THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1858, 1 July 1887, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Notes by Scalfax.

Melboubne, June 12.

The changes of programme at the theatres on Saturday evening were not of much importance ' " Alone in London " was played for - the last time on Friday, after a most successful run, and "The World," an exciting drama of the ult^a-sensational school

.replaced it on'Batuirefayv" Thii drama, the joint work of Messrs Pettat, Merritt, and Augustus Harris, was originally produced by Mr Bland Holt some four years ago at this theatre, the Royal, and had a long run.' It is one of those dramas where the scenic artist and the" mechanist play- the leading parts, and the actor is subservient to the tableaxfo. The dialogue is ■ weak, but the incidents make up for it in intensity. lam not certain whether ■ the drama has been played in your country, but probably it has,' It is divided into eight solid acts, each of which finishes with a, special •> Jiorror. Act one opens at Cape Town, where a steamer leaving for England - with' the , hero i and heroine on'^board' carries a large j cargo of bogus -diamonds, heavily/itis'ured by a Jewish scduiidrel> The second ' shows the destruction' 'of* the 'steamer by an infernal machine ; the third, the sufferings of the" survivors on a raft; and their final rescue; the "fourth, the return of the long lost heir.;, the fifth, an' attempt to murder the aforesaid long lost heir ; the sixth, hia committal for lunacy; ,th\e seventh, his adventures in. the lunatic asylum, and final escape; and the eighth, the death of the villian by" a fall down the welTqf an hotel lift, and the final accession of the rightful heir 1 to everything, even his long lost ladylove. This would appear to be exciting enough, but the very last act, the unmasking of the villains at a- fancy dress ball is out out, and, condensed into act eight. " The World " appeals to the eye, and not the intellect; criticism is wasted upon it. Mr Bland Holt, as Moss . Jewell, a Jewish scoundrel, found favour with his audience. Mr Herbert FJemering gave a manly and taking impersonation of the hero, Clement Huntingford; Miss Kate Bishop was the much abused heroine, Mabel, and Miss Ida Herberte, the secondary ' heroine, Mary Blyth, Mr Walter Howes was the gentlemanly villian of the cast, Harry Huntingford and Mr Augustus Glover, as Martin Baslef ord, was a minor bravo ready for any small commissions 'in murder or burglary. The scenic j and mechanical effects .deserved all the I praise they received. The moving ,raft at | sea, and the passing vessel which rescues the survivors was well managed. " The I World " will be the last production by Mr j Bland Holt this season, and his engagements in the other colonies, will only permit of its having a short run. On Jubilee Day, June 21, a matinee performance of the drama will be given. " Arrah-na-pogue " still manages to amuse good audiences at the Opera House-, in spite of its age, and the unfavourable weather. It is astonishing how Irish drama draws, but that it does is an assured' fact. During the last year we have had "Arrah-na-pogue " played by Boucicault, the Williamsons, and Grattan Riggs— the latter quite recently — but it is as popular as if it were an entirely new production. Possibly it it may be because it appeals more strongly than any drama of its class I know to the Irish element in our population, a by no means inconsiderable one, as most people are aware.

, Mr George Leitch's dramatic .comedy " Wanda " is still being played-at the Bijou Theatre, but it will make way on 'Saturday next for a revival of that weird old drama, " The Corsican Brothers," with all the*, usual and unusual spectacular and ghostly effects. Signor Majeroni had the last act of " Wanda " altered from the original because he did not care to make a, leap over a ravine even with the wire and counterpoise attachments, and I should fancy the sliding trap weuld not be much more to his liking. Now I come to think of it, I am not 'sure that he has to get on the trap at all ; in which case it will be rather difficultto find an effective "double" for a man with such pronounced characteristics as Signor Majeroni.' \- ' " Les Cloches de Corneville," at the Alexandra Theatre, has been drawing poor houses during the week. On Saturday night M. Loredan appeared as the Marquis de Corneville, "played 1000 times in London." It is one of M. Loredan's amiable failings to assure you that he has "created" any number of popular parts, and played them a fabulous number of times. He has retired into the mild obscurity of Geelong since the' break up of the late Mr A. T. Dunning's Opera Company, and is doing well training the musical talent of the young Geelongeese. On Thursday next, Wirth's Circus Company will appear at this theatre, a novelty so far as performances in a theatre are concerned.

" Blow for Blow," the late Mr H. J. Byron's comedy, which will always be associated here with the name of poor Fred. Marshall, was revived on Saturday last at the Princess Theatre for a few nights only. Mr Anson was the Charley Spraggs, and Miss Annie Taylor the Kitty Wobbler. The remainder of the cast "was filled by the stock company. The Opera House management are going to forestall the Princess management in some of their jubilee arrangements, and propose to produce on Saturday next that sterling drama "The Two Orphans." Mr Rignold will appear ■as Jacques; the new theatre in Sydney not being ready after all ; the Misses Trevalyan - and Boucicault as Henriette and Louise, and Mr Boucicault as Pierre. I have seen a good many impersonators of " Les Deux Orpheliris," but I have seen none to shake the impression left by Alice Dunning and Dickie Lingard. I have their portraits, taken in San Francisco, where they made an enormous hit, before me now. Many of my readers may have seen photographs of that superb' picture, "Alsace and Lorraine," where the captive provinces are represented by two typical sorrowing women. The Lingards were photographed in similar costume and position, and a sweeter picture could not be desired, Even, now Miss Alice Lingara is an exceedingly beautiful woman, but then she was perfection. St. George's Hall and the Victoria Hall are still in the same hands, and are doing much as usual. The Nugget Theatre is occupied by a company Avhich styles its entertainment "The Gay Cards at Home." It may be a very good entertainment, but I am inclined to believe it is not.

On Thursday, June 23, the jubilee concert of the season, "by authority , of the Government," will be held in the Exhibition Building. The leading vocalists will be Mesdames

Amy- Sherwiniand Gabriella Boenia^'and Messrs 'Beamnont, Sfcockwell, 'ancUGee. -*> The chorus 1 will consist of 500 picked) voices from the two Liedertafels and the Philharmonic Society. The' performance' will beurider the immediate patronage of the Governor and, the Government of the day) and all profits are to' be devoted, to' the Queen's Fond ' instituted by Lady " Loch. X The programme has not yet been'jannounced^ but this is sure to be the concert of the season, more especially as the prices of admission are unusually high. .. We always, rush, to a concert with prohibitive prices;, it's our funny -way.

! While on the subject of music I may briefly state that anew musical, society, the Metropdlitan' Musical Club, is maMtg great headway; that Herr Babst is > continuing his historical concerts at the Athemeum ; arid that the Zerbini quartette, accompanied bj, Mr T. H. Guenett as pianist, propose to swoop upon Sydney at an early date.' ' " ' ! ' A prepossessing and honest young woman, named Elizabeth Gibson, was charged at the City Ceurfc with vagrancy. It, appears that she was engaged by the Cottiers, in Sydney for their Melbourne season, during .the whole ,of which she only received two weeks! salary. Turned out of her lodgings, she was arrested by a charitable" policeman on> the above charge. She was handed v to, the care of Major Barker, of the Salvation' Armyi who promised to see that she was provided for. Another instance of the hardship mushroom management may cause. , Mrs Edmund Holloway died last Wednesday in Sydney, .and was buried in the Waverley Cemetery in the presence of a large company of theatrical friends and admirers. She ■was a native of Limerick, and had been connected with the colonial, stage for fully 20 years' past. 'She was associated' with Madame Celeste, the Keans, and most of the early stars who have flitted over these colonies. Her most ambitious attempt is said to have been Lady Macbeth to the Macbeth of George Chaplin. .At the time of her death she ■ was a member of Mr Dampier's Standard Company.

Miss Maggie Knight, a clever and reliable actress, whose name is known all over the colonies, leaves' on Tuesday, the ,14th inst.,' for America and England in search of health, She' has been unwell for some .'time past, and hopes to benefit by the change. I have a genuine liking for Miss Knight as' an emotional actress, although I have seen her dance a sand-jig in an unexceptional manner, andveiy blue tights. Sheinforms meshe hopes to be back by- Christmas, but,, between you and I, if an engagement offers in London it may be some time before she returns. 'It always was her ambition to try the London stage

' Mdlle Madeline Schiller, a piahiste ' who has created a great sensation here many years ago, is stated to be contemplating another visit to these colonies. , Mr Harry Eickards writes that • fee hopes to be out by -Christmas with a company which shall paralyse the town. I would like to see him do it, just for a novelty. ; >

The forthcoming production of" Princess Ida " is to •be something out •of the usual i run. Mr Musgrove has engaged Mr Henry' Bracy, in London, for* the tenor park,- and Miss Colborne-Baber will also be specially engaged. Mr Bracy is an old-time;favourite here.' In the days when the late W. S. Lyster made the" Opera House the home of opera, Mr Bracy and his clever wife,' Clara Thompson — sister to Lydia of that ilk — had the leading parts, in all comic operas, and were unquestionably the favourites of the day. It was during the first run of " Madame Angot " that the famout quarrel took place between Miss Thompson and Jennie Winston (Mrs Bell), now a popular favourite in the United States. For some reason or other the mimic quarrel in the third act developed' into a real one to the intense amusement of the audience. There was a North, Polar coolness between Clairette and M,dlle Lange for many days afterwards. f

The Simonsen Italian Opera Company will open in Adelaide at Exhibition time. Our Royal Company, are now playing " The Silver King" at the leading theatre to poor houses.; Mr Wybert Reeve opens at the Royal with his own company on June 18. The principal members of his" combination will be the same as when in New Zealand.

The Fisk Jubilee Singers are due in Adelaide on the 21st ; and the Joran Family open about that time. The Exhibition is evidently going to wake Sleepy Hollow up.

The German performance of the comic opera " Zar und Zimmermann," on Tuesday next, promises to, be even more popular than that of a fortnight ago. The prices of admission have been raised, but a rush has taken place the last few, days, and very few seats are now vacant. The Governor and a party of distinguished visitors will be present. Miss Carrie Swain opens at this theatre on July 4 in " The Miner's Daughter," the house having been specially leased for her by Mr John Solomon, of the Sydney Criterion.

Sydney amusements are much as they were last week. The Standard management hare put on the drama "Jack Sheppard" to rival the burlesque at the Royal. Farley and his English opera company have opened 1 at the Academy of Music. Mr George Darrell's benefit on Saturday was' a glorious success.

Miss Amy Sherwin's concert in the Town Hall on Saturday was an unqualified success in every way. Her own solos were redemanded in each instance, and she was smothered in bouquets and wreaths. Mr StockwelTs two solos were encored. Herr Johann Rhodes proved himself a master of the violin' and was vociferously recalled. Miss Sherwin was serenaded the same evening by the band of the Metropolitan Leidertafel. She sings at the Metropolitan Liedertafel's concert this week, and receives an honorarium of lOOgs, the largest sum ever paid by them. Why, oh why am I not a soprano 1