THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA, Notes by Scalfax.

Otago Witness, Issue 1848, 22 April 1887, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA, Notes by Scalfax.

Melbourne, April 12. Easter is with us once more and pic-nics ami other high jinks are the order of the day. On Saturday, as usual, we had a most awful rainstorm which spoiled the chances of the theatres for that evening, and raised gloomy doubts as to the outlook for the holidays which turned out. «. lorious after all. Messrs Harris and Pet tit's sporting drama, "A Run of Luck," was produced at the Theatre fioyal, on Saturday, April 9, for the first time in the colonies before a very respectable audience, considering the weather. The plot is somewhat complicated, but the following gives a fair idea of it. The first act; opens in the training stables of John Gopsley (Mr W. H. Leake), whose daughter Daisj- (Miss Kate Bishop) is engaged to be married to Harry Oopsley (Mr George Rignold) a supposed illegitimate son of Squire Selby (Mr A. Glover), the local magnate, whose son George (Mr H. Flemming), a reckless spendthrift, also loves her. George Selby is in the hands of two sbarpers, Captain Trevor (Mr G. R. Ireland) and Charlie Sandown (Mr Bland Holt); the latter being one of the worst specimens of the turf scoundrel. George Selby is engaged to a cousin of his named, Mabel Selby (Miss Ida Herberte), a wealthy heiresss. Trevor ascertains that, as he thinks, Harry^Copsley has no right to the name he bears, and endeavours to force him. by exposure, to resign his claim to Daisy's hand, and pave the way for liis o"\vn marriage with Mabel. 11l the second act we find that Copsley, the elder, has been sold up, and that Daisy has been decoyed into the house of a woman Of ill repute by Mrs Millmore (Miss Mabel Tracey), an agent of Captain Trevor. Daisy is drugged and insulted by George Selby, who

is deceived^ as .to tier true character by the locality, wherein he finds her. When he learns the true facts of the case from her his better nature induces hini to become her defender, and a mechanical change shows ns the exterior of the house and the escape. The fourth act gives us a fine stage picture of .old Selby Hall. Trevor and Sandown make the S<juixe~ believe that George is the betrayer cf Daisy, and the old Squire has a quarrel with him on money matters. We there have a representation of a meet of the local hounds with many horses and a pack of real dogs. ' The horsemanship of some of the actors provoked smiles, but no accidents occurred: The Squire of course gets thrown* is brought in apparently dying. Trevor informs George '. that the estate he is, seemingly, about to inherit is his; certain apparently -• innocent documents recklessly signed being' really transfer deeds, He appears about to triumph when Harry Selby turns up, - and" proves by documentary evidence that be. is the Squire's eldest son and heir. The last act is the racing one, and is the liveliest* one' of the four. ' George Selby has purchased a racehorse which he has backed* for a very large amount. Trevor and Sandown endeavour to secure tbe animal for a debt owing to them, their intention being to prevent his running, having laid heavily against it. When they come to seize it Harry sends them into the country after an old farm horse, while the racer is safely conveyed to Goodwood. The race is just about to start when Trevor and Co. arrive, but old Squirer Selby (who did not die) borrows money frcm friends on the course, pays off the debt, and the horse wins easily. Vice being thus defeated ; virtue, in the shape of Harry and Daisy, is rewarded by a marriage,' and all ends with a wedding ring, as all good dramas should. I have not tbe •space this- week to go seriously into the, merits or demerits of the drama. It has faults, the principal one being' that everything is subordinate to the scenery and situations, but it is lively and stirring enough to suit the majority of palates. The scenery and mechanical changes deserve every praise The Alexandria Theatre was re-opened on Saturday evening, when "Pygmalion and Galatea" was revived "with Mr H. B. Sidney as tbe foolish sculptor ; Miss Alice Norton, as Galetea ; and Mr Stirling Why te, as Chry sos. The remainder of the cast was filled up by Messrs Vernon, Sweeny, Musgrove, and the Misses Jenny Bryce, Kate Douglas, and Alice Mowbiuy. Both the principals are new arrivals, Mr Sidney having been associated with Mr Edward Terry ; while Miss Norton J was a member of the Provincial No. 1 " Our j Boys " Company in England. I have not I been able to visit this theatre, owing to I pressure of more urgent duties, but I underj stand that tbe performance is by no means bad. Miss Minnie Palmer has been doing big business with " Pert " at the Bijou Theatre during the holidays. Her season closes on the 22nd inst., after which she goes on a tour under Mr Jas. M-Mahon's management. The following night Mr John Gourley, an American comedian who played here, some years ago, opens a new season with his eccentricity, " Skipped by the Light of the Moon." "The Pickpocket," at tbe Opera House, and " Harbour Lights," at the Princess have also bad their share of public patronage. Tbe last nights of the latter drama are now announced. It has bad seven weeks of uninterrupted success. The music halls have been testing their seating capacities to the very utmost, and tbe new regulations against standing in tbe side aisles have been gall and wormwood to their managers. The Silk Stocking Minstrels at the Victoria Hall put forth special attractions. Mr Frank Clark has recovered from his recent illness, and re : appeared on Saturday night. Tbe Cottier family opened Cottier's Theatre (late Nugget), on the same evening with an attractive programme. Mr Chas. Hugo. returned to St. George's Hall,also on Saturday, with his Buffalo Minstrel s, and is doing well. It is with much regret that . I have to record the death of Mr Arthur Redwood, the i comedian, which took place 021 Wednesday, the 6th inst., in Sydney. Mr Redwood came to these colonies about three years ago under engagement to Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove, and at once established bis claim to favour by his excelleet acting* as Elijah Coombe in the " Silver King." He played in the pantomime 12 months ago, and shortly afterwards went to Sydney, where be was stricken with paralysis. Hopes were entertained that he would recover, but they proved false. He i\s«^ !>u> i>-! tbe same day ; mortification setting in \<>iy iapidly. i Mr Locke Richardson reappeared last night at the Congregational Hall in a miscellaneous programme, which includeU " The Christmas Carol. 1 ' This will be his last season in Melbourne. Miss Nelly Stewart lias, arrived safely in London, and writes that she was dreadfully frightened, shortly after leaving Melbourne, by a rat in hei' cabin. She received such a severe shock that she was completely prostrated for several days. In connection ,with tbe death of: Mr Redwood, a correspondent points out in the Herald that all the actors of the part of Deacon skinner in " Struck Oil " have died. Messrs Stuart d'Brien, Andrews, and Sefton were the deceased gentleman's predecessors in the part, and all are dead. I know myself that the part is considered unlucky, and it would be somewhat difficult, just now, to induce anyone to" play ifr. By private letter I learn that Signor Agrati's " Acroinata " company has come to utter smash. In Queensland the floods were against him ; and in Newcastle political excitement prevented any adequate return for his outlay being received. To crown his misfortunes, his wife died suddenly on the 2nd inst. They were out walking in the morning, arid in the evening she was dead. Th&posf mortem showed that her liearfc was affected,. ' The inquest, according to my correspondent; waW to be resumed last Saturday, as there are some .facts which require elucidation. Sighor'Agrati is in a very low state through bis -successive misfortunes. Tbe Italian Ppera Compairp gave him a matinee benefit 'a short time ago. as you already know. »