THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1852, 20 May 1887, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Notes byScalfax.

Melbourne, May 10. '

Cold and rainy weather is the regular bill of fare now, and we have the cheering prospect of a long and dreary winter. As I write it is raining with a steady and singlehearted earnestness of purpose which will materially swell the tram receipts this night. There is no mistake about our weather, it is not given to deceit. When it rains you know it; and when it is hot, it just boils. We have the most guileless weather under the sun ; and like guileless people it is generally looked upon with suspicion and reproach. ■

" A Run of Luck " is now in the decline of its days, and will not be played after Friday next. The following Saturday will witness the production of a new drama, " Alone in London," written by Robert Buchanan and Harriet Jay, both of whom have achieved fame as novelists. The drama, which is in

the good old r five,, acts, has : been highly successful in England and -America. Five-act dramas are the admiration of the bar owners at the theatres, it wants a big effort to get comfortably drunk during three intervals. I fail to see why bars should be attached to theatres at all. They are an inducement to drink to many who would not walk 10 yards outside the theatre for it. Many a man goes home drunk, or nearly so, simply through the proximity of the bars, and that vile colonial custom of "shouting," a custom which should be stamped out as soon as possible. Why should it be necessary for every man who meets you to insist on you taking, a drink, and to expect you to stand one in return 1 You may require one drink, but you must take two, or get a colossal reputation \ for meanness. .This appears to be degenerat-! ing, into a temperance lecture, so blow the whistle, and off we go again.

Dion Boucicault, the elder's, well-known comedy, "The Colleen Bawn," was revived' fbr six nights only at the Opera House on Saturday. The scenic effects were excellent, and were received with hearty applause, Killarney by moonlight meeting with special marks of approval. Mr Brough was out of his line as Myles-na-Coppaleen, but struggled gamely to make the part go. Dot Boucicault repeated his powerful impersonation of Danny Mann, and met with a hearty reception. The remainder of the cast, an unsatisfactory one, was filled as follows : — Bily O'Connor, Miss Boucicault ; Mrs , Chute, Miss E. Romer ; Ann Chute, Miss Trevalyan ; Hardress Cregan, Mr Bverard ; Kyrle Daly, Mr Lyle ; and Father Tom, Mr Haygarth. "Turned Up," the initial comedy of the Brough and Boucicault occupation of the Opera House, will* be revived on Saturday next.

"The Magistrate" is not doing remarkably lively business at the Princess Theatre, and will make way on Saturday for Mr Augustin Daly's comedy " A Night Off." This comedy is an adaption from the German of Yon Schontan's " Kaub der Sabinerinnen," which was particularly successful in Berlin and Paris. Mr Daly's version, which bears the quaint sub-title of "A Page from Balzac," was an enthusiastic success in New York, and attracted much attention when played by Daly's company at the Strand Theatre, London, where it was originally produced on Thursday, 27th May 1886. It is all about the troubles of a professor, a favourite German subject. " Skipped by the Light of the Moon " is also in its last week at the Bijou Theatre, where it is attracting moderate audiences. A new comedy, "Bide and Seek," written by Mr Walter Craven, will be produced'on Saturday next. Special engagements, including Mr J. R. Greville, have been made for it. Mr Craven is the distinguished author, by purchase, of a comedy called " Mixed."

The Silk Stocking Minstrels are still managing to make the Victoria Hall ,pay. Mrs F. Clark, professionally known as' Lillie Linden, the licensee of Clark's Hotel, was fined £20 and costs, for selling inferior brandy as the real three-star. Another vile attempt to gag the drama, and another injustice to the poor player. The Cottier Family still appear at the Nugget Theatre. They have not, as yet, taken up the parental gauntlet of Mr Nicholls, that fond father who is anxious to prove to the world that his four-year-old child is the eighth wonder of it. His advertisement has aroused several other people, including " A Mother " all of whose children display so much talent at such extraordinary ages, that you are left in special wonder as to how their heads will hold all they will know by the time they are aged 10. One cheerful liar has a daughter aged two who should be but a stranger here. Heaven is her home. She knows'too much.

Hugo's Buffalo Minstrels have arranged a vety fair programme this week, and the attendance at St. George's Hall is looking up. Our old friend Horace Bent occupies tie bones end of the circle, and Miss Priscilla Verne is the interlocutrix.

Mrs Margie Harwood, the wife of Mr H. R. Harwood, so well known in connection with the Australian stage, died on Thursday last at East Melbourne. ' Mrs Harwood was a member of the old Theatre Royal company many years ago, but retired into private life upon her marriage. She was buried on Saturday afternoon. Mr Harwood was to have played Mr Carrigan in " The Colleen Bawn " that night, but his place was taken at short notice by Mr C. Fenton.

From America news has come of the death of Miss Modini, a talented musician, who was well known in Ballarat, the city of gold and snow storms.

The amateurs are having a high old time these winter days. " Uxtremes " was played at the Bijou Theatre o.i Saturday afternoon by a combined team of metropolitan clubs. The attendance was poor. On Saturday next a highly fashionable performance of " The Palace of Truth" will be given at the Princess Theatre. The male parts will be essayed by members of our swelldom, and the ladies by, professional actresses. Tickets, five shillings each, and stalls and dress circle room already filled. On Friday next the Melbourne Comedy X)lub takes the field at the Alexandra Theatre in aid of the Bar and Eye Hospital. The medical students have pre-empted the whole of !the gallery, and will attend with their insignia" and banner, and will do their level best to make the intervals as noisy as possible. I think I shall attend that performance ; there is always plenty of fun when the " meds." are out upon the warpath. Last, but not least, there is the performance of Fortzing's German comic opera, "Zar und Zimmermann," at the Alexandra; on Monday next. The cast is a good one, and includes Madame Blise Wiedermann, a popular German pri?na donna, who has settled among us. The opera is an amusing one, and will be remarkable as the first production of its kind in the colony. Cat efully -prepared synopses of the plot and dialogue are being prepared for those unacquainted with the mysteries of seventeensyllabled words

A theatrical agent named Lee has been getting into trouble in Adelaide over valueless cheques. There was a regatta recently at Torrens Lake, an especial feature of which was rowing matches for ladies. Lee gave

some .prizes.fbr these .events, the > winners of which now' find-that they are not paid for.

Mr Harry'St; 'Maur and his company are playing; a comedy season at Rockhampton. " The Candidate" has already had its run in that city which bears the unpleasant title of "the city of sin, sweat, and sorrow." Sydney. — The Italian Opera company, are repeating their repertoire at the Theatre Royal. They will be followed by Brough's burlesque company, with Miss Fanny Robina as principal' star. Miss Carrie Swain has made a hit in *_',The -Miner's Daughter" at the. Criterion. > " Uncle Tom's Cabin"'f ollows, andthen Miss Swain sails for London.' . The Raynor Brothers have closed their season at the Academy of Music. They sail > for London in the Lusitania. - The Standard is - still running" " Life in the Coal Pits." Mr Norton and Miss* Sidney will shortly appear at this house in " The Two Orphans." The Vivians are ' .now playing a' new drama, " Two Women,", at the Academy of Music ; and the Cogill Brothers are at the Gaiety.

" Harbour Lights " is the only amusement of any note in' Adelaide just at present. That sleepy city has .much to be thankful for.

Miss Nellie Mortyne, whose successful application for a divorce I chronicled a few weeks ago, lies. dangerously ill in Sydney. Mr-Geo. 'Darrell is now about again. A monster benefit will shortly be tendered'to him by his- Sydney friends.

Miss Minnie Palmer has been playing a very remunerative season in Ballarat. Sandhurst will. follow, as a matter of course. It's the regular tour.

The well-known authoress " Lucas Malet " (Mrs Cromley), who is a daughter of the late Chas.'lftngsley, will shortly pay the colonies a visit accompanied by her daughter. She may possiblymake a reading tour.