THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Notes by Scalfax.

Melbourne, August 16.

" Gloomy winter's now awa\" and warm days with fine nights brace up our spirits and make us feel that it is good to live, providing you have the wherewithal to live upon. The truculent tramp is beginning to look askance at the Immigrants' Home, his haven of rest during the past dreary months ; the harassed medico looks forward to the coming time when people will not all get ill at once ; and the millinery stores are blooming with lustrous and many-hued stuffs which shall cause all womankind to break the commandment against covetousness. The gladdest season of the year is at hand, and we are' merry.

" Eureka " was revived at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, with Mr J. C. Williamson as Franz Weber, and Miss Maggie Moore as Nellie Frink. This American drama is the work of Mr Frank Marsden, and was first produced at the Theatre Royal on October 23, 1880, and has been played at odd intervals since then by the Williamsons. Mr Phil Beck was the Charley Frink ; Miss Mabel Morris, the unfaithful wife ; Captain De Burgh, Laurence Reighton, the seducer ; and Mr Oily Deering, Colonel Jack Roper. All, with one exception, were satisfactory exponents of their parts, and met with gratifying marks of approval from a crowded house. Miss Maggie Moore's songs were invariably encored, and she received the usual tribute of bouquets. Captain De Burgh was the weak spot in the cast. ; he was stiff, stagy, unreal. On Monday next the Governor has commanded a special performance of "Struck Oil." On Tuesday, August 23, Mr George Darrell is to have a grand complimentary benefit, when he will appear in his own drama, " The Sunny South " — his first appearance since his illness — and the Williamsons will play " Kerry." On Thursday and Friday, the 25th and '26th inst., the Roscians, our best amateur club, will perform " Macbeth " for the benefit of the charities. On August 27 Italian opera will replace drama, and we are promised " Belisario " with spectacular effects.

" Dick " is not managing to make much of a stir at the Opera House, and will have to be withdrawn before long. Gillette's comedy "Held by the Enemy" is in rehearsal, and may be expected at an early date. Mr William Jinkins, the acting manager, has had a quarrel with the firm, and his connection has been severed. It is understood that legal proceedings may ensue.

Messrs Brough and Bbucicault's company have been doing well at the Sydney Criterion with " The Pickpocket."

"Princess Ida" is coming to the end of its run at the Princess Theatre, Thursday next being its last night. I am not aware at present whether ifc has really made money or not, but I may be able to give you a statement of the receipts next week. ' On Friday night there will be a dress rehearsal of " Dorothy," the new opera to be produced on Saturday. Every available seat has already been secured for the opening. My good friend " Pasquin" has already given you the fullest particulars concerning its London production and doings. The characters will be distributed as follows : — Dorothy Bantam, Miss Leonora Braham ; Lydia Hawthorne, Miss Aggie Kelton ; Phyllis Tuppitt, Miss Ida Osborne ; Mrs Privott, Miss Alice Barnett; Lady Betty, Miss Monmouth ; Geoffrey Wilder, Mr Woodfield ; Harry Sherwood, MrFrederici; Squire Bantam, Mr Brennir; Tom Strutt, Mr Duncan Young (first appearance) ; John Tuppitt, Mr Benham ; and Lurcher, Mr W. Elton. Miss Braham has already become an immense favourite with the company through her pleasant ways and unbounded good humour. > " The Woman in White"will be continued for two nights this week at the Bijou Theatre, with Miss Julia Sydney as Ann Catherick, in place of Miss Lucia Harwood. On Wednesday and the two following nights Mr Reeve produces "The Crushed' Tragedian," an adaptation of the late H. J. Byron's comedy

" The Prompter's Box." On Saturday next Miss Emelie' Melville "makes her long-pro-mised appearance in comedy, for which she has selected Taylor and Reade's well-known " Masks and' Faces.". It is a good test piece, and one in which 'Miss Melville will have to suffer much comparison with illustrious predecessors.

The Alexandra Theatre has once more -returned to gloom and spiders. Miss, ,Carrie Swain opened last night, in Ballarat. I suppdse we shall have nothing but wrestling matches in the theatre now. There was one last night for the usual "championship of the world,"- We have about three champions of the world amongst every five of our wrestlers.

Miss Amy Sherwin gave her .farewell conCert at the Town Hail, , on Saturday evening. Her numbers were " Qui la Voce," from " I Puritani," " The Last Rose of Summer," and " Little Bird So Sweetly Singing," specially composed by Mr G. B. Allen. Mr Stockwell contributed " The Message," and " When Night is Darkest." The Zither Club's concert was an enthusiastic success at the Athenaeum Hall ; and Herr Pabpt gave his fourth historical concert in Glen's Concert Hall, the composer under review being Schumann.

The Chinese Carnival at the Exhibition did not turn out such a huge success as was anticipated, l although it was continued during the week. ' J ' he reason appears to lie in the antipathy, our middle classes have to the Chinaman. .They totally forgot that the hardworking barbarians had gone to an expense of some thousands of pounds for the express purpose of benefiting charities to which they are grudgingly and insultingly admitted, and might, I venture to think, have shown some appreciation of the intention, no matter what their feelings may be towards Chinamen as a body. The boycotting of the show by some of the trades' unions was as petty a piece of spite as I have come across for some time.

The Victoria Hall and St. George's Hall are doing the same average business as usual, and no change of management is probable at either place for many weeks to come,

News has come by cable of the death of Madame Elmblad, the eminent pianiste, who died at Munich on the 6th inst. She was a daughter of the late Mr Menzies, of Menzies' Hotel, in this city, and attracted considerable attention by her musical attainments at concerts here. She went to Germany to study, and there married Herr Johannes Elmblad, the famous baritone, with whom she made a tour in the colonies some years ago.

Mr Charles Holloway and his wife (Miss Alice Deorwyn) have left Mr William Holloway's company, and will assist Mr George Rignold in " Henry V." at Her Majesty's. Sydney, whenever the much protracted opening of that theatre shall take place. There are nice people in Hobart, nastily nice people, who will never go to heaven unless it is fresh papered and scoured, and the repentant sinners are kept in a .special block by themselves. Miss Amy Sherwin gave a farewell concert in that town in the presence of a number of high clerical dig.nitaries, including Bishop Sandford, of all denominations. The proceeds were to be devoted to charitable objects — one half going to Herr Schott, and the other half to Miss Sly, of the Females' Refuge. This lady, however, was too pure to handle money earned by the talent of a grateful native ; and, instead of writing -a polite note and saying so, she published the following card in the papers :— " Miss Sly acknowledges with gratitude the kind and generous announcement of Miss Amy Sherwin in yesterday's paper, but wishes to intimate that she will not be at liberty to accept the donation raised in the way proposed for the Lord's work." lam trying to think out who is to be pitied most — Miss Sherwin, or Miss Sly ; and, on the whole, I consider the latter lady has it.

The statement of accounts of' the Jubilee Festival in the Exhibition have now been published, and show a pretty state of things. The principals (six only) got £131 ss ; conductors (four), £78 15s; organists (three), £31 10s ; orchestra, £136 9s 6d ; rehearsals, rent, and advertisements, £12 15s ; secretaries (three), £63 ; advertising, £129 ; bill-posting, &c, £109' 10s; programmes, circulars, &c, £135 ; sundries, including bouquets, £49 8s 2d ; Exhibition ..building (rent free), £125 8s Id ;— total, £109? 7s 7d. That's pretty tall expenditure for one concert. The receipts were £711 15s 6d ; probably the largest amount ever received at a concert in these colonies. I venture to think, if the management had been entrusted to some of our professional men instead of amateurs, that concert might have come out right. We should have had three secretaries at 10 guineas anyway.

We are to be stirred by a theatrical divorce case before long, it is rumoured, wherein a well-known colonial actor will figure as plaintiff, and his wife, who is equally well known on the colonial stage, as respondent. I will not mention names at present, but careful readers will easily fix upon the parties intended. The co-respondent is a member of an operatic company. The only revival of note in Sydney has been '\The Magistrate " at the Opera House by Williamson and, Co's comedy company. They are now playing " A Night, Off." The Adelaide public can divide their attention between the Italian; opera at the Royal, the Faust family at Garner's Theatre, and the Joran family at the Town Hall. Brisbane notes are uninteresting this week.

Mr Geo. Leitch has presented the Public Library with a giant locust, captured by him in deadly struggle while in Fiji. He has also presented a walking, stick used by King Thakambau. With every respect for Mr Leitch's ~bonafid.es, lam beginning to think that Thakambau bought his sticks by the gross. Every Fijian traveller gets one, and they run the club that killed Captain Cook closely in point of numerousness.

How to Gain Flksh and Strength. — Take after each meal about a teaspoonful of " Scott's Bmulsion of Pure Cod Liver On. with Hi-po-phosphites." It is almost as palatable as milk, and' easily digested. The rapidity with which delicate children and sickly people suffering from weakness and waßting diseases improve and thrive upon this 1 diet, is truly marvellous. As a remedy for Consump- ' tion. Throat Affections, and Bronchitis, it is unequalled by any other preparation in the world, 1 Use it and try yodrweight. All Ohemiifcs sell large and small bottles, 4b 6d and 2s 6d.