THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Notes by Scialfax.

Melßouenß, January 30. The first month of the new year is almost over, and yet it only seems like yesterday since Christmas. It is marvellous how the time runs on, isn't it? Theatrical news is pretty quiet this week, but we have plenty of amusement coming on. The great attraction of Saturday evening was the reappearance of Miss Nellie Stewart in " Dorothy," at the Princess Theatre. You all know how she went to England ; how Bhe studied there, and what great improvements her studies had made in her voice) how she had refused great engagements; how she had travelled on the Continent ; and finally, how she returned to us weak in health but firm in spirit, with a strong determination to retain the great and enthusiastic popular favour she had acquired in earlier days. Mind you, our public is fickle, and absence does not always make its uncertain heart grow fonder. There ate several leading people in these colonies now who can speak feelingly on this subject. Miss Nellie Stewart, who was known as a rollicking school girl in the suburb of Carlton nob so many years ago, has no cause to complain. The theatre was crowded in every part from floor to gallery, and even eight rows ot the stalls had to be reserved as dress circle seats. The applause she received on her first appearance was universal and overpewefing ; she was covered with bouquets, and felt her cordial reception deeply. As Dorothy Bantam she pleased everybody ; her voice is full and rich, and her acting, good as it used to be, has greatly improved. She had to submit to constant encores ; as, indeed, had all the members of the company. The cast of the opera has not been greatly altered. Miss Alice Barnett and Mr William Elton have the comic share of the libretto as before; Miss Fannie Liddiard — her first appearance since her return from America — replaces Miss Aggie Kelton, who remains in Sydney for "The Mikado"; Mr Knight Aston is the Harry Sherwood; while Mr Frederici appears as Squire Bantam. The scenery is the same as before ; while the orchestra, under Mr Alfred Cellier's hand, surpasses itself. Mr Cellier, the composer of the opera, was greated with loud applause when he took his seat. " Dorothy " will run for a few weeks, and then we expect "Faust and Marguerite," which we expected would certainly open the season.

" Jack, the Giant Killer " still draws at the Theatre Royal, but its last nights are announced. The Shadow Pantomime is a source of extreme amusement to the juvenile patrons, to whom pantomime is something to remember for fully three days. On Friday next Mr John Gourlay benefits, and then the sixth annual pantomime of the Triumvirate is over.

The annual picnic of the Theatre Royal employes took {place on Sunday, when they were driven out to Mordialloc in two drags. Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove always make things pleasant for their men, and the picnic was no exception. The day was a delightful one, and the liquor was plentiful. The feasters returned to town about 10 o'clock, and it noticeable that there are not so many of them visible at the theatre to-day as usual. Picnics in this couutry have a depressing effect upon the nervous system.

"Sophia" was played for the last time on Saturday evening at the Bijou Theatre, the pretty little house being crammed to the doors. The Boucicaults and the " Sophia " company proceeded to Adelaide directly the performance was over, where they expect to be in time to open to-night. They will play for a little over a month. To-night " Romeo and Juliet " is being played with Miss Essie Jenyns as Juliet, Mr Holloway as Romeo; Miss Kate Arden (Mrs Hollo way), the Nurse; Mr Norman— a New Zealand friend, I believe — Tybalt ; and Mr R. Stewart — Nellie Stewart's brother— Mercutio. I am informed that the house is full, and the company good. Pressure of this and some other letters keeps me away this evening. Monday is not the general opening night here ; and it is one which is deeply cursed by critics, great and small. Professor Kennedy opened his " Mesmeric " entertainment at the Opera House on Saturday. It does not need much notice. Wo have had people here before who did that sort of thing. I can remember the names of Madame Cora, Professor Baldwin, and numbers of others. By the way, Madame Cora is now in India, and I met Professor Baldwin, to my great surprise, performing last Thursday at Frankston, a pretty seaside village 26£ miles from town, to which a benevolent Government allows a train about half-past 11, giving residents and visitors ample time to attend theatres in town, and get homo before 1 o'clock.

The usual minstrel companies are playing at the usual music halls They, also, require no special notice. Payne's firework display at the Friendly Societies' grounds comes off as usual whenever the weather is fine. The manager is not making a rapid fortune — he states that less than 10,000 per night will not pay him — but he must be accumulating a little money. If he wasn't I should think he would leave. lam certain my name, in such a case, would soon appear in the daily passenger list. On Saturday next Mr Harry St. Maur opens at the Alexandra Theatre with that very amusing comedy, " Oh, Those Arabian Nights," which is better know as "Arabian Nights." Mr St. Maur will be supported by the company he has had round the colonies ; while Paul Heighington, a goodly correspondent, acts as manager It is quite on the cards that this company will be in your country betore long. I may mention that Mrs Digby Willoughby, who played with Mr St. Maur in Queensland, and whose narrow escape from a painful accident through fire when on her way North in the steamer, I have mentioned long ago, is now playing in Launceeton with Mr Grattan Riggs. Some enterprising newspaper men started a story that she was the wife of Mr St. Maur, but I understand that she is really the wife of a General Willoughby, whose name is known in Madagascar in connection with a local misunderstanding. Mr Fred. Maccabe opened his season at the Athenamm Hall on Saturday before a fair audience. The acoustic properties of the hall are not up to par, but Mr Maccabe hopes to remedy that by this evening. His show is much after his old style, and is as good as ever. His ventriloquism is remarkable, and his voice is equally so. The Athenieum is not a popular hall for this class of entertainment, but I have no doubt Mr Maccabe's reputation and excellence will succeed in drawing satisfactory houses. Mr Martin Simonsen intends to go to Italy shortly for a more powerful Italian opera company than his present one, and hopes to open at the Alexandra Theatre 1 about October next. I believe he has secured a year's lease of this theatre and Her Majesty's in Sydney. For the latter place he will obtain an EDglish company, which is to exchange at times with the Italian company at the Alexandra, and finally make & grand colonial tour, including New Zealand, in combination. Mr R. S. Smythe, who went Home to induce the Rev. Charles Clark to make a lecturing visit to Australia, but failed again, returned to Mel< bourne on Friday last. He announces the intention of Miss Lydia yon Finkelstein to pay a

lecturing visit to thcae colonies this year, a fact this column has already make you aware of. Bliss Finkelstein is a native of Palestine upon which country she lectures in Oriental costume and on behalf of religious societies. According to Mr Smythe, Max O'Rell, the well-known author of "John Bull's Island" and other taking works of England and its people from a French view; H. M. Stanley, the explorer of Africa \ the Rev, H. R. Haweis, aud other prominent men are due during the next two years. Madame Marie Roze, the famous singer so well-known in London, is due in these colonies in March 1889. It is said that she will come under the patronage of her Majesty the Queen, whatever that may mean. The Brough and Boucicault Burlesque Company open in your city in May next. I could give you full particulars, but the amiable Litherland Cunard, who is now in your midst, can save me the trouble. You will like the company, but you will adore Fanny Robina. You ought to, anyhow. She is the best burlesque actress and most perfect lady I have met for years. My intercolonial correspondents have not been up to the mark this week. The Centennial holidays have evidently been too much for them. The weather was simply awful with us on the 26th, about as' hot as they make it anywhere, and it may have been as bad for my friends. Sydney has no particular change of bill except that " The Forty Thieves " was due at the Criterien on Saturday. The Adelaide change is noted in the earlier part of this letter, and the only new thing about " Mother Goose " in Brisbane that I have heard is that some strong political allusions have caused some bad feeling. " Don Juan, Junior " is to follow.