondence from London, I have received a lengthy letter from Miss Marie de Grey, whom I am sure you all remember. Miss de Grey has been to see all the new pieces, and says what she thinks of them. The best item of all is chat she may soon revisit us with attractive novelties. Her letter is dated June 13, and I make no apology for extracting the following items :— " I made a very .successful stay at the Alexandra, Liverpool, playing chiefly ' Jane Shore ' and « Komeo and Juliet.' Both the Press and public have been very kind indeed to me. Jane Shore and Juliet • have scored well everywhere, but the latter part is my best ; at least so people say, and, so far as one is able to judge of one's own acting powers, I think it is. ... Isn't it odd, when playing- in England last (and also while playing in the colonies) everyone used to think me stronger in comedy than in tragedy, and now they all declare just the reverse ! On July 3rd Igo to Manchester to play Kosalind in the open air. The performance is given under the auspices of tlw> Arts Club, and will take place in thlL Botanical Gardens. Twenty thousand people are expected. Ido hope it will be fine. . . . On the Olst July I open at the Standard with ' Jane Shore,' and on the 6th September I pay a return visit to the Grand, playing Juliet for one week. I then commence an autumn tour. ... I have had two engagements offered me for India, and it is quite possible I may accept one. I should like much to return to Australia, arriving about May, but I have not yet arranged to do- so. I feel certain • Jane Shore' would be a big 'go' there Since I returned from Liverpool I have been doing the theatres. On Monday I went, to' see ' Olito.' The piece is magnificently mounted, and I fancy ought to have a long run. It is a very interesting play, and Miss Eastlake is very fine as Helle. Mackenzie's new opera, 'The Troubadour,' will, I fancy, fall flat.' It is very clever music'; but, with the exception of one song, sung perfectly by Miss Marion Burton as Azalais, there is not much in it likely to become popular. Saw ' The Lily df Leoville ' on Wednesday. Mr Hayden Coffin sings remarkably well, but I do not care for the piece itself; it is dull. ' Jack Sheppard,' one of the best burlesques I have ever seen, has been crowding the house nightly for the past fortnight at the Grand. 'Mehalah,' one of the weakest adaptations ot" what I am told is a powerful novel, was tried at a Gaiety matinee. ' The Palace of Peare,' produced last night at the Empire, completes the list of what I have seen. I think this play will be a financial success. It has two beautiful ballets, the dresses are exquisitely designed, and the dialogue is much above the average extravaganza, while the acting and singing are very good indeed. ' Adonis,' at the Gaiety, is a frost, but Dixy himself has made a good impression ; and Daley's American company is a great go at the Strand. At the Gaiety matinee I saw Mrs Boucicault and her two sons, Bertie and Dot. . . . Geo. Coppin and three of his daughters were there, all looking very well. He has made an offer to Charles Warner to come to Australia." And so she rattles on for a ream or two, flinging information broadcast, but I will not abuse your patience any longer this week.