THE CRITIC

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 9, 13 November 1880, Page 71

THE CRITIC

Bandmann was a " frost" in Sydney. Temora (N.S.W.) "boasts two theatres. Miss Beaudet is a great favorite in Sydney. Fred Marshall has seceded from the London Comedy Company. The Passion Play is to be produced at Booth's Theatre, New York. Aii operatic vers ; on of Robertson's comedy "School" has been written in New York. Edwin Browne, as might be expected, lias proved a dead failure in New South Wales. Mr. J. C. Williamson lias ottered £600 for the right to play "The Pirates of Penzance" in these colonies. Signor llosnati was singing in Milan very recently. Charles Reade has made £9000 from ' ' Drink. " Some men have lost much more by it. The Austrian Band netted over £2000 on the occasion of their initial performance at Flemington. The site of the Victoria Theatre, Sydney, has been sold to Paliling, the music-seller for £20,000. Jimmy South was married to Miss Edith Pender the other day. What does this mean ? The Thornton family have been appearing with some success in a variety entertainment at Waipawa, near Napier. Billy Emerson is singing " Grandfather's Pants" with the Haverley's Mastodon Minstrels in London. Mrs. Lingard : s two daughters are at school in Melbourne. The eldest, aged 11, is a very handsome girl — the image of her mother. The old Polytechnic at Melbourne has been " restored," and was opened on Cup Day, by a French Company. Miss Gcnevicve Ward is about to produce in London a version of one of Lord Bcaconsfitsld's earlier novels. None of them have hitherto been dramatised. Pv. B. Wiseman, brother to Mrs. John Hall, has been married in Melbourne to a Miss Browne, daughter of a wealthy Victorian squatter. E. Marshall, the comedian of the London Comedy Company, is corresponding with DeLias for a tour through New Zealand. What a treat for Auckland. Monty Soloman, who acted as manager for Camilla Urso, has been engaged by Mr. Arthur Garner, to act in same capacity for his Comedy Company. The Sydneyites say that they never realised "Beauty and the Beast" until they saw Bniidman and Beaudet. The London Comedy Company play in Newcastle two weeks, thence 'to Melbourne and Adelaide, returning for Christmas to Sydney. Haa-y LeClair, the female impersonator of the Lof tvs Company, and Phil Kirby were through passengers to 'Frisco by the mail steamer. The London " Figaro" announces that Mi«s Clara Vesey, sister of Miss Emily Soldene, is shortly to be married to a gentleman residing in Glrsgow. Mr. Alfred Thompson is about to edit a new London weekly social and satirical illustrated journal entitled "Pan," in which the theatres will form a prominent topic. It is stated that a panorama depicting the incidents of the Kelly episode in Victorian history ha 3 been painted in Christchurch, and will shortly be exhibited. Manager De Lias wanted £350 to play the Lingards for six nig-lits in Wanganui, but (says the local " Herald") the sum named was so absurdedly high that naught came of the negotiations. At the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, the Williamson's have been playing in the " Snow Ball," a farcical comedy originally produced at the Strand in London. According to an exchange, Miss Emily Soldene purposes settling in Australia to teach singing and prepare people for the stage. Sounds likely, doesn't it? Signor Verdi has decided, it is said, in order to avoid any possibility of misunderstanding, that his new opera on the subject of Othello shall be entitled ••lago." It is stated in New York that Mr. Lytton Sothern will be asked to head the combination in the series of engagements which his father is by illness unable to fulfil. The Lynch Family of Bell ringers, after meeting with no end of adventures on their overland journey, culminating in the bolting of the horses and the smashing of the coach, managed to reach Hokifcika, where they have done good business. Ketten's advent to New Zealand has been postponed for a little, as he has been induced to give more concerts in Victoria, visiting Sandhurst, Baliarat, and Geelong, and giving six farewell concerts in Melbourne, concluding on November 13th. He then proceeds to Hobart Town.

Willde Collins is writing a new novel. It is called " The Black Robe and will it bo very sensational. The playgoers of Milan need a few lessons in good manners if the incident recently reported is founded on fact. ' It is said that Ristori, when playing a few nights ago, was greeted with shouts of " Get off, you're too old!" and that the great actress responded with dignity, " You are much toopolite." Mr. Daniel Bandmann lately informed Mr. Alexander Thompson (who, it will be remembered, was a member of the Steele Dramatic Company) that he was the greatest actor in the woi'ld. Alick adroitly changed the subject by remarking that he'd take a bit of lemon in his. Before "H.M.S. Pinafore" was produced, Mr. W. S. Gilbert went down to Portsmouth, was rowed about the harbour, viewed various ships, and finally pitched upon the deck of the famous " Victory" for his scene. Having obtained permission, he sketched and modelled every detail, even to the stanchions. Mr. Walter Reynolds did not accompany the Hill-Burford Company from Dimedin to Christchurch, but will possibly return to the latter city in about a fortnight, though not to appear on the boards. He is, I understand, writing a new drama, and does not intend entering upon another engagement until it is finished. The entertainment to be given at Otahuhu on Wednesday next, promises to be a very brilliant affair. The programme includes three scenes from the " Merchant of Venice," several songs and recibations, and the side-splitting farce of "No. 1, Round the Corner." I hear that a good many people are going out from town for the occasion. A correspondent of the " Canterbury Times" writing 1 about the Lynch Bellringers' performance at Westlaud, says : " I think the Lynches do well to have no ladies in their company. It puts all the women on their side. They say that they are " such nice, handsome, gentlemanly young men I" With such opinions as these in their favour they may defy the critics. From a San Francisco paper I learn that Miss Tilly Andrews (Mrs. Sirninonds.) obtained a divorce from her husband, Harry Siininonds, with authority to resume her maiden name of Matilda E. Andrews. After what came out in the Christchurch Magistrates' Court when Miss Tilly Andrews applied for and obtained an order for the protection of her earnings, no one will be surprised at the action she has taken in San Francisco. The Gisborne " Standard" gushes as follows about Bliss Leaf. "This lady," says my contemporary, "is a singer who. does not make the world wonder at her dazzling brilliancy, but rather softens and subdues her hearers by a quiet, chaste expression. Her idea is to subdue the spirit and calm the soul by a sweet pathos, such as few singers have cultivated so successfully. Her heart is in her work, and what she sings she sings well." The . famous Austrian Band consists of 54 musicians, mustering amongst them the following instruments, namely, 12 first violins, 8 second violins, 4 violas, 3 violoncellos, 4 contrabassos, 4 flutes, 3 piccolos, 12 clurinettes, 3 oboes, 2 bassoons, 3 cornets a pistons, 4 bass cornets, 11 trumpets, 5 horns, <1 bass cornets, 2 euphouia, 1 bombardon, 3 trombones, 2 helicons, I harp, I tiniburu, drums, tyinpani, cyinbaU, &c. — in all, something like 100 different instrument. Like many men who have made their mark in dramatic and other literature, W. S. Gilbert comes of a literary stock. His father, Mr. William Gilbert, tho author of the "Inquisitors" and other novels, wx'ote the story on which the drama of " Mary Warner " was founded by his friend Mr. Tom Taylor. Mr. Gilbert himself was called to the Bar, and, pending that acces, sion to dignity, was a clerk in the Privy Council Oificeswhere he, like Mr. Tom Taylor in his official days, wrote much " copy" upon Government paper. By far the best comic vocalist on the Music Hall"stage now is Arthur Roberts, whose new song (says the " Referee ") is a regular "screamer." The singer is singing of his lady-love, and this is what he says : — I gave her one in tho ivy bower, one little kiss and that was all ; And ever since that happy hour, my Katty holda me in her thrall. I gave her one in the i — , I gave her one in the i — , I gave her one in the ivy bower — and that was all. Years ago when Herr Bandmann (iioav in Sydney) first appeared in London, he was remax^kable for his flowing locks which streamed over his shoulders. There was produced at that time a play by the late Lord Lytton entitled " The Rightful Heir," in which Baudnuum sustained the principal part. This piece, together with the tonsorial peculiarities of the chief actor in it, were exquisitively burlesqued at the Olympic Theatre by a piquant sketch called " The Frightful Heir," in which the chief character had an enormous capillary poll, and met his fate in the manner of Absolom of old. This " skit" set all London on the broad grin. Jerusalem, says the "Referee" "is looking up. According to accounts in a German paper, the inhabitants are taking to European costumes, and modern architecture is increasing. Jerusalem already has a billiard-room, a shoeblack.an office for the sale of the 'Daily Telegraph,' an ice cream soda bar, and other signs of civilisation. We shall hear presently of a music hall being opened, with London stars. We may yet live to see the Great Macdermott include Jerusalem in his provincial engagements. His celebrated ' Says Aaron to Moses' would be peculiarly and locally appropriate to the traditions of the place." Want of space prevents us reviewing at length the capital entertainment provided by Dean's Minstrels at the Lome-street Hall on Tuesday evening. Suffice it to say there was an immense house, and the affair proved a very genuine success. Next time this troupe performs I propose to criticise their efforts seriously. As a rule, it is desirable to say as little as possible about amateurs, but Dean's Minstrels are rather above the ordinary run of non-professional burnt-corkists. Mr. Richards voice would pass muster at the St. James's Hall and the comic men (Bertie, Rice and Dean) really possess pome sense of humour. Jimmy O'Brien's benefit on Monday evening proved a great success. A large audience assembled to do him honour and the i>roceeds must have reached a respectable sum. In the laughable comic drama, "His Last Legs", Jimmy, (nothwithstanding a somewhat defective brogue) was really very good. He had conceived the part admirably, and played it with force and spirit. Mick Gallagher supported bis friend O'Brien in the some insignificant role of the butler, Paddy Finn, and met with a tremendous reception. To see him bowing before the plaudits of a delighted audience was really splendid. Of the other ladies and gentlemen who acted in the piece, the less said the better. They were, with the exception of Miss Duke, only so-so. "Miriam's Crime," and the laughable farce of " Turn Him Out" were the pieces selected on Tuesday night by the newly established Amateur Garrick Club for their inauguratory entertainment at the Theatre Roya.l the proceeds boing for the funds of the Parnell and Ponsonby Orphanages. The attendance was good, and the performances for amateurs above mediocrity. In "Miriam's Crime," Mr. R. Ellerton gave a very fair representation of Bernard Reynolds. But this gentleman appeared to better advantage in the farce as the injured husband, Moke. Mr. Gerald as Biles in the comedy and Macdennis Nobbs in the farce was exceedingly good. Mr. F. Marshall as Eglantine Koseled gave a fair impersonation, although the make up was not the correct one. Too munh cannot be said in praise of the ladie3. Miss B. Sheridan as Miriam was deservedly applauded. Miss Ettie Moone, in both pieces appeared to advantage, and Miss Bryan as Susan in the farce, gave a delineation of that " energetic slavey" that showed great promise. H. J. Byron (the author of "Our Boys") was born in Manchester, and comes from the same stock as the poet, to whom his grandfather was first cousin, When he reached the age of fourteen the ties of relationship were gracefully acknowledged by the Hon. Mrs. Leigh, Lord Byron's " sister," who used her influence to obtain for her young kinsman a cadstship. The lady boin tr , however, an only son, his parents refused thoir consent to his going to sea ; and for some years he remained what is known at the viceregal court as a " gentleman at large," the precise current of his future career wholly undetermined. At the age of eighteen he settled the business for himself by going on the stage, making his bow to the public at the Theatre Royal, Colchester; thence he migrated to Oldhaui, Rochester, and other provincial towns, where, if he did not reach sudden affluence, he laid in a stock of practical knowledge that had much to do with augmenting li sitccees in after-life.