THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1912, 13 July 1888, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Notes by Scaxfax.

Melbourne, July 2.

Separation Day, and a pretty general holiday. Yesterday — Sunday — was the real day to be celebrated, but it rained, and was cold and miserable, whereas to-day the weather is all that could be desired. This is the day we parted from envious New South Wales, and started on that line of -prosperity which has led us to the enviable position of the leading colony, although we cannot claim the premiership. Now we all want to federate and join in the bonds of brotherhood once more, We are a merry family, we are. Then we too have a mighty war scare, and our fleet of gunboats are already at the heads, and the Naval Reserve and Permanent Artillery are in position, while the submarine mines and torpedoes are being laid out with a lavish hand. It really reflects great credit on our defenders when we consider the celerity with which all preparations were made. Notice of the breakage of the telegraph cables— this you will already know has caused the universal scare — and the necessity for defensive action was only communicated to the naval authorities at 6 p.m. on Saturday, but at 4 a.m. on Sunday the Albert was at Queenscliffe, 40 miles away, ready for action. To-day large bodies of the Naval Reserve and Torpedo Corps have been sent down to the heads, and by Wednesday we should be in a position to make things very unpleasant for any stranger who might want to own some of Melbourne without paying purchase fees.

Theatrical business has been very quiet during the week, and there is really nothing of importance to note. The Gaiety Company at the Princess Theatre are as popular as ever, the matinee on Saturday being crowded, as usual. It is stated that the average weekly cost of the company is £1200, which seems a pretty large ,sum. The management, however, assert that their receipts for the first two weeks were £4000, and that they expect to close the season with a profit of fully that amount, if not more. I think I shall start a burlesque company myself, and see if I can rival the present one. I think it would pay. The prices at the Sydney Royal are to be raised when the company goes there, and I wonder how Sydney will like it. They are very queer over there at times. Miss Carrie Swain is still playing " The Miner's Daughter" at the Theatre Royal, but it is not doing too utterly well. We have had .enough of it, and want a change, which I am ; informed we are to have on Saturday next if the Russians or the avenging Chinese have not captured the city. " Jim the Penman " is in its last week at the Bijou Theatre. On Saturday next Mr Robert Buchanan's comedy ♦♦ Bachelors" will ! be tried, with Miss Lilian Gilmore and Mr G. W. Anson as special additions to the company. Mr Alison is an old favourite, and Miss Gilmore I have already mentioned in prior letters. " Bachelors" was played by Messrs Brough and Boucicault's company at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, a few months ago, and was not rapturously received, which may be a sign that it will do well here. It is generally an accepted fact that what suits us won't suit Sydney, and vice versa.

Miss Amy Sherwin took a rest on Friday night to recruit her energies for Saturday, when she repeated " Maritana," with our very old friend Mr Armes Beaumont as Don Csesar. I am glad to see that Herr Gorlitz has engaged Mr Beaumont, who has been on our operatic stage man and boy for a wondrous number of years, and takes a lot of wiping out yet. He is by no means an old roan, and it seems curious to hear him associated with people such as Lucy Escott and Henry Squires, whose names are not even known to the present generation. Mr Beaumont took to opera as a boy, and for many a long year has kept the flattering position of leading favourite.- I am afraid, though, that there is a race growing up which knows not Joseph, and that before long Australia's tenor will only be remembered by those whose hair is silver grey.

Some more adventurous spirits are going to try and make money out of the Alexandra Theatre. I have been requested to note that on Saturday next the " Novelty Melodramatic Extravaganza Company " will open the doors of that ill-omened house. I have noted the fact, and also note the amount of ground that title covers. The company does not hide its light under a bushel, but stretches it along a 25-foot wall. If the loud fanfare of war is not in our ears on Saturday I may go and see this modest company, provided I do not feel too aggressive.

The Oogill-GourJay combination announce the last nights of " Skipped by the Light of the Moon " at St. Georpe's Hall. On July 5 they will offer a Scottish programme under the patronage of the Caledonian Society. The "All Star" Company at the Victoria Hall are doing as well as they deserve to do, if not better.

The French Comedy Company are winding up their season at the Freemason's Hall. Mdlle Dremancourt's benefit on Friday was well attended, as was Saturday's matinee. On Saturday evening we had " Les Deux Veuves," " Oh Monsieur" — a little recitation which Madame Audre gave with much effect in the old French company — and "Le Feu an Convent." On Wednesday next the season closes with a benefit to Signor Tessero, when Siijnor and Signora Majeroni — the beneficiare's brother-in-law and sister — will appear is that sparkling comedietta " A Kiss." Sydney will be the next port of call for the company.

Miss Yon Finkelstein concluded her Melbourne season on Saturday at the Athenaeum, and starts to-day on a country tour, commencing at that exhilarating place, Geelong. They do say that people never die at Geelong, but only fossilise gradually.

Signor Robert Hazon's concert at the Town Hall on Saturday was a pronounced success, as was to be expected. Signor Hazon can work an orchestra as no olher man here can. Mr Cowen, the leader of the Exhibition orchestra, whose arrival I have already-noticed, was present, and was much pleased with the entire performance. Mr Cowen has been treated almost as a prince by the musicians here, and has had to eat dinners enough to spoil his appetite for some time to come.

You will soon have the Royal Triumvirate's opera company in New Zealand, and .you will probably like it. Miss Leonora Brabam will be phe leading star, and in Mr W. Elton you will find a humourist who will become a favourite at one bound. If I had space I could tell you some^ funny stories of Mr Elton, and one especially how we, a noble band of amiable Bohemians, tried to play a practical joke on him on a steamer in Sydney harbour, and had the tables turned 'upon us through the density of a steward and a still more dense ticket. collector. It was to, have been a noble joke, but, like a bad squib, it didn't go off. Miss Alice Barnett will renew her acquaintance with you, and to see her and Mr Elton in " Dorothy " is worth a gopd deal of money, even these hard times. Miss Nellie Stewart requires a long rest, and will not tour with the company this time. " Dorothy " has been popular in all the colonies here, and 'will no doubt be equally popular in New Zealand. It is stated that one man in Sydney was so disappointed with the opera that he tried to thrash Mr Cellier, a rather original way of getting supposed value for your money.

Mr Charles Warner is doing well in Adelaide with " Drink," as do many publicans and sinners in that drowsy little city. He is about the only attraction there just now.

Sydney news is multifarious. " The World " still goes on merrily at the Royal; and "The Two Orphans " stjll endure their nightly misery at Her Majesty's. Rumour has it that Mr Rignold and his brother William — who is a still larger specimen of the Rignold family —have come in for a valuable property in Reading, England, which has been in liquidation for a great number of years. The Holloway company have been playing " Romeo and Juliet" at the Criterion, with Mr Norman as Romeo and Miss Essie Jenyns as Juliet. The Brough and Boucicault company replaced them on Saturday with that extravagant comedy " Turned Up." The Standard has come-to " Janet Pride," with another real water scene. We have been jogging along for a great number of years without these tank effects, but now every management seems anxious to have one. A variety company are at the Opera House, and the music halls are much the san^e as before. In Brisbane the attractions comprise the Royal Opera Company at the Opera House, with Gilbert and Sullivan operas : Mr Dampier at the Gaiety, with " The Royal Pardon " ; and the Jungfrau Kapelle company.

That is about all the news I can gather this week which can in any way be supposed to be interesting. There have been no murders, suicides, or divorces— by the way, you will "have noticed that Miss Agnes Robertson has got her divorce from Dion Bouoicault, an awkward thing for him as it makes his marriage with Miss Thorndyke bigamous — riot even an elopement, or any other scandal. We are evidently getting moral, arid the question is whether, from a newspaper paragraphist's point of view, this is a matter to be grateful for or otherwise. At present I incline to the otherwise.