THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Notes by Scalfax,

Melbouenb, June 25. The principal topic of conversation in theatric il circles during the week has been the phenomenal success of the London Gaiety Company at the Princess Theatre. The house has been' crowded to the very doors every night of the week, and the matinee performance on Saturday afternoon attracted as many as any evening since the opening. It does not appear as if there will be any necessity for a change of bill doling the season, and it will evidently depend on the liberality of the management whethe ' we see " Esmeralda "at all. The prinq! palfl of the company have got a firm, grasp on uUjq favour, and it is very rare to hear a «l|s-

sentient voice on the merits of any of them. Mr Fred Leslie is the bright particular star, and in him we have an actor of the most varied abilities, and one we are never tired of seeing. His facial expression is marvellous, and it is worth something to see him give those quaint illustrations of well-known faces in his own inimitable manner. " Henry Irving with the chill off " is a roarer, but when you see " Napoleon crossing Little Bourke street" you want to go somewhere where you can laugh peacefully, and not annoy your neighbours. Miss Nellie Farren may be said to come next on the list. She is versatile, but not to any extraordinary degree. She is capable of genuine pathos, sings and dances well, and is without doubt the best of the feminine branch of the company. Miss Marion Hood is more of a vocalist than a burlesquifit, aud looks as charming as that wellknown picture of the Duchess of Devonshire which she makes up to resemble. Miss Letty Lind and Miss Sylvia Grey are a pair of dancers whose grace, agility, and picturesqueness merit all the praise they receive. The other members of the company act equal to their lights, and, taken as a whole, for compactness and general ability they surpass in the aggregate any combination which has come to this city. The management announce a matinee every Saturday, and positively assert that the season cannot be extended over the given time. I am informed that the price of the stalls in the Sydney Royal will be raised to 10s when the company opens there. Miss Carrie Swain produced her " poetical idyll" by Bret Harte," The Miner's Daughter," at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening. My readers will remember that Miss Swain tried this four-act drama at the Alexandra Theatre a few months ago, and she has almost the same company supporting her this time. The plot is laid in a mining camp in the Nevada ranges, and Miss Swain has to wander round as s kind of pocket Providence in protecting the virtuous and upsetting villains, all of which she does in her own peculiar way. She has, of course, several songs, and some incidental dancing to do, and is aided by an old favourite in the shape of Mr John Forde, who is highly amusing as Templeton Fake, the owner of a travelling show. It is also a treat to see Mr D'Orsay Ogden play Pedro Walters, a Mexican greaser, a part which suits him like a borrowed suit of clothes. Messrs G P. Carey, J. G. Joyce, Henry Hoyte, Miss Emma Bronton, and Miss Virginia Vivienne — she used to be called Vivian until lately — lead their aid throughout the piece. " The Miner's Daughter " is better thau " The Tomboy," and that is saying a good deal for it.

Miss Amy Sherwin is now playing " The Daughter of the Regiment " at the Opera House, aud although the various operas are advertised as " triumphs " and " unbounded successes," we are quite disposed to read those advertisements with a callous wink in our sinister optics. It is some years since this one time well-known opera was last played here — I have been told 20— and the public seems to have lost any deep regard it may have had for it by the effluxiou of time. "Jim the Penman " is deservedly popular at the Bijou Theatre, and will certainly run for a few weeks yet. Mr Harry St. M&ur, Mr G. S. Titheradge, and the whole company in fact, work with zeal and a keen perception of their parts, and meet with their just reward. " Skipped by the Light of the Moon " is drawng fairly at St. George's Hall, and Messrs Cogill and Gourlay announce a matinee for the benefit of the theatrical profession on Wednesday next. Mr Frank Clark's " All Star " Company are still at the Victoria Hall, where they will probably remain until the walls fall in. In delicate compliment to the English football team, a representation of that delusive game by moonlight is to form part of the new programme. Signor Robert Hazon has made a most marked impression by the excellence of. his orchestral concerts, and announces another on Saturday next, the prime portion of which is to be the eccentric Berlioz's eccentric " Symphonic Fantastique"' which is supposed to illustrate a real episode in the life of an artist. It is divided in " Reveries and Passion," " A Ballroom," " In the Country," " The March to the Gallows," and " The Witchps' Sabbath Night, Dies Irse." The name of the artist in whose life all these things happened is not given, but I do not envy him. The " March to the Gallows " must have been very trying; and the " Witches' Sabbath " looks as if those peculiar people — vow extinct, I believe —held high carnivcl over his arrival in a subterranean abode which I suppose he would have been glad to leave. An orchestra of 66 will give the necessary spasms. By the Austral, which arrived last week, there came, in addition to Mr F. Gowgu, Miss Lilian Gilmore, a lady who comes out under engagement to Messrs Brough and Boucicault. She is intended to replace Miss Nina Boucicault; who is said to be about to return to London. Miss Gilmore is a niece of Mr Thomas Thorne, the well-known comedian of the Vaudeville.

On Friday last Mr Alfred Cellier and Mrs Cellier left for London in the Liguria. Mr Cellier goes to superintend the production of a new opera, written by himself and Mr B C. Stephcnson, which ia to replace " Dorothy," which has now run over 700 nights, and has even been played in Berlin. Mrs Frederici, widow of poor Frederici who died on the first night of " Faust," left by the same vessel. Her departure has been delayed by the illness of one of her children.

Nearly everybody has read " Mr Barnes of New York" by thin time, I suppose, and is acquainted with the mysteries of a curious specimen of the vendetta. Mr Gilbert Parker, of the Sydney Morning Herald, is dramatising it for Mr Gco. Rignold, and I understand that Mr Doff, another well-kfiown pressman, is hard at work upon an edition for an opposition house, where Miss Agnes Thomas is to appear as Marina, and Mr E. Lester as Mr Barnes.

Miss Yon Finkelstein's lectures on the Holy Land are attracting much attention, and her audiences are increasing as her season closes. On Saturday afternoon the Athenaeum Hall was completely crowded. Her term ends this week, and she then goes to Beaconsfield for a short rest before commencing her country tour.

The French Comedy Company are announcing their last nights at the Freemasons' Hall. "Le Depute de Bombignae," the original of that well-known comedy v . The Candidate," is now the programme. On Friday next Mdlie Dremancourt benefits, and on Wednesday, July 4, the season ends with a benefit for Signor Tessero, whose speculation cannot have pleased him very much.

Mr Charles Arnold has be,en doing/well in Adelaide with " Hans the Boatman' 7 ' at the Theatre Royal. Hi 3 season ended on Friday, and he goes direct to New Zealand, opening at Invercargill on July 10. Mr Charles Warner followed him at the Adelaide Riyal on Saturday with " Drink."

Sydney topics are mild. The programmes at the leading houses show no special changes. The only item of scandal is that the wife of a musician of exceptional ability has eloped to Queetis'and with a man who ought to know better. Queensland news is the same as last week, and the public are looking forward to the arrival of the Jungfrau gapelle for a chan.ce.of seeing

something really new. Maccabe is in Rock* hampton, working his way apparently to the North Pole.

Miss Colborne-Baber, who is going to tour your country before going to London, leaves by the boat which carries this, and takes a small concert c©mp&ny~with her. Miss Baber has made wonderful improvement both vocally and artistically since she came to us first, and I have no doubt will meet with a favourabe reception wherever she goes.