AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 37

AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

Dpak Pasquin, — That talented Melbourne family, the Pelhams, assisted by amateurs and professionals, gave an entertainment at the AthenEeum Hall, Melbourne, on November 16. Miss Maud Williamson as Lady Teazle and Mr J. F. Cathcart (good old Jimmy !) as Sir Peter Teazle gave the Quarrel Scene from " The School for Scandal." Mr A. E. Greenaway (through with Bentley in 1892) and Miss Aimee Moore presented a scene from " Hamlet." Miss Hilda Fraser and Messrs J. Clarke, Godfrey Castieau, and Eric Lorimer gave the comedietta "By Special Request." Songs were contributed by Miss Syria Lamont, Miss Alice Wooldridge, and others ; while Madame Meta Pelliam acd several members of her family contributed recitations. The programme concluded with- the comedietta " My Milliner's Bill," by Miss Emma Bronton and Mr Frank Cates. (ITaoriland playgoers will remember these two artists played this sparkling little act with the Frank Thornton Company in 1889-90.)

With Richards's Tivoli Company : Priscilla Verne (who sets the Johnnies " jigging " with a song called "Hashing the band"), C. FanniDg, Walter Lestt>r, the Sisters Anderson, Mr Arthur Farley, Miss Emmie Morrison (serio), Lilian Stanbridge (whose singing of such songs as "Dear heart" and "Gondola dreams" is quite a musical treat), Arthur Hunter, M'Kissor and Kearns (two very clever knock-about art'sts), and Messrs John Liudsay, Alf. Lawton, and Bliss Clara Spencer (three members of Frank Clark's 1838 All Star Company).

On November 22, at Sydney Lyceum, Pietro Maseagni's one-act opera " Cavelleria Rusticana" and " Turquoisette," or "A Study in Blue." Prices : 6s, 3s, and 2s.

'Arry Rickards has revived, "by universal request," "The Ta-ra-ra Lament," suDg and danced by 21 high-kicking ladies.

Hosea Easton (" Put up your thumb"), the baDJo artist of the Hicks-Sawyer Troupe, Toussard, the yodeler, Tessie Cleveland, the Misses Solomon, Master Keys, Messrs C. Boxall, Miller, Weatherall, and others gave their assistance at a "beg-a-bit" at Sydney Protestant Hall on November 23.

Miss Sylvia Grey, of the Gaiety Company which visited Australia a few years ago, haa married Mr Richard Lewis Fenwick. •'Man to Man," William Bourne's drama

with the great railway collision, which created such a furore in Sydney in March of this year, was revived at Sydney Her Majesty's on November 25, with George Rignold as James Gordon. Sydney Opera House once more closed. The dramatic adaptation of Gerald Griffin's "The Collegians," Dion Boucicaulb's evergreen Irish drama "The Colleen Bawn" (replacing "The Golden Giant"), was put on for four nights on Wednesday, November 22, at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, with the following cast : —

There was a large audience. Good business has been done by the Maggie Moore Company at the Royal all along since the company opened there some nine weeks ago. On Monday, November 29, Miss Maggie Moore appeared as Josephine in the two-act comedy opera "The Child of the Regiment " (played through Maoriland by the Holloway Company, 1893), " a military operetta with catchy mus:c, beautifully costumed, and giving Miss Moore an opportunity to demonstrate her undoubted abilities as a soprano of unusual merit and clever exponent. of military tactics and dances." " The Child of the Regiment" will be withdrawn on December 2, when "The Danites" will reappear after an absence of 14 years. The hot weather is now on ; theatre roofs are on the " slide." "Charley's Aunt" made her first appearance in Australia at the Melbourne Bijou Theatre on Saturday, November 25. Frank Thornton plays Lord Fancourt Babberly — commonly known as "Babs." The Italian opera season at Sydney Lyceum concluded on December 6 with " Fauat." Mr George Walton is in Sydney making preparations for the Theatre Royal Christmas pantomime — " The Babes in the Wood " (played in Wellington in 1886 by Harry Power's Popular Comedy Company). In Paulton'9 burlesque Mr Walton will be associated with Mr John Gourlay. Jennie Le& will be leading boy in Melbourne Princess Christmas panfomime — "Little Red Riding Hood." Violet Varley will .be leading girl. Kissy kissy, yummy yum ! Little Phylis Perrier gets another benefit ia Sydney. Miss Lucy Fraser (who scored in the song, " Eight hours a day," with Dan Tracey's Vaudeville Specialty Company at Sydney School of Arts in 1891), Dave Gardner (through with Will's Surprise Party, 1892), Lilian Forbes (the rifle shot), Flo Cameron, and Alma Obrey are with W. H. Speed's World's Gaiety Company in Melbourne. The Arnold-Thornton lease of Melbourne Bijou terminates on December 22. The proprietor of a performing dog and goat show travelling the back blocks of New South Wales, after having done a week's frost in order to enable the show to " get a move on," billed himself for a benefit. There was only a small audience, but the lenejicicnv eime forward with a facu beaming with pleasure and gratitude, and addressed the audience in these words : — "Dear public, — Moche oblige. Ver good benefice— only lose half a crown. I come again." Maggie Moore and company are doing splendid business at Sj dmy Royal. The company is cast as follows in

In the farce u The Pool of the Family " Miss Moore as Betty introduces to Australia the latest Amurkan successes, "Nellie, my Queen,' and "Two Little Girls in Blue." On Saturday, December 2y2 y " The Danites " was staged for this 1 company's six farewell appearances. Mr A. E. Greenaway, who was a member of Walter Bentley's first company in 1892, has at last struck oil t this time with Messrs Brough and Boucicault. He was engaged to play the part of Falloway in "Joseph's Sweetheart" at the Melbourne Bijou. The Melbourne critics praise his acting with the loud pedal on. It will be a toss-up whether the Fausfc Family and London Bellriogers tour Maoriland or India first after they have finished with the Lyceum pantomime. Several variety shows left lasfc week for Maoriland. One will include Charles Hugo (the "Buffalo"), Misses Holbein, Robinson, and Messrs Mooney and Crauford. Hugo ia booked at Auckland on December 9. Miss Mabel Lynne (Ethel Waller) and Misa Olive Delroy (Lydia Breakwell) are members of a variety company which is shortly to tour the land of the Moa. They will be rernem* ! bered with M 'Lean's Young Australians lash year. In the burlesque " Selina and Zulieka " they did a rather neat dance entitled " La Tarantella." They have only recently finished a rather long engagement — some nine month.3 — ■ at the Alh&inbra Music Hall, Sydney, Mr E. M'Lean, well known in connection with several juvenile companies, has taken a dramatic company out en tour. Albert Norman (once a member of Bland Holt's company) and Miss Bella Adair are amongst the crowd. Mr Augustc Lynch plays harlequin and a small part in Rignold's Christmas pantomime, " Jack the Giant Killer." Lyons' Tourists and Surprise Paity are back from India. They commence a tour of M.L. about Christmas. There are several new faces in the show. Miss Blanch YouDg may go with them. Arnold and Thornton are booked at Sydney Criterion for Christmas. Many New Zealanders will be sorry to hear that Mr Harry Marshall, while in Brisbane recently, had the ill luck to burst a bloodvessel. A letter last week states that " Captaia GiDger " is on the high road to heaven — no, not that — I mean he is doing well, resting. — Youra truly, B. S. Poverty Point, December 2.

"The Child of the Regiment." Duke de Grandtete Irveffayman Sergeant Scalade A. Glover Pumpermlle R. Greville Guilsofc H. 11. Roberts Notary J. j. Walsh Renard H. Flhin Rataplan ... W.Hawkins Duchess de Grandtete Ada Rochefort Marchioness ... Fit amaurice Gill Josephine (the Child of the Regiment) ... Maggie Moore

Myles-na Coppaleen H. R. Roberts (By permission of George Rignold.) Eardress Cregan A. Glover Danny Mann Irve Hayrnan KyrleDaly R. Greville Father Tom J.J.Walsh MrCorngan J. P. West BeitieO Moore 11. Flinn Hyland Creagh Alfred Woods Servant Burgess Anne Chute Mrs W. L. Hay man MrsCregan Miss Fitzmaurice Gill Sneelah Miss Docy Mainwaring Kathleen Creagh ... . Miss Annie Howard BjilyO Connor Miss Maggie Moore