THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1824, 5 November 1886, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

NOTES BY SCALFAX. Melbourne, October 25. Saturday last was about as uninviting a day as any misanthrope could desire, hurricane squalls of rain every few minutes, with occasional hail showers between to add variety. The glass went down to 29.2, a fact which I did not feel the full significance of until I went down the bay in the afternoon to board an incoming steamer. Under such circumstances one would imagine that it would require a very powerful attraction to drag close upon 3000 people from their firesides, and that attraction was found in Pettit and Harris' drama" Human Nature "at the Theatre Royal. Long before the overture the house was crowded in every part, the sale of tickets to the cheaper portions of the house being stopped soon after 7. This drama was originally produced at the Drury Lane Theatre, London, on September 12, 1885, and was revived there, after the pantomime, on April 24, 1886. We saw at once when entering the crush room that we were going to see something novel, trophies of bullock hide shields, assegais, bows, &c. decorating the walls. This crush room is getting to be an index to the character of the performance. When we see the spears and things we know that we are transported to Africa, when it reaches to storks and fans we know that there will be "something Japanese." The management have not reached the sublime height of hanging it with black when "Hamlet" is to be performed, but no doubt they will achieve even that in time. " Human Nature "is in five acts and 14 scenes. It plays from quarter to 7 until half-pa6t 11, a very fair return for your money if you pay, and more than you deserve if you are a deadhead. The first act opens with a most charming scene of a rural English mansion, embowered in roses and other autumnal inconveniences, with a broad view of a typical Englisn landscape, one of the finest of many such from Mr Gordon's unequable 1 pencil. Here we find Nellie Temple (Miss Maggie Knight), wife of Captain Temple, who is momentarily expected back from India; Cora Grey (Miss Watt-Tanner), her friend ; and Paul de Vigne (Mr Phil Beck), a Frenchman in the Egyptian set vice. Captain Temple (Mr G. S. Titheradge) comes home and finds in Cora a lady with whom he has had scandalous relations in India, and in a most ungentlemanly manner tells her she is no fit companion for his wife, and orders her from the house. Cora vows vengeance, and forms an offensive alliance with de Vigne, who is in love with Mrs Temple, and quickly induces Nellie to write a note to her solicitor on business asking him to call on her at once, which note is so artfully worded that when Cora sends it to the Frenchman he imagines tha his hopes are to be crowned with success. Cora arranges that Temple shall see the Frenchman steal into the house, and he vows quick vengeance. A stupendous mechanical change brings us at once to the wife's boudoir, where de Vigne forces an entrance and is caught in the act of declaring his passion by the irate husband, who refuses to believe in his wife's innocence. In the second act we make the acquaintance of Mr Hawker (Mr H. Flemming), a solicitor, who is hard up, aud who becomes entitled to a large sum of money in the event of the death of Temple's only child. Temple has gone back to Egypt again, leaving his affairs in the hands of Hawker, who has instituted divorce proceedings against Nellie and obtained a rule nisi on the false evidence of de Vigne. Hawker steals the child from the poor mother and places him with a baby farmer, who takes in children and "does for them." Hawker has a tender - hearted clerk, who reveals the child's hiding place to the mother, who manages to steal it back again, but is followed by Hawker aud his gang, and eventually finds a haven in the home of a good-hearted clergyman, who brought down the house by " shaping up " in the most scientific manner to Hawker when he attempts violence. The fourth act shows us what the programme calls " The Zebra by Night," and here are camped Captain Temple and the troops. A refugee from the Desert City is brought in, and claims the aid of the troops to release the prisoners in the city, which is governed by de Vigne, who has turned Mussulman and traitor. Captain Temple is sent to relieve the city, and one of the most exciting scenes I have ever witnessed follows. The stage is crowded with combatants, and the fusillade is simply tremendous. After several repulses the troops capture the city. De Vigne escapes, but is followed by some of his late prisoners, who thirst for his life. He is shot at Temple's feet, but exonerates Nellie before he dies. An Egyptian-figured tableau curtain is here dropped for a few moments, and then comes the big scene of the drama — the entry of the troops into London. The scene represents a corner of Trafalgar Square, with one of the historic lions in the foreground. The side-walk 1 !, houses, the lion itself even, are crowded with spectators, and the efforts of the police to keep back the mob are most realistic. Body after body of the troops— guards, naval brigades, horse and foot artillery — march past in apparent hundreds with band after band of music, even to a bagpipe one, colours flying, people shouting and screaming — all forming a scene S'"* | exhilarating and inspiring that you with difficulty restrain your inclination to jump on your seat and " Hurrah " with the best of them. I am getting old and Haze, but that sceue electrified me. Ifelt capable of doing extraordinary things, bud I did not. It might have been considered eccentric. For effect that particular scene is unequalled in colonial history, and I have the authority of one of our oldest critics for that. Everythingusedisreal,even to the tents, Nordenfeldt and Armstrong guns. At any time there were not less than 250 people on the stage, and frequently more. It was worth a pilgrimage to see, and will crowd the theatre for many a long week to come. It stirred the vast audience as they have rarely been stirred, and it was good, honest, patriotic sentiment that moved them. I could spend a column describing to you the various incidents of that march past, and would like to do so. The last act rapidly brings all the threads of the story together. Cora, who seems to have gone to the bad and cigarettes, is shot by her husband, whom she had betrayed many years ago. Temple and his wife are united, and Hawker presumably gets what he deserves. "Human Nature" is asuppriordramaas sensation dramas go, and will have a long run. Thoauthors have adopted a curious plan, not uncommon in periodical literature, of getting their puppets with a tight comer and then rushing off to show us what is happening to someone else with a sort of to-be-continuecl-m-nur-next air. The scenery is beyond praise, and for mechanical effect surpasses all we havp seen. I thought that the acme of mechanical changes was reached in " In the Ranks," but it is simply a clork-work toy to a CorhV, engine alon side this drama. Whole set Janfltftupee with htfuses, garden??, swings, Bso.

ohange to furnished boudoirs, both of the scenes occupying the f uJl stage ; a lawyer's office with iron safe, waiting rooms, library, heavy pillars and an appearance of woudrous stability chances to an English high road with a quaint parsonage "built up" on one side, the village inn with all fixings appropriately opposite it; an old church near at hand, and an extensive view of open country which looks fresh and bril liant enough to make you secure a cabin in the first homeward-bound steamer. SfconefieJd farm wherethe babies are "done for," was an admT-' able set.and theartist, Mr Hennings, was caSed Great attention was paid to incidental effects such as the gradual change from day to Stand the lightning in the storm scene in act 111 was natural enough to make you jump It wa . not the usual lycopodium flach • v . ?? and real enough'to L SrSlJ.'whidh'it'S? bably was. The attack on the City™ f X DcS was marvellously well represent^. E !hl dress rehearsal on Friday night a simer T n S w in the back in this scenef b/this inßsa^t very severe. I can spare no more 1 « "Human Nature" this W. but wU? simply say that it is undoubtedly the sensation of the yetf " Turned Up" continues to draw cro aJa houses to the Opera House, and the managemeS are so confident of a long run that they have not even decided at present which piece Khan follow it. This shows an amount of SwhYch is quite refreshing. ' ta

" Betsy" replaced " Two too Many" at tho Bijou Theatre on Saturday night, Mr Alfr«S Maltby reappearing in his original character of Dawson, and Mr St. Maur as Captain M'MannV The attendance was good, and the comedy was well played. The season has not been remarkable for its pecuniary success. Miss Minnie Pal mer opens on November 6at this house in "Mv Sweetheart*" She is now in Tasmania with her company. Mr Willie Preear, who came out with the "Fun on the Bristol" company is I be lieve, accompanying her. If he is a sample of her company, she will have to work hard She has been so persistently puffed here that I am afraid she ►will fall rather flat. The aforesaid -Fuji on the Bristol" is an example in kind "Uncle Dick's Darling" at the Alexandra Theatre has been doing moderate buainess during the week. On Saturday night it was prefaced by«A Regular Fix," Captain de Burgh making his first Melbourne appearance in the character of Hugh do Brass. I have not been able to see him yet; there are so many things to be seen elsewhere between Saturday and Monday night when I write. «, Th £u F^ er^- MiDB ,t rels at St. George's Hall, 26,2 6 ,, Sl iu St ? ckjn .S Minstrels at the* Victoria Ha , the American Minstrels at the Apollo Hall, and the Indian Tourist Party at the Nuirget Theatre, afford food for reflection-refleS mot i as to how they.il manage to make it pay Mr Locke Richardson is continuing his Shakespearean recitals; the Melbourne Liedertafel is going to perform Dvorak's (pronounce !^r ?° Or^, akf r P - le ? se) " S Pectre Bride"; the Metropolitan Liedert fel is going to do something Wagnenan; there is a Spanish and Columbian festival on at the Exhibition; the chorus is being drilled for Italian Opera at the Alexandra ; MrNeedham. i noted organist, is going to give a series of Madrigal Concerts to cultivate a taste for old English music ; and the Cup is near. What more do we want, except rest ? Charles Woodward, of the Woodward brothers acrobatists, now engaged at the Victoria Hall! was brought before the City Bench on Saturday on a charge of wife desertion. For the prosecution it was stated that the parties were married about two years ago, the wife bringing the husband £200. Recently he had deserted her for another woman. The case was remanded to the S'iioo ' g allowed in one surefc y

Dr Lynn, the well-known Egyptian Hall entertamer, arrived by the P. and O. mail steamer Tasmania tins afternoon. Dr Lynn is the inventor of many of the most successful delusions of the day, one of them (Thauma) being well known in these colonies. 8 Ridgway's circus is in town, and will perform on an open piece of ground at the north end of Swanston street, about the only vacant piece of land in the city. Catching a cannon ball as it is fired from the gun is one of the main attractions.

A suit has been instituted by Madame Eleonore Caron against her husband, the wellknown violinist and conductor, for the recovery of £204, maintenance money, due at the rate of £3 per week, under a deed of separation made in December 1883. It seems that Madame Caron was married in 1869 at Boulogne-sur^ Mer to one William Bowles, from whom she afterwards in America obtained a divorce, MF. Caron finding the money to prosecute her suit and giving evidence on her behalf. In 1876 she married her present husband in New York, and separated from him as above. M. Caron alleges that his marriage was improper, as Bowles was not iomiciled in America and the court of that country had no jurisdiction in the divorce. A commission was granted in the Banco Court on Thursday last, returnable in seven months, to examine Bowles, who is still in France, on behalf of the defendant, who has to guarantee the payment of maintenance until the first sittings of the court after the return of the commission.

The action Marshall v. The Opera Houße Directers, for printing, &c. done, was deoided on Thursday last in plaintiff 's favour, certain points being, however, reserved which may completely upset the verdict.

" The Sorcerer " and " Trial by Jury " were the only changes of importance in the programmes of the Sydney theatres on Saturday last, and they succeeded in filling the Theatre Royal.