AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 37

AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

(Special to the Otago Witness. )

Dear Pasqmn,— lt was the intention of Mr Edward Sass's many professional and private friends and of the Bland Holt Dramatic Company to have tendered him a complimentary benefit prior to his departure for England ; but the wellknown artist, whilst deeply grateful for the honour paid him, begged to be allowed to decline. The way out of the difficulty was a supper, and tin's took place on Thursday evening, June 7, in the Vie Aha Cafe, Melbourne, after the curtain had rung down at all the theatres. Mr W. E. Baker was at the head of the table, and made an excellent chairman, and on proposing the health of Mr and Mrs Sass (Miss Emma Gwynne) dwelt on their many good artistic and social qualities, and said that they had adorned the Australian stage for five years, and would always be welcomed back by many esteemed friends. A handsome gold watch, beating a suitable inscription, was then presented to Mr Sass, who, on behalf of himself and his wife, thanked his friends for their many kindnesses towards them. A number of other toasts, including that of Mr Bland Holt, were proposed, and later on a very pleasant gathering dispersed. Alf. M. Hazlewood may be the next lessee of Sydney School of Arts.

Slicd of twaddle on " La Mascotte " from Adelaide Standard :— Nellie Stewart—" Never seen to worse advantage as Bettina, the ravages of Time being clearly apparent," &c. . . . Lauri — " Words fail to express the contempt this paper feels for this little egotist over his attempt at acting the part of the king, f aurent." . . . " Ryley, as Pippo, gave the public the first taste of his quality," <fee. Still, the paper "simply admits that the greatest fool will sometimes show a transient flash of brilliancy." . . . Tapley " was nauseating in the extreme," and the paper "on account of its disgust refrained from further reference to this Johnny from 'omc." . . . Vernon— "The only sterling actor in the whole peripatetic push." . . . "The band played as badly as usual," &c. "All the world's a stage," but to anyone who has ever witnessed an amateur theatrical performance, the fact -is apparent that all the men and women are not actors.

Has Bland Holt's always been "A Life of Pleasure f "

Carl Hertz's new illusion, "After the Flood," is said to be wonderful. An empty ark is placed on the stage, and after a few pails of water have been poured in, rabbits, ducks, dogs, cats, &c, issue forth from the windows, and Madame d'Aton is found reclining inside. The Ililda-Spong Company opened at Sydney Criterion on June 23 in "As You Like it." ' Miss Spong was the Rosalind ; A. E. Greenaway, Orlando ;Mr Harry Leston, Touchstone ; and C. B. Westmacott (Fabert) and Jim Cathcart were alsoin the cast.

At Melbourne Alhambra -Frank Wyatt, F. M. Clark, Joe Walhalla, W. Whitburn, Gus Gregory, Rose Cambry, Minna Nimmo, J. R. Wadley, Daisy Chard, Alice St. John, Eugene Bartelle, Sisters Anderson, and Harry Shine. Frank Gerald's Dramatic Company were at Geelong (Victoria) with "The Shaughraun" on June ?5. Alfred J. Ivhney (Mr M'Cullum in " Our Flat," with Myra Kemble, '93), late of Rignold's Her Majesty s Dramatic Company, has joiued the Hilda Spong Company at Sydney Criterion, and plays Oliver in "As You Like It." Mr Ivimey is a clever character actor. One of the best little sketches he has given for a long time was that of a Jap. in " Round the World in 60 Days." 1 hough a small part, the make-up was admirable. No sooner had the Perman trio signed articles to travel the India trip with Hudson's most recently organised company when clever little Bella was ordered a six months' rest, and is now under the doctor's care. All over the colonies general sympathy will be felt for this young artiste, who has established herself a favourite wherever she has appeared, especially when in Maoriland, where, on and off the board, the family were most popular. On Saturday, June 9, Miss Jennie Maynard, from Londing, made her first Australian appearance at Sydney School of Arts. To begin with, Miss Maynard has no voice for singing. She indulged on Saturday in wretched vamping, not a solitary bar of that pretty and popular Stephenie Gavotte being correct ; while her mandoline accompaniment (?) to a silly song only consisted of the tune— such as it was— tinkled in unison with the voice — no harniony whatever. The same thing was done with an alleged " Coster song " (mostly inaudible, thank goodness !) at the piano —simply the treble part. Nor has the lady the facial expression or the ability to manufacture 20 different voices, such as a person who poses as a mimic needs. The foolish flattery of drawingroom audiences is probably the cause of Miss Maynard thus airing her vanity. One section of her first part, "Church Bazaar" sketch, descriptive of a Yankee girl's experience in learning elocution, was really funny, and, had she done nothing else, would have passed muster. A little girl called Claire Navette (name of a famous London dan«euse) went through a dance mistakenly described as the "Cachuca." Certainly the familiar old melody was used, and the child started off with a cachuca step, but soon showed signs of bad instruction, sword dance steps and various incongruities being incorporated. She has a pretty face, and with teaching would make a dancer. Baritone Fitzmaurice was in excellent voice, but sang " Let me love thee " as if he meant " Let me strangle thee," or " Let me cut thy throat." The well-known pianistc, Miss Naylor, did the only really artistic work of the evening, and ought to have been provided with a concert instrument. Pianos of the common or cottage variety are unthankful for public solo work ; nevertheless Miss Naylor"s playing was a great treat. At Launceston Bijou are Frank Yorke, Steve Adson, Annette Bodin, and Harry Gilbert. Tommy Hudson's newly-organised Surprise Party, which opened at Adelaide Bijou on Saturday, June 16, consists of Will and I'ercy Perman Dora (De Vere) Busch, Val Vourdin, Eunice Fernandez, ftella Esdaile, Lillian Stanbridge, M'Kisson and Kearns, Jim Wilkinson— the 10 break fiend— Amy Johns, Clarrie Brown (Mrs M'Kisson), Ida Tauchert, and Mrs Hudson (May Habgood). Before starting for India there will be some alterations and additions.

Will Speed's Variety Company touring Victoria. Mons. Loredan (which his correct name was Samuel Green), who recently died in Sydney, will be remembered in Maoriland as the lead with A. T. Running's London Comic Opera Company, of which T. B. Appleby was first comedian and Knight Ashton tenor. C. Johnson and Fred. Wentworth, A. Lissant, M isses Avenel, Annette Ivanova, Lily Kelly, Annie Wybar, A. Leaf, Rosie Johnson, A. Schrader, and Annie, Kate, and H. Martin were also members. Although Loredan claimed to be a Frenchman by birth, he was in reality an Englishman.

The following copy of an advertisement on the back of one of the Melbourne Turf Club's race cards for a meeting on Tuesday, March 23 1858:— "The Cup, before it was the Cup"— should abound with interest to the man in want of reminiscences— "Theatre ßoyal. Farewellßenefitof Mr<r. V. Brooke, and last appearance previous to his departure for England. This evening Tuesday, March 23, 'Love's Sacrifice.' Mathew Elmore— Mr G. V. Brooke, supported by the strongest cast of characters ever witnessed in the colonies. Farewell address by Mr Brooke and other entertainers." Another "ad." at the bottom of the card will also revive certain memories. ' Cremorne Gardens. Open this evening, Tuesday, for one shilling.'" Claude Hermann, described as " the great London society comic singer," has caught on at Sydney Tivoli.

Dampier's well-deserved beg-a bit at Sydney Royal, June 22, was a financial success. " Robbery Under Arms" filled the bill. B. and B. sent a cheque for £10. Rolf Boldiewood (the author) waived his rojalty rights besides giving a cheque. This was to be Alfred Dampier's farewell

Australian appearance, as he and his family, with the exception of Lily, return to England shortly. Alfred Dainpier has had very hard luck of late years, and no one better deserves a helping hand in an emergency. A number of professional friends and admirers are also organising a subscription testimonial, which it is expected will reach a sum well worth having. Harold Carr is playing Flash Fred, a spieler, in " The Flying Scud," with Rignold's Company. At A private reading to pros, and pressnlcn In a Sydney hotel oil Sunday night, June 10, it was unanimously voted that Frank Ireland's comedy, "May's Cousin," was certainly as funny as "Charley's Aunt," with the advantage not possessed by "C A." of having really good lines. In fact, tile dialogue alone is irresistibly humorous, for— simply read by a lady elocutionist— it evoked shouts of init'th. Surely some enterprising man can be found to join the owner of the colonial rights (Power-Lcpoer) in produciDg such a safe thing. The cast numbers seven people and the piece is played in one sceite. Bland Holt's Company opened at Sydney Lyceum on Saturday, June 16, with "A Life of Pleasure," "a production which places him higher than ever as a true prophet of the pictorial and panoramic mission of the stage." In the new piece there is not one but a dozen exhilarating sensations. At the very outset the stage is crowded by Irish peasantry of the most attractive sort — broths of boys armed with neat blackthorns, blithely full of approaching skull-cracking indulgences in connection with the O'Rourkes, and tasty colleens, whose scarlet hoods gleam brilliantly against the grass-green prospect set out beyant by Mr George Gordon. Five minutes afterwards the players are by the side of the Thames, picnicking with a choice assortment of pretty girls, presumably from the music halls, the theatres, and other unchastencd places ; then, by the grace of a swift " front scene," on a house-boat, where the company is also very gay, and the plot peeps out intermittently from behind snatches of comic songs, the strumming of banjos, and a pervading simulation of butterfly gaiety. A big scene or two in London, notably one at the Empire, and the scene suddenly shifts to the wilds of Burmah, where a detachment of the army are seen halted in a jungle, exchanging opinions about the commissariat receiving letters from Home and in other respects resting as tired men in uniform might be imagined^ at leisure. Suddenly news comes that the_ Dacoits are advancing in force, and retreating to join the main body, the soldiers are brought up short on the wrong side of a narrow unbridged chasm. " What to do?" is the question. Captain Danby— in peace an impressionable dandy, in war a leonine unblenching hero, answers the question. Mounted on the colonel's white mare, the captain bids farewell to the troop, and next moment the marc gallops across the stage, takes the chasm in fine style, and flashes away into the wings timid uproarious cheers from the soldiers and the audience. Not an instant too soon, for the Dacoits are within range. Firing begins and goes on, and the Britishers have closed up, fixing bayonets for a last stand at close quarters, when reinforcements arrive at the other side of the chasm, a bridge is quickly laid down, and the united forces offer a solid front to the tribesmen. 11l times then for the Dacoits. A hail of lead from the Nordenfeldts and rifles of the soldiers clip them off like thistles. They are killed in terrible pro* portion, and the big blue velvet curtain runs down on a stage strewn with Dacoits, wounded and dead. Admirably managed, from the gorgeous scenery and setting to the manipulation of the troops and the use of the light, the scene fairly out-Holts Holt.

With perfect truth this is called in the bills " a spectacle." Truly there is a play, called— with less deference to the fitness of things— "A Life of Pleasure." Miss Henrietta Watson is Norah Hanlan, an Irish girl, who was loved and lured to such a life by Mr Sass, in the guise of Captain Chandos, who fixed the blame of her shame on Mr Cosgrove, as Lord Avondale, and thereby all but compassed the violent death of that young and well-meaning actor at the hands of Mr Baker, as Desmond O'Brien, cousin to Norah, an old lover With a big heart and hard hands. While Avoft* dale was at the wars his lady, Miss Harrie Ireland was falsely won by Mr Sass, and Miss Watson, after 'saving her seducer from prison — he was a really bad man, and had forged at largetook poison. In the last act, however, when all was discovered, Mr Sass also took poison, and died most conveniently. The acting was just as good as could be expected of such casual opportunities. Miss Watson was forceful and emphatic, and, though still inclined to use the sledge-hammer where intensity was required, seemed to have developed her capacity for sympathy. Miss Ireland, who has many natural qualifications, acted nicely, and Mrs Bland Holt, captivatingly gowned in effusive red, was a dashing music hall singer, who married Captain Dauby, and was reported to have made a model wife. The captain was effectively impersonated on heroically comic lines by Mr Bland Holt. Mr Baker, Mr Sass, and Mr Cosgrove did excellently, and Mr Brown was hugely funny as an amorous Jew, who was spoiled by Danby and other Egyptians. The Holloway Company at Melbourne Royal are doing good biz. with "True as Steel." There is .one solemn mystery which sticks in a critic's throttle, and disturbs his night's rest, and that is why in the prologue Charles Holloway does not shift his wife's bed to the other side of the stage when he finds the snow falling upon her through the roof? Anybody but an actor would have horse sense enough to do a little thing like that, but all Holloway does is to flop down by the bedside and waste valuable time by gurgling mawkish sentiments which couldn't possibly do the poor creature any good, whether she is dead or alive. Also, why is the snow so deucedly particular about falling through the roof and yet never can be seen through the window? "My Jack" was staged on Saturday, June 23. Samson, a strong man, is showing at Melbourne Alhambra. He holds an anvil weighing scwt on his chest while a horseshoe is being forged by two blacksmiths.

Wallace Brownlow, the English baritone, made his Australian debut with the Royal Comic Opera Company at Melbourne Princess on Saturday, June 16. The following is the cast of

" MA HUE ROSETTE " :— Henry IV of France ... Mr Wallace Brownlow Colonel Cognac Mr Howard Vernon Bouillon Mr George Lauri Segur Miss May Pollard Moustajon Mr A. Lissant Vincent. Mr Joseph Tapley Corisandre Miss Florence Young Martha Miss Clara Thompson (Specially engaged, her first appearance this season.) Clochette Miss Nina Osborne Therese Miss Florence Esdaile Rosette Miss Nellie Stewart The Fairy Musical Comedy Company are showing at Melbourne Temperance Hall. Miss Ruth Wallace plays the part of Tina Hatzcll in " My Sweetheart."

Charles Ryley was tendered a farewell testimonial in the form of a matinee performance by the management and members of the Royal Comic Opera Company on Friday, June 22. Walter Bentley delivered a lecture on " Church and Stage," from an actor's point of view, on Thursday, June 21, in Melbourne Masonic Hall. The Rev. Dr Strong presided, and the proceeds were handed over to the Neglected Children's Society, conducted by members of the Australian Church.

Jimmy Craydon, of the Australian team — Delohery Craydon, and Holland— lo.-t his mother recently, and the members of Sydney Tivoli sent a very handsome wreath as a mark of their sympathy.

Leumane's Opera Company opens at Adelaide Theatre Royal in "Faust" on Saturday, July 7. The company includes Mr P. C. Josephs — the best Mephiatophclcs in the colonies— Miss Shcrwill, and Ida Osborne. Hcrr Heincke is conductor.

The lady Harry Pliminer recently led to the altar, Mr J. A. Thynncs's fifth daughter, Josephine, familiarly known as " Jack," is a sister of Mr;- lore Hayman and Mrs Harry Marshall. A sort of enlarged edition of the Christie Murray-St. Mtiur squabble in the Geelong Exhibition Theatre caino out the other day at the Victoria Hall, Wyalong, New South Wale->, wheie Harvey and Cremar's Variety Company joined- Vhiun and W.nd. A trouble aro-^c over board and lodging accounts, with the result lh.it thu perfoi tiiera %\ent over to Charles Bennett s»t the hall above-named. Before the

&how began the other evening Cremar went on the stage and commenced to give his opinion in such a way that a rare row ensued, fists flying about in all directions, one of Tom Shaw's catching Cremar on tho nose. The objectors came off second best, and next day there was a movement Sydneywards. Tom Shaw knocked out Cremar, and Pat Rochefort was similarly dealt with by G. Harper.

Fitzgerald Bros. Circus touring Victorian provinces. Ada Hallcy, late of the Manning Opera Company, has been engaged for Leumanes English Opera season at Adelaide.

At tie last performance of " Maritana" at Melbourne Bijou, Charley Turner actually left out There is a flower that blooineth "—llamlet without the Prince of Denmark.

Is Pat Finn and The Flat one and the same person? If not, whioh is The Oily One? Benvenuti, leader of the orchestra with Slade Murray's Oxford Combination at the Brisbane Gaiety, acted in the same capacity through Maoriland with Hugo's Buffalo 1 Minstrels in ISB7, when the only Walter Keen (that clever character singer), Alf Santley, Will Swannon, Billy Maher, Tessie Cleveland, Paddy Maher, Fred Hayward, Lily Warren, and Jack M'Dermott were members of the company. Albert Marsh, who is playing Mo Davis (of the Long Firm) in the present nro'duc'tian of "The Flying Scud " at Sydney Her Majesty's, was through New Zealand in 18S(S >\'ith the George Rignold Company, playing Gideon Blake in " In tbe Ranks." J. S. Cathcart, 11. Hambro, Joe Tolano, J. W. Hazlett, J. W. Swconeys, Mrs "eorge Bignold, Kate Bishop (MrS Lohr), and Athena Cladius were also members. "Faust "and " Called Back " were produced on the same trip. Charles B. (" Old Man ") Hicks, in charge of Harmston's Circus, now in Bombay, reports good business.

J. F. MacM ahon is in Melbourne with " Morocco Bound" up his sleeve. The new piece will be staged at Sydney Lyceum in August. Billy Elton and W. Same, fresh from Londing, will be in the cast.

Harrie Hilton, "LaCigale," once of the Royal Comics, is in Yankeeland.

Pattie Browne (Lady Thomas de Belturbet in "The Amazons") will fill in time with Charles Wyndham's company until her engagement at Drurytanc commences.

Walter Howe promises fresh novelties on his return from Amurka.— Yours truly,

Poverty Point, June 23, 1894,