THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1928, 2 November 1888, Page 28

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Notes By Scalfax. Melboujrne, October 22. Our city is getting as festive now as a fashionable wedding. Our country cousins are apon us like the Assyrian on the fold, and the verdant bush-whacker from the Way Back is here with a simple smile and a heavy cheque to gladden the hearts of those good-natured people who are willing to give him £10 if he lends them £5 for a few minutes just to show the confidence he has in them, and perform other acts of uncalled-for generosity, going even so far as to show him how to make a lot of money— out of someone elss — by a little clever manipulation of pieoes of white paper. The Caulfield Cup meeting, which will soon rival the great Melbourne Cup, has brought its share into town, and every day the cry is, " Still they come." By Saturday week the city will be like a beehive, all the theatres will be full every night, and our country friends will be the fullost of all about 11.30, when our religious hotels close. "Hands Across the Sea" still draws good houses at the Theatre Royal, and will be certain to run over Cup week now ; and after the Cup comes the deluge, that dreariest part of the theatrical year until the pantomime beams again. Mr Warner has shown his wisdom in ■ getting Mr Pettifc to make Australia take a leading part in the drama, for Australian scenes rouse the gallery to a pitch of excitement unusual even amongst its inflammable members. Mr Warner promises Mr Haddon Chambers' " Captain Swift " before very long, The reliable and well-informed Brodzky describes Mr Chambers as " a pallid young man, extremely youthful in appearance, who, a native of Sydney, has been Home twice, and during his last residence in London has been fighting a hand-to-hand struggle with the spectre Poverty." More power to his elbow then, as he has got the upper hand now. Messrs Brough and Boucicault revived "Sophia," Mr Robert Buchanan's purged version of Fielding's well-remembered story of " Tom Jones." The cast was almost the same as when produced here last Christmas, the only changes of importance being Mr A. R. Lawrence for JMr Phil Beck as Blifi, and Miss Gillmore for Miss Nina Boucicault as Sophia. Mr G. S. Titheradge (whose benefit on Friday was a glorious success) repeated his admirable impersonation of Partridge ; Mr Cecil Ward was the Tom Jones ; Mrs Brough, Lady Bellaston ; and MissPattie Brown, Honour. The attendance was good, and the comedy vigorously applauded. Tlie opera season at the Princess Theatre commenced on Saturday with the old, well known, and yet favorite opera "Olivette." Long before the overture the house was crowded io every part by an audience which had in many instances enjoyed itself over the Caulfield Cup, and meant to be amused. As it was, Miss Nellie Stewart in the title role displayed all her old ability in voice and acting, and even if she is a little domineering on the stage now, she (to use a colonialism) takes a lot of wiping out. Mr J!i. Royce as Coquelicot was the right man in the right place, which— tell it nofc in Gath— he not always is, although his friends would fain persuade him bo. The Christmas pantomime is to be under his care, I believe. Miss Fanny Liddiard as Bathilde, Mr Knight Aston as Captaia de Merrimao, Mr Leumane as Valentin, and Mr Vernon as the Duo dcs Us all deserve first-class certificates. The company altogether was composed of old friends, and got the hearty greeting that tried old friends deserve. " The Mikado " j is due on November 3rd. Mr Simonsen's new Italian Opera Company made their debut at the Opera House on Satnri day evening in " Ernani," and for the benefit of all whom it may concern, I give the complete ca3t as follows :— Elvira, Signorina Rosina Ajmo; Giovanna, Miss Cecilia Staunton ; Ernani, Signor Giovanni Dimitresco; Carlo Magno, Signor Gueseppi Pimazzoni; Ruy Gomez, Signor Roberto Mariceni; Don Ricardo, Mr George Johnston; and lago, Mr Frank Sceats. It is rather early to offer any decided opinion on the merits or demerits of the company just now. On Saturday they all appeared to bo ma.nervous condition, the chorus was wavering and only rose to the occasion once or twice, and the opera was staged in a very careless manner. Oar public is always ready for Italian opera it 6eenis to me, but, as I have often remarked before, we are getting educated up to such a high pitch of stage display that we are not likely to put up with makeshift work for any length of time, and will- demand a greater return in some other quarter to balance it. That we are not likely to get from the present company, which does not appear to be up to the standard of the previous one brought out by Mr Simonsen. Signoriua Ajmo has a high soprano voice of extensive range, rather metallic in the higher notes, but with some compensating low ones, She is given to the fault of the vibrato, as are most of the oompany. Signor Dimitresco has a good and pleasing tenor, but requires more knowledge of acting. Signor Pimazzoni is an old favourite, and gave the baritone music with an ease and effect which drew prolonged applause from the large audience. Signor Mariceni gives promise of being a prominent member of the company before long. Mr Simonsen, for some reason, brought out Signor Lombardi as conductor of the orchestra, although we have Signor Robert Hazon and a host of capable conductors here. Signor Lombardi has evident ability, but he has agility greater. He is the liveliest conductor I have seen for some time. If he does not tone down when the summer months come he will conduct himself into an early grave. Signor Hazou used to have a good deal of ihe jumping jack style of leading an orchestra, but Signor Lombardi is a whole display of fireworks. Mr Simonsen al-o imported a number of instrumentalists, and there he was wise, for the Exhibition and Mr Cowen have almost drained the town. Oa Wednesday the English part of the company will open in " The Rose of Castile," bq opera not played here, I think, since the days of petite Rosa Hersee. Tho Jungfrau Kapelle opened to a fair audience at *b.9 Athenaeum Hall on Saturday, and presented a programme much like their former ones. The stage was well .decorated with f ems and flowers, and a bright little water-

fall at the back gave a pleasing and picturesque air to the scene, which set off the quaiut costumes of the Kapelle to the best advantage. Mr Alfred Dampier gave us on Saturday " An English Lass," a version of the well-kuowa story of Margaret Catcbpole, of which he is part author with a certain C. H. Kneger. Miss Lily Dampier was Margaret Catcbpole, the English lass, and Mr Dampier Bob, tho boxer. It may be stated that Mr Dampitr's season, so far, has not been very encouraging, and he will have to work hard to pull the Alexandra out of the mud of disf Avour it is in just now. Mr Gourlay and " The Brook" continue to "go on" at St. George's Hall, aud the All-Star combination at the Victoria Hall has an added attraction in the marvellous gymnastic performances of Oada. . . Sydney.— Miss Carrie Swain is doing well with " The Tomboy " at the Theatre Royal, although I believe this is the third occasion on which she has produced it. Perhaps the vague pleasure of seeing Miss Swain jump nobly into a tank of carefully warmed water and rescue a paper baby, after allowing sufficient time for any decent and high-minded infant to drown itself twice over, gives it a special interest. Messrs Brough and Boucicault have produced "In Chancery " at tho Criterion; and Me Miln, the American tragedian, has scored better with " Richelieu" at Her Majesty's than he did with " Hamlet." It is stated that Messrs Rignold and Allison have secured the Australian rights of any plays Messrs Fergus Hume and Phil Beck may write. The Academy of Music, Gaiety, Protestant Hall, and the Alhambra are all given over to minstrel companies. Miss Amy Sherwin's concerts are popular at the V.M.C.A. Hall. Mr Stockwell and Miss Minna Fischer are her principal supporters. Adelaide.— Mr Blank Holt's sensation company are at the Theatre Royal, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers — who are always going Horne — are at the Town Hall. Hiscocks and Friedmau's minstrels are popular at Garner's Theatre. Brisbane.— " Hans the Boatman" is somewhere up in the Far North, and is probably getting as much weather as he likes. The HicksSawyer company of real black minstrels hold the fcrt at the Opera House. They were a comparative failure in Sydney. Mr H. C. Sydney and Miss Alice Norton arc giving their version of " The Mystery of a Hansom Cab " at tho Theatre Royal; and the persistent Faust Family are also moving northwards. Many of my readers will remember Mrs J. P. Hydes, the widow of the well-known comedian of that name, and may be glad to learn that after a somewhat struggling existence since her husband's death has had some money left her by a relative in England, and has gone Home to claim it. Mrs Hydes never was much of an actress, but as a spectator she was remarkable. She would have made a fortune on the Stock Exchange but for her sex. By the same steamer (the Orizaba) Miss Alice Barnett and her husband (Mr John Dickens), Mr W. Warde (of the Brough and Boucicault company) and Mr Phil May, the clover caricaturist of tha Sydney Builetin, also leave for Home. Miss Alice Barnett's benefit in Adelaide was a phenomenal success, I am told.