THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 3492, 2 May 1874, Page 2

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Turning to the other Colonies, I have first to notice that the benefit to Lottie, the female gymnast, which was dictated by benevolence on the part of the profession, and supported by the public in the true spirit of philanthropy, came ®ff at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, but it has only served as another illustration of the hard bargains the managers of that establishment are said to drive, and the dodges to which they will resort. To the ‘Leader’ is due the credit of exposing this latest instance of Messrs Harwood and Company’s charity, which begins abroad and ends at home. For Lottie’s benefit, it was announced with extensive flourishes that the theatre had been placed at the disposal of.Mrs Angell’s friends on ‘‘most liberal terms and that Mr Coppin, “with bis usual liberality, had kindly given, his services.” It was only natural under the circumstances that the idea should get abroad that the poor little widow was going to get something handsome; and it was still more natural that her friends should have exerted themselves with more than usual energy, as they did, because they succeeded in cramming the theatre. The gross receipts were L 242, of which amount, gentle reader, how much do you think went to Mrs Angell? The magnificent sum of L 63 10s ! The “ liberal” management swallowed the balance, with the exception of L2O for expenses.—Reverting to more agreeable topics, it is to be observed that the Melbourne Press has stirred Messrs Lyster and Cagli into producing something more than stock pieces, now that the powers of their new importations have been sufficiently tested, and public opinion on their capabilities definitely formed. On April 16 was produced for the first time in the Colonies, “La Juive,” by Halevy (proper name Levy), a composer o£ some note, who wrote “Tempesta,” in which Shakespeare’s play is set to music. Ihe opera, which is of the spectacular kind, has been brought out under the conductorship of Signor Giorza, and is pronounced by the Melbourne Press “an unqualified success from first to last.” Of Signora Zenoni-Gam-boa, it is said that her Rachele is pn undoubted success, both musically and dramatically ; that Signora Persian! makes a charming Princess, and sings with wonderful sweetness; that Coy and Roanati are heard at their best; that Baldassari is a very positive reproof to those who assert that a buffo actor cannot give an appropriate impersonation of a serious character in grand opera; but that the greatest triumph of all is Dondi as the Cardinal, with his commanding presence and remarkably handsome dress. And of the manner in which the opera has been placed on the stage, ope paper says ;—“ The dresses used iu this opera are unusually handsome, aud the costumier seem to have had carte blanche in tbeir preparation. All the principals are apparelled witn dresses that have never before been admired in public. The scenery includes some of the best scenes that have ever been limned for an Australian stage.” Apropos of opera, two items would not be out of place here. First, I see that grand bass Susini has been allowed to leave the Colonies. Hia farewell concert took place on April H, in the Melbourne Town Hall; and on Good Friday night Doudi rendered the music of the principal part in “ Mose i> i’.gitto,’ aud the critics say he lost nothing by comparison with Susiui, who was great in this role —which is high praise inde. d.— Second, the Melbourne papers were infinitely amused with the criticism of one of thi Dunedin dailies, which could see nothing to praise in Mias Alice May’s Drogan in “ Genevieve,” but gushed over her Arline ; when in Melbourne she was voted almost intolerable in Balfe’s opera, and was thoroughly successful in Offenbach,

Mr George Ireland, for many years a cental figure of the Victorian stage, took his final farewell of ib on April 1(5, when he played Hamlet before a crowded house, his impersonation being thus spoken of by the * e>: —‘ 4 It nob, as a whole, a portraiture that could be considered either great ox* original, certainly it was not one upon which an actor could claim the position of a star of the first magnitude It was what might have been expected at the hands of one devoted to his profession, and who possessed, in addition to natural advantages, the intelligent and diligent application for which Mr Ireland may claim credit,” Of Mr Ireland, who commenced his career in Melbourne, and who is therefore altogether an Australian-trained actor, another critic remarks that “ he may be regaided as a good representative of the theatrical profession in these Colonies, and as a sample of what we require in those English’ actors who from t mo to time may decide upon visiting us. In what is called ‘juvenile leading business,’ he has satisfied ill the leading actors (including Brooke, Sullivan. Kean, and Montgomery) who have been with us; and in light comedy he has certainly now no rival in any partof Australia. If he do not make a very good mark in London, it can only be regarded as an evidence of the imperfect taste of the London people.”—On April 21, Miss May Howard, who came out by the last Californian boat to Mr Coppiu, was to make her first appearance in Melbourne in G. F. Rowe’s mew play of « Geneva Cross.” The is well commended. One of i ahiti s correspondents speaks of her as a woman of great culture and refinement, and an actress of considerably more than average ability, whilst her exquisite taste in dress, and her admirable selection of pieces will win for her great attention wherever she appears.” George Darrell terms her “a dress star, ’ that is. one requiring the display of a splendid wardrobe. The * Australasian ’ publishes a very chatty letter from George Darrell, who, writing from New York on February 19 says “At Niblo’s garden, New York, Mrs Darrell made her first appearance in New York, on Monday last, playing the leading part in a dramatisation by Mr G. P. Rowe, of Cooper’s ‘ Last of the Mohicans.’ . . . Dramatic business is just now at a very low ebb in the States all over the East. More than one theatre is paying half salaries, and travelling stars, of which there is a legion, are scarcely clearing their expenses. Fechter is here, disengaged, and they tell me that eight or ten full companies are literally doing nothing. Southern, it is rumored, intends paying a visit to Australia, and Fred. Lyster talks of going with him. If Southern does visit you, he will, I think, be disappointed with pecuniary results, judging by the amount he is said to receive here—viz , half the house, averaging 500 dollars for his share nightly. In a conversation I had with Boucicault anent visiting the Antipodes, he expressed it as his opinion that it would not pay any great star to visit the < ’olonies. I adduced notable instances of success, eg, Charles Mathews, Kean, Sullivan, Montgomery, <ftc., but he did not appear to be convinced. The way the actresses dr j ss the pieces here is simply astounding, and provokes the inquiry how they contrive to do it on their salaries. One stock leading actress here says it cost her SOOOdols. (L 750) to dress a part in a piece now running. I can readily believe it did, and yet her salary is just lOOdols. a week. The pieces are the stars here ; all the actors go in the stock with the exception of Southern, and one or two more great guns. ” The first part of the above letter explains the threatened inundation of the Colonies by A merican artists. By the Californian bpat now overdue may be expected MadamejAnna Bishop’s company ; to follow her the Goiard family, a troupe of gymnasts ; and in June Mr and Mrs Williamson, clever character artistes. Towards the end of the year we to expect Laurence Barrett and Edwin Adams, both tragedians of eminence: the former, the best *ctor iu America. Mr and Mrs Hoskins were last heard of from Honolulu, which place they reached on March 8, and were induced to stay there till the April steamer arrived. Writing on the ! 6th, tylr Hoskins says they had there given two performances, with results satisfactory to himself. Oue was by royal command, when “The Morning Call,” scenes from the “Hunchback,” and “The Silent Woman” were played before the royal family and all the notabilities of the kingdom. Prompter.