AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2097, 3 May 1894, Page 37

AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

(Special to the Otago Witness.) Dear Pasquin, — Arthur R. Lawrence, who played William Evans in "Dark Days "with Wybert Reeve's first Maoriland company, and late of the Brough-Boucicault Comedy Company, writes that after his successful appearance in the New York production of Ibsen's " Ghosts " he was at once engaged by Manager Dan Frohman for two years. Prior to his fine impersonation of Pastor Manders, he says that he "could get no one to look at him." The best public in New York laugh at melodrama, and insist that in future it will never again be seen in the Broadway. The Drury Lane success/ " A Woman's Revenge," completely failed to catch on in New York. Of Mr Lawrence, as the unscrupulous solicitor and arch-villain of the piece, the New York Herald says ho "made the hit of the evening,- playing with capitalvdistinclion, lice, energy, and admirable polish."

The author of "Sinbad," which Percy St. John's ("Please call me Sinjin") company is playing through Maoriland, was a "non-com."

Fin the Royal Fusiliers. Prior to entering the | profession his name was Charles Percy Simpson. He got his first professional engagement from Austin Power in India some six years ago. Nobody cares much now whether his name is Jones, Smith, Bcown, or Robinson. It may be St. Jonah. Miss Annia Montague and Mr Chas. Turner returned to Sydney from Honolulu by the Alameda. Miss Montague's visit to her island home lasted five months, and was one long holiday of fStes and entertainments given in her honour by the principal personages of the Hawaiian group. Miss Montague had the pleasure of hearing her mother, Mrs Cp'obe, who is now over 80, sing " Home, sweet home" with a purity of tone which few mortals retain at anything like that age. The popular operatic artiste comes of a long-lived race, however, as her grandmother attained the venerable age of 95 years. Mr and Mrs Turner will now settle down again in their Sydney home for a time. The Belle Cole Concert Party, under engagement to Mr H. Poole for a series of concerts in Australia, made their dibut at Adelaide Town Hall on Thursday, 19 th. The party consists of the famous contralto Madame Belle Cole ; Miss Emily Spada, who sang the soprano music in the last Crystal Palace performance of "The Golden Legend " ; Miss Henrietta Murkens, the Utrecho violinUt ; Mr Phillip Newbury, who was the tenor at the last Christ ni\a production of the "Messiah" by the Royal Choral Society at the Albert Hall ; and Mr Charlc3 Magrath, a young Irish basso, who in 1891 closed his career at the Royal College of Music as Morley [Scholar. After appearing in Melbourne the company open their Sydney season on June 15. Before co-operating with the Sydney Philharmonic Society in the June festival the party will give a series of concerts in Brisbane. The leading serio-comic artiste of Australian music halls is Miss Stella Esdaile, with Cogill Bros.' Company, at the Melbourne Gaiety. Stella, who by the way is a sister of Florrie Ejdaile, is only 17 — so they say— and has graduated from tho Melbourne Princess chorus. Will Speed ("Her own boy Jack") has left Melbourne Alcazar, his place being taken by Will Stevens. At the same hall are Evelyn Harte, May .Malvino (at Melbourne Alhambra 12 months ago), Amy Rowe, Wai Rockley, Clarence Lyndon, Pope and Sayles, Stella Stewart, Wallace King, Lillie Octavia, Jessie Thornton, and A lice Davenport. During the production of " The Squatter's Pardon" at the Bijou Theatre, Adelaide, Walter Benfcley had to smoke a cigar. The cost — sixpence — he very promptly charged to the author (Mr J. H. Lyons). Generosity, bhy name is Bentley ! Frank Emery's company, at Sydney Royal, on Saturday, April 14, for the first time in Sydney, Arthur Shirley's four act domestic drama "A WIFE'S PERIL" George Fane (a civil engineer) Mr Herbert Ashton The Hon. Augustus Cholmondeley (a sportsman) Mr Cyril Keightly Rafael di Rivola (a young Italian artist) Mr Albert Norman Joseph (.Fane's butler) ... Mr J. F. Ellis Hawkins (valet to di Rivola) Mr Arthur King Luigi (hotel waiter) :.. Mr O. M Berkley Beatrice Fane (George's wife) Miss Blanche Lewis Trixy (daughter of George and Beatrice Fane) Little Ivy Scott Mrs Merryweather (a widow) Miss Louie Amey. The drama is preceded by the laughable farce ••Nan," Miss Polly Emery playing Nan the Good-for-Nothing, supported by Messrs Emery, Gribbon, Berkley, and Anson, jun. Mr Arthur Hulme, recently through Maoriland with the Lynch Family of Bellringerß, has joined Rickards's Tivoli Company. The' Tivoli vocal ballet has introduced the "Ran Dan Boys," and Slade Murray has a new song entitled "Man's not required," satirising the woman's rights question. W. J. Wilson's Company, at Sydney Bijou (late Gaiety), are cast as follows in "EAST LYNNE." Sir Francis Levison Mr H. N. Douglas Archibald Carlyle ... Mr Frank Hawthorne Lord Mount Severn ... Mr Robt. FJ Henry Richard Hare Mr E. Carden Wilson Mr Dill Mr Harry. Leston Bullock Mr Jas. M'Lean Wilson MrH. Grattan Little Willie ... .;. ... Little Gerty.Fraser Lady Isabel \ f Miss Gladys Leigh Madame Vine/ \ (First time in Australia) Barbara Hare Miss Beatrice Lyster jMisS Carlyle Miss May Hesford Joyce Miss Minnie Ho warde At Brisbane Royal :— Florrie Ford, Clara Spencer, Les Tines, the Lester Trio, Craydon, Holland, and Sam Keenan. Taylor-Carrington Company in Sydney. Percy Shannon, Pearl Akarman, Lydia Livingston, Shaw the whistler, West, W. Harper, Pat Rooheford, and Harry Cremar have gone en tour Val Vousdin is running himself at Brisbane Ga'ety. "Charley's Aunt" appeared at. Melbourne Bijou on Saturday, April 21, for seven nights. Scene at Melbourne Theatre Royal one night last week :—": — " Please, Mr Moore, may I have two seats this evening ? " Yes, certainly; here's 6s ; go to the box and buy them." Bentley has arranged with Dan Barry to be seen in "The Silver King" at Melbourne Haleck. [ Says James Cassius Williamson to a London Era representative :—"' Throughout tb^e hard times of Australia we have continued to exactly reproduced every great London success. We hive kept above water ; and we shall keep above water, for the bad times are past.' No better news than this could be given to playgoers on this side, who look to Messrs Williamson and Musgrove for something more than ordinary theatrical management on a commercial basis, and who view with pleasure the artistic enterprise which has given them the Bernhardt season and the evermemorable performances of 'Cavalleria Rusticana,' • Pagliacci,' aud 'L'Amico Frits.' But, if he says little of his future plans, Mr Williamson is not reticent about the past. The career of resident artists is so taken for granted by those amongst whom they live that it may not be out of place to remind our playgoers that Mr Williamson was for five years a member of the late James Wallack's. famoue comedy company. He appeared in Augustus Daly's first piece, when that dramatist and manager was a member of the New York press, and he then rejoined Wallack's company for a further period of two years. In the early seventies Mr Williamson, by that time widely known as a dialect actor and low comedian, appeared under M'Cullough's management in San Francisco. 'Struck Oil' was here produced with Miss Maggie Moore, and in 1874 the same drama had a phenomenal ran in Sydney and Melbourne. Few playgoers here are aware that the Williamsons played in London. In 1875 tbey were engaged by Mr Chatfcerton for one month at the Adelphi Theatre, and eventually continued their season at that house for an entire year — from Easter to Easter. ' Arrah-na-Pogue ' was produced with a fine cait which included Mr William Terriss. and Mr Shiel Barry. After that, the principals visited the English provinces, and thence going to India aud the East reached America once more, after completing in three

years their tour of the world. It was the pos~ session of ' H.M.S. Pinafore ' that brought Mr Williamson to Australia again six or seven yearsafter his first visit. Mr Musgrove was then' managing the 'Tambour Major' Company.. Mr Garner's interests were in comedy and drama. These two amalgamated with him to form the triumvirate which was so long an important factor in the sum of theatrical life in this part of the world. During his present stay in London Mr Williamson will probably buy the dresses used at th 9 Savoy in ' Utopia, Limited,' and he may also purchase the rights of • Little Christopher Columbus.' "

W. F. Clitheroe says he has another Essie Jenyns in little Vera de Roy, who "made a great effect with Prince Arthur in the ' hot iron' scene from "King John" lately at Rand wick (Sydney) Town Hall, in conjunction with her indefatigable tutor, who played Hubert." Maggie Moore in Brisbane.

The Royal Comic Opera Company is on its provincial tour. Ballarat playgoers had their choice of four works from the company's repeitoire. " Paul Jones" headed the list with 1427 votes, then came " Dorothy," •• The Mikado," and "La Mascotte." The only new piece named was "The Vicar of Bray." Rickards made a speech on a recent Sunday psrformanca at his theatre. A very sensible spaecb, only marred by his constant reiteration of himself and his concerts and contracts. It» would have been graceful and more just to have remembered the Aquaria, and that in soro© quarters artistes had only their Sundays oub oE which to sjrapa up the whole week's existence. Rickards's people are engaged all the week, and %ix daya' work ought to be enough to obtain consideration on his part for those who work but one day in seven. Lawrence Cautloy is being starred as juvenile leading man of Mr Comyn Carr's " Sowing the Wind " Company for the English provinces. Mr Cautley's emotional acting as Ned, the ardent young lover, is highly praised ; and Me W. H. Vernon, also well known in Australia,, is making a hit as old Brabazon. " J. O. Bryant was once a member of Watson's Troubadours. Jenny Howard and Ethel Eastwood were in the samo chow." — Jiblet Gullivan. Miss Myra Kemble left Adelaide for England! by the Oroya on Wednesday, 18 oh April, in order to consult her physician in London, Dr Braxbon-Hicks. The Australian actress is visiting England solely in the interests of her health. Pinero's famous comedy "The Second Mrs Tanqueray " was produced for the first time in Australia at * Sydney Lyceum Theatre on Saturday, April 14-. For the Australian production Mr Phil. Goatcher has painted two Bcenes showing Me Tanqueray's rooms and " Higercombe," Surrey. The play is under the sole direction of Mr Boucicault. Following ia the cast : — Aubrey Tanqueray MrTitheradge CaleyDrummle Blr Boucicaulc Sir George Orreyed, Bart Mr Ward Captain Hugh Ardale Mr Renouf (His first appearance in Australia ) Frank Misquith, Q. 0., M P. ... Mr Carey Gordon Jayne, M.D Mr M'lntyra Morse MrHaids Paula Mraßrough Miss Cortelyon... Miss Romer Eileen Miss Noble LadyOrroyed Mies Temple. Edwin Terry has signed articles to play lead in a new musical comedy by Mr Arthur Branscombe, entitled " King Kodak," which was to have been produced at Terry's Theatre on Saturday, April 14. The cast includes Kate Vaughan and Mabel Love.— Youro truly, Poverty Point, April 14. B. S.