THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1812, 13 August 1886, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

NOTES BY SCALFAX.

Melbourne, August 2.

The principal item of interest during the past week has been the sudden collapse of "The Rocket" at the Bijou Theatre. The local critics, one and all, spoke in highly favourable terms of it, and gave it praise far and above its deserts. It was described as a second " Magistrate," and an equal popularity was almost prophesied. As I mentioned last week, I could not see any " run " in it, but I was unprepared for such an off-hand damning. The popular verdict has again upset the critical one. Such an utterly impossible character as Chevalier Walkingshaw could not become a favourite on our stage. On its first production in London my friend, Mr Austin Brereton, wrote of it that " he is utterly unsympathetic, designedly vulgar, a priggish person who, even had he existed, would not have been allowed to perpetrate the audacious crimes and follies with which he literally teems. Had it not been for the very clever and comic impersonation of Mr Terry, whose humour is placed at a very considerable disadvantage in this part, the Chevalier Walkingshaw would have met with the reverse of success." That is the whole secret of the comedy's failure ; Mr Wybert Reeve, excellent as he is, is not a Terry. Another weakness was the acting of Miss Constance Deorwyn as Florence. Her style is always more or less artificial, and its artificiality was very marked in this comedy. " Fedora " was revived on Saturday night as a tribute to the growing popularity of "The Silver King," and will be continued until further notice. This theatre has been rather unfortunate with its pieces lately, and will have to brush up some startling novelty before long. I believe another adaptation from the Italian, a comedy, is in hand; but if cannot surpass "Only Dust," it had better be left alone. Signor Majeroni may be actuated by the noblest motives in placing the picked works of his compatriots upon the stage, but it appears to me that we are protective in more than our tariff, and that the foreign manufactured article is not received with any overwhelming amount of enthusiasm.

"The Silver King" has reaohed an unexpected pitch of popularity upon this its third revival, the theatre being filled every evening, although, what with tramway works and street

improvements, it is an anxious journey to cross even a street this wet and muddy weather. Yet when you come to look at it, it is not so remarkable after all. We have one of the very best dramas written during the present century, with a good flowing plot — easy and incisive dialogue and attractive scenery. The company, as a whole, is the best in the Australias, and the large stage of the Royal allows ample room for all mechanical and perspective effects. What more could we want? All during Saturday night and yesterday men have been working at that part of the varied mechanism over the stage known as " The Gridiron," with a view to its removal and replacement by something which shall be able to support the scenery but not intercept the view of the altitudiuous gallery boy, whose piteous entreatments to "up with the rag" at exciting moments have at last gained the attention of the managers. The gods will then be able to see every item of a performance without running the risk of turning an involuntary somersault into the stalls, and disturbing people down there. It does not appear liksly that any change .of programme will be needed for several weeks to come.

" Nell Gwynne " is doing fair business at the Opera House, although our public do not speak in the highest terms of it. The opera is rather long, even in'its present form, and the gentle theatre-goer does not care to run the a risk of missing the late train or " bus." That is one of the many things a careful manager has to look to. It would surprise the non-theatrical reader were he to be told how many conflicting interests have to be considered in managing a popular theatre. Miss Emelie Melville's day as a priina soprano is fast waning, her many years of arduous work are telling upon her. She wants a long rest, and wants it badly. Miss Fanny Liddiard has made a deserved hit as Jessamine, and the unwanted purity of intonation, and flexibility of her voice does infinite credit to her new teacher, Madame Lucy Chambers, whose forte \ appears to be the making of charming singers. Mr E. Allen had made a brave effort to conquer the difficulties of his opening serenade, and succeeds well enough to be encored now and then. The song is an exceedingly difficult one, and would prove a stumbling block to older and more practised vocalists. " Maritana "is in active rehearsal. Miss Lizzie Colborne appears as the gipsy ; Mr A. Beaumont as Don Ctesar, an historic part with him in this city ; Signer Verdi as Don Jose ; and Miss Emelie Melville as Lazarillo. " Maritana " ought to do well ; we are tired of comic opera with its stale jokes and flimsy music.

Anglo-Statue Minstrels have come to sudden smash at the Nugget Theatre, and the place knows them no more. Probably their name was the cause of their ruin. Be that as it may, they were not up to much, and we do not regret them with even one regret. They will turn up again before long under another name. They are bound to do it, as long as the present depression in the boot trade continues. The walls of the theatre'are now plastered with* the advertisements of a scurrilous atheistical rag called The Liberator, a newspaper which is a disgrace to our state of civilisation. The " Secular Assocition," who own the theatre, hold meetings in it every Sunday evening whgn atheistical discources are interlarded with piano solos, recitation, and singing. The " Swinging Beauties " at the Victoria Hall appear to be popular if one may judge by the attendance, which is always crowded and often unsavory. Mr Frank M. Clark is certainly making great efforts to please his patrons, and spares neither money or himself to that end. I am informed that he is one of the most indefatigable workers in the colonies, and I see no reason to doubt it. lam one of them myself.

" Voices of the Night," the new drama at the Sydney Standard, appears to be a scorcher, if the resume I have received be correct. The authorship of the drama is a subject of dispute in many quarters, but you already know who " Thos. Somers, Esq." really is. A reliable brother critic has sent me the following account :— " The fantastic overture by Mr Percy, first set all our hearts in a whirl by imparting the notion that 'Voices of the Night' had some connection with spiritualism, or the Pythagorean doctrine, or other mysticism. The rising curtain disclosed a view of Redfern railway station, at which the gods roared tumultuous approval, just as they do when the pantomine reveals fleeting visions of the Mont de Piete, the gaol, or the soup kitchen ; from ' Home, Sweet Home' instincts to be presumed. We are taken from Redfern |[station to a fan-tan shop in Lower George street, then to the rocks in the domain', thence to New Guinea, and back to Sydney, with a defiant disregard of probabilities never met with except in the pages of the * The Arabian Nights,' or Jules Verne. We are treated to an attempt at opium poisoning in a Chinese den, a robbery, attempted murder by stabbing, shooting, throwing over a cliff, and a fastening down of the Coogee tram line. The dialogue is pinchbeck ; and the only real novelty was the introduction of a funny Chinaman, and a merchant of edible molluscs, who cries ' wink, wink, peri-winkle.' The original of this character may be heard in the "streets any night in the week. He is one of the ' Voices of the Night,' and affords almost the only solution to the title of the play. It is sufficient to add that Virtue knocks Vice completely out of time." From this it would appear to be a remarkable drama, and •Mr Somers ' ought not to waste his talent here. They want him in America where he would prove a worthy rival to David Belasco, Esq., the author of " The Stranglers of Paris," and other soothing trifles.

Mr Joseph Aarons, the builder and first owner of the Bijou Theatre died last Tuesday, unexpectedly. He had been unwell before, but on Saturday he was up and about the city. One of his first ventures was opera with lima di Murska as pvima donna. Mr William Creswick was another notable star of his. Some years ago the management became too much for him, and he failed for something over £60,000. Since then he has eschewed the stage, so far as management is concerned, but was a frequent visitor to the various theatres.

William Murray, the " actor " who was arrested for robbery in company with a prostitute named Florence Williams, was sentenced on Friday to two and a-half years' imprisonment, the first week, and the first week of every alternate month to be in solitary confinement. It appears that his acting was confined to circusses. The woman received the light sentence of three months! hard labour, as it was proved that she was only a tool in the hands of the male prisoner.

Mr Frank Weston's insolvency came before the Court again on Friday last, and his Honor, Judge Molesworth, was more anxious than ever to know what had become of the £1000 assets unaccounted for. The summing up concluded in these words, " There is one fact which cannot be got over. In March last there were the lease, and scenery, &c, of the-Nugget Theatre which were stated to be assets worth £1000. Now they are not worth a penny, and I have only the insolvent's unsupported statement with respoct to them, I rnußi, therefore, express myself as

unsatisfied, and refuse the application without predjudice to a further application with dispensation," Mr Weston was not able to appear in Court.

Sydney.— Mr George Leitch's drama, "The Pearl Divers," was produced at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night before a crowded house, and succeeded in creating a very favourable impression. Mr Justin M'Carthy's comedy, " The Candidate," was performed the same evening at the Opera House, which is now in the hands of Messrs Garner, Williamson, and Co. Mr Harry St Maur made his first appearance in the colonies and is highly spoken of. A strong company supported him. " Fun on the Bristol " is still popular in Sydney, but a new comedy, " Nap," was to be tried on Saturday, the authors being, Mr John F. Sheridan and Mr J. A. Meade. Mr' Sheridan has got a new acrobat, Ala, who jumps from the stage^o within a foot of the ceiling, aided by some invisible mechanism. He does some wondrous things in the summersault line, and finally plunges head foremost from the roof of the theatre into a net below, a distance of thirty feet The Raynor Brothers opened with the Federal Minstrels at the Academy of Music last Saturday also.

The Japanese village is now settled among us and is doing fairly well I am told, but not business equal to its merits. The price of admission —two shillings— is said to be the cause. They have built up a special hall at the side of the Alexandra Theatre. Pressure of other work has prevented me from making a detailed scrutiny of the village, but next week you shall have a full account written in my choicest Japanese.

The Fisk Jubilee Singers are giving their very last concerts now, and propose to start on the war-path in a short time. They have done extremely well here, and ought to leave us with feelings of deepest admiration and gratitude, but probably they will only congratulate themselves on the good time they have had.