AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2288, 6 January 1898, Page 39

AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

(Specially Written fok the Otago Witness.)

Dear Pasquin,— George Harmston, one of the best circus riders of recent years, ia now with Fitzgerald Bros.' "Huge Combined Shows, including Carl Hasenbeck's Zoological Circus, direct from Hamburg per s.s. Cornwall," Y/hich opened its S i dney season on December 22 One of the most sensational acts with the pew company is thafc in which a full-grown lion rides on the back of an elephant. This act is enclosed in an enormous iron cage. Another act is that in which an elephant mouutd a tricycle and lides round the arena.

Johnny Coleman, Alice Leamar (both through Maoriland with the Matsa Vaudeville Company tlm year), Ada Reeve, and B=rt Gilbert are playing in "The Babes in the Wood" at Sydney Her Majesty.

Johnuy Foley, by permission of Messrs M'Mahon Bros, aud Woods, Sydney Lyceum, contributed a clever sketch at a popular concert at Sydney Town Hall on the 20fch. Among the performers were Mrs C. C. Lauce and Mr Heury Weir.

We have still hopes that the success of Mr Brough will cause others equally good (and there are not many) to attempt to cultivate the newly arisen higher emotions awakened by tha magnificent art of his highly ttlented wife and himself. The magnificent acting of the Broughs and the pleasure derived therefrom take our mind back to many a dimly remembered acquaintance, maybe friend poor old F ed Leslie — alas ! now no more ; dear, good, big-hearted Rigaold—kindliest of men, a veritably tiuecast when he played Santa Claus in Oscar Barrett's pantomime at the Lyceum, London. — Calcutta Rtfcree. Mr Frank Phillips, now touring Maoriland with the "Sigu of tfee Cross" Company, ia a native of New South Wales. He made his professional debut as a balladist with Hiscock's Minstrels at Sydney Academy of Music (afterwards Garrick— now the Tivoli— Theatre), at which house he remained six months. He next jai.ied West..n (Frank, of Wiz*vd Oil fame) and Hussey's Minstrels for four months at the Old Nugget Theatre (now the Salvation Army barracks) ; then played a 15 months' engagement at Sydney Alhanibra (under Frank Smith's man?getnent). Others then at this popular house were Millie Herbert ("The Flower Girl," through MaoriUnd with F. M. Clark's All Star Company 18S8>, Harry Barrington (who had a seven years' stay at the Alhambra), Jennie Nye, the Perman Family, Johnny Gilniore, "Master" H*rry Quealey (now playing comedy leads with PolUrd's Opera Company in Maoriland), Dave Gardner (through Maoriland with Wills's Surprise Party '92), Nina Tulloch ("The Australian Magpie," who made a big hit with the patriotic song " Henry Searle," and who died in irfouth Africa), Ida Heath (a clever dancer now at London Alhambra), Amy Rowe, Hosea Easton, and the clever team, Marion and Franks. Mr Phillips next went on a tour of five months through Queensland with the Emersoaian Minstrels, which included the really clever pair, Walsh (now keeping a chemist's shop in 'Frisco) and King, Charley Palmer ("My Sweetheart"), Tom B*rgin (through Maoriland with Ada Dd'oy '97), and Harry Ineram. While touiing with the Imer onians Mr Phillips was re-engaged by the late Frank Smith fiom Townsville for a three months' engagement to appear at the opening of Sydney Royal Standard, afterwards going over to the Alhambra for three months. Closing his engagement with Frank Smith, "Mr Frank Phillips, the phenomenal male soprano," made his " inaugural appearance " with Emerson and Woods's Alabama Minstrels on the fifth week of that company's season at Sydney Garrick (now the Tivoli), September 24, 1892, with whom he played a six months' engagement. After a four years' retirement, Mr Phillips joined " The Sign of the Cross " Company at Sydney Her Majesty's, where they played eight weeks, Melbourne nine weeks, and Adelaide four weeke. After playing return season at Melbourne and Sydney with "The Royal Divorce," the company left for Maoriland to opea a tour at Dunedin Princess. Mr Phillips is a genial good fellow, aud is " white." Hudson's Surprise Party, now in Maoriland, is one of the oldest colonial organisations travelling, and is now in its 19th year of existence. It is just IS years siuce Hudson's Surprise Party first toured the land of the (no) Moa. Rickards Biograph Company, with M. Marcus in advance, played Adelaide. Harry Rickards, by the way, paid £900 to Geo. Adams to cancel his lease of Sydney Palace Theatre, and the said same vaudeville entrepreneur is losing a pot of money daily. Maggie Moore, after her panto season at Melbourne Royal, will play Tasmania, Bivken Hill, Perth, with South Africa to follow. f Phil Stuart will very likely go in advance o Frank Thornton on the Maoriland tour.

Carl Hertz opens his third world's tour at Thos. P. Hudson's Theatre Royal, January 8, 1898. If any person in Calcutta is deserving of grateful acknowledgment at the hands of its inhabitants that persou is Mr Robert Brough. He spared no amount of expense and exertion in producing a play ("Sowing the Wiud") the minutest detail of which could not have been characterised other than superb by the veriest cynic. ... Mr Brough's articulation and complete knowledge of stage cratt place him a head and shoulders at«ove anybody we have seen in India for years. . . . Mr Harry Piimmer's perfect elocution as Ned Annesley calls for favourable comment. . . . Mr Wilfrid Shine invests Sir Richard Cumtor with a superabundance of dash and go. It was a smart and breezy readiDg of the character, and does Mr Shine infinite credit. . . . Misses Temple and Hardy as Mrs and Miss Fretwell would make a fortune in Calcutta as scandalmongers. The latter lady introduces a priceless giggle into her part, and scores every time. Miss Watt-Tanner as Bridget, a substantial-looking Irish slavey, wound herself round the hearts of the "gods" by having an arm that would reflect no discredit on a Sandow. . . . The front of the house is under the charge of Mr Allan Hamilton, whose assiduity and couitesy have made him a host of friends, particularly among the press.— Calcutta Referee. The Uocklcy Brothers are at Sydney Tiroli, also G-eorgie Devoe, Cbas Fanning, Frank York, Harry Barrington, Nfcllie Wilson, Milford Havcu, Nellie Sheldon, Chas. Howard, Alice Simmons,

"John Driscoll Foley, one of the best Irisfe comedians we have."— Daily Telegraph. Miss Ada Reeve (the original " Gay Partsienne" m Londing) and Mr Bert Gilbeit make their Sydney debut in " The Babes in the Wood " at Her Majesty's on the 26th. " The Gold Fiend " was the name of a sensational drama presented at Sydney Royal Standard Ihestre on Saturday, the 12th. Mr B'Orsay Ogden made up as the Gold Fiend, a person who shall be nameless, but whose deeds were done at Glenbrook, and his pistol was very much in evidence, ile had confederates— aboriginals ; his victims were also there, and the play showed his murders, his escape, his apprehension, and his final fate, winding up with a speech to the audience, in which he told the story of a life misspent— a life devoid of self-control, or, indeed, anything Sl s . c £ ay , c the gratification of his desires. Miss Bilhe Ho^arde was responsible for a large amount, appearing as Mabel LindeD, the belle of Glenbrook. With the performance of this character Miss Howarde added another success to her already lons list. Miss Kathleen Raleigh was excellent as Mrs Lizzie , with a past history Mr D'Orsay Ogden was good as , alias the Gold Fiend of Glenbrook ; while his mates, Dr Harry Welman and young Bob Beaton, were well represented by Messrs J. R. Goodall and Lewis Laurence respectively. Mr Sam Poole and Mr W Coulter as Denis Maguire and Myles Morton were excellent. Miss Laura Keene and Messrs H N. Douglas, Paul Creyton, »nd Charles South alfl« appeared and did good work. Both the acting &n<\ the scenery were appropriate to the theme, and the latter especially will be remembered by those who were associated with events which happened in New South Wales some time ago. The Kellinos, eight first-class acrobats and gymnasts, whose sets begin where others leave off, direct from London, under engagement to Harry Rickards, made their Australian debut at Sydney Tivoli on the 18th.

Willie Freear, who has cancelled his e&gagement with Harry Rickards, will shortly begin a tour with "Freear'B Frivolities "—an entertainment which has been very successful in India aad Africa as well as in England. Mdlle D' Alton ("Baby, yer ma honey"), Carl Hertz ("I will now endeavour to entertain you with my entertainment !"), and Edwin Geach left for Melbourne for the East on the 14th. The illusionist takes away £10,000 as the result of his Australasian tour.

Miss Madge Corcoran returned from Maoriland last week to take up a six months' eogagement with Frank Thornton's Comedy Company. Mi*s Maiie Luella, who played the name part in "Robinson Crusoe" at Sydney Her Majesty's last Christmas, has returned to Melbourne ; wherefor Miss Celia Mann, of the Bracy Opera Company, will play Alice in " Dick Whittington " at Sydney 1 Lyceum.

There is the regular variety of mifstatements regarding the early life of Miss Regina Nagel which usually springs up around a rising notability. Mhs Nagel's everydsy name is Minnie Hill, and j-he is the daughter of a well-kncwa manufacturer of aerated waters in the Yaira Valley townehip of Lilydale (Victoria), where, by the bye, is the valuable Cave Hill eat ate of Mr David Mitchell, father of Madame M- lb», and where the noted cantatrice made several eirly public appearances in church concerts. Mi»s Nagel was born ..t Nijgambie, in the Goulbourn Valley, but went with her parents to Lilydale at a very early age, attending the public school there, and attracting attention as a child in the class singing by her wonderful gift of song. — Sunday Times. Miss Klsie Stanley Hall, the young Australian pianiste who has earned considerable distinction in London and the Continent, made her first appearance since her return at Sydney Town Hall on the 18th. Among those who assisted waa ITe>r Vollmar (through Maoriland with the Cyril Tyler Concert Party). Miss Hall achieved a brilliant success.

Frank Thornton and Comply opened at Sydney Criterion with " Charley's Auut " on the 26th.

Clever Georgie Smithson is now playiDg with Henry's Dramatic Company at Sydney .Royal Standard. Mdlle Trebelli is likely to visit Australia in '98. .Tennis ("Jo") Lee is doing the Londi.u muslo halls.

Flying Jordans in Tasmania.

Misa Ada Ferr*v, now in Maoriland with the Firm's "Sign of the Cross" Company, is tha wife of a Lontioii journalist.

Harry Gilbert ("On Hor Majesty's Service") now occupies thu centre chair in Jones and Lawrence's Olde Englishe Fayre at Perth. "If my life is to end suddenly it will be by hanging, for all attempts to either drown or burn me have religiously failed."— Addie Conyera. Miss Alice Simmons, the Australian soprano, who was through Maonland with J^mei Bell and Ada ? Vlroy, is dnging at Sydney Tivoli.— Yourtt truly, Poverty Point, December 25. Bis.