THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 3505, 18 May 1874, Page 2

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

I now comply with my promise to say a little upon theatricals at Home and elsewhere. Mr and Mrs Hoskins have, on their way to America, been improving “ the shining hours” like “the busy bees” they are We see from the Hon dulu papers to hand, that while the s. s. Mikado remained there on the upward trip they gave a few nights’ entertainments at the Royal Hawaiian Theatre, under the patronage of the king They had the help of a gentleman. Mr G. H. Chase, and the bill before us announces for one uight, “A Comical Countess,” scenes from “ The School for Scandal,” and “ A. Morning Call.” We also observe that they gave a select reading before the King and a royal party of 150, in the audience room of the palace. I have been favoured with a few programmes, of the performances given by Mr and Mrs Hoskins at Hawaii, which are exceedingly good specimens of typography, and would bear favorable comparison with anything of the like nature that has been hitherto printed in the Australasian Colonies. The chief qvent of the month in theatrical circles at Home was the “farewell” benefit of Ben. Webster, which took place at Drury Lane on March 2. ' The principal artists in the kingdom took part in it, and that fact and the additional one that the arrangements were in, the hands of Lord Alfred Paget could not fail to m ike it a success. And a success it was iu every sense of the worn. The house, was crammed from floor to ceiling ; and the proceeds were close upon L 2,000 ! Mr Webster was to give up the management of the Adelphi, with which he has been connected for years, and make his absolutely final bow at the end of the month. Another noteworthy event was that on February 7. At the Princes of|Wales Theatre, under Mrs Bancroft’s management, was witnessed the 500 th representation of the late T. W. Robertson’s splendid comedy “School.” As the ‘Era’ remains, “it is an exceptional circumstance, brought about by an exceptional author and an exceptional company.” The London season commenced iu March ; on the I7th at Drmy Lane, and at Coven t Garden some days later. Mr Mapleson opened with “Semiramide” under royal patronage and brilliant auspices, with Titieas in the title vvoltc t Assisted by Madlle. Trebelli-Bettini, Signor Agnesi. Rmaldini, Campobello, and Casaboni. Mr Guy’s prospectus includes Adelina Patti, Albani, Marimon (the French prima donna), and Pauline Lucca, in the front rank; D.Angen, Neal chi, Smeroschi, and Sinico Nicohni and Bettini, chief tenors ; Grazani! Paure, Maurel, Oiampi, Tagliafico, Ac. He promises to revive “Louisa Miller,” with Patti as the heroine. i o refer more particulary to names known in connection with the Colonial stage—Little Rose Evans has reappeared in London; this time at the Queen’s, where she has made a decided hit in “Rachel the Reaper.” The metropolitan press is unanimous in praising her acting, and in noticing this wonderful unanimity on the part of the critics, the Home News’ remarks In this instance i U We r U J e3 u r^ d - Not onl y does Miss Evans fulfil all the requirements of the character m which she has made so successful an appearance, but she gives definite promise of tilling a piace in the drama that has been v.icmt for a very longtime. In the meantime we congratulate England on securing such on actress.” Mrs Herman Verzin is succeeding admirably (but no mention is yet made of her return to the Colonies, as was reported some time back); so is Julia Matthews at Islington with ‘Madame D’Aagot,” in which she had when the mail left played nearly 150 nights. Of the latter lady a portrait has been issued entitling her “ Australia’s best gift to Englandi ~B atT y . Sullivan, with his son, and Mr athcart is one of the most successful actors of the present day. He has literally made a fortune in the provinces, and is now playing with equal success in Scotland. At Aberdeen he lately produced “Richelieu,” and the “ Taming of the Shrew” for his benefit, when so great was the demand for seats that double price was willingly paid to the circle, and two-thirds of the bit was turned into stalls and still the people were not happy, Charles Dillon is about again after a severe illness J. B f Rowe is at the East End ; Fanny Wiseman (Mrs W, South) is about to start on a Provincial tour : Tonv Nish, who still conducts at St. James’s Hall, is the most popular composer of minstrel s !° 111 England, his latest compositions ” lle Y® llve let us live,’ “ Climbing the cliff, and “Tell we Willie” being as familiar as household words with the street boys ©f "? a »,^ 188 Akhurst, eldest daughter of W. M. Akhurst, of Melbourne, is regarded as a rising star in burlesque; Lady Don is m the North doing well ; and Herr Bandman m Scotland. At Dundee the latter naa the impertinence to appear as Rob “ oy * aa d to attempt the Scotch accent, No wonder it was withdrawn after one perfo mance, Johnny Hall is still first favorite with the Liverpudlians. His performance m the burlesque of Luriine, which preceded the Christmas pantomime in that city, is spoken of by the papers as being the beat ever seen there. He has got an engagement at the Alhambra Palace, and makes his first appearance in London at Easter. Spiers and Pond’s troubles are at an end, and their Criterion, in London, was to open on March 21. Mr E. P. Hingston is installed in the business management, and H. J. Byron, who has the control of things behind the curtain, is surrounded by a capital company. > From “Callboy,” in the ‘Austraiasian, to whom I am indebted for many items given above, I learn that Clarence Holt, who, at the ead of the month, jvas performing at the Foresters’ Music Hall, Mile End, and other similar establishments in Lmdon, has lately come into a small fortune by the death of his father. Clarence conges into a share of some valuable property in Sackvillp street, Piccadilly. A matter that excites some interest in the ramatic world at Home is the approaching action for libel brought against the ‘Hornet ’ by Mr James Anderson, the tragedian, who lays his damages at L5.0u0. The libel is said to be contained in the following criticism on • that actor’s performance during the run of “ Antony and Cleopatra,” a few months since at Drury lane Theatre • Never since the days of Richardson’s onow has there been such an exhibition of rant and mouthing as that to which Mr Anderson treated his audience last Saturday evening. Of his appearance we shall say nothing; on 6 cinnot have an Anthony made 5 ° rd j r ’ tlie chuckles of the pit, when Eros described the ideal'Ahtbny were sufficiently significant.' But Mr Anderson s voice and elocution ought to be so _ewhat under his control, and we'see no reason for making -the former like a wild steam-whistle, and the latter almost unin. teliigible Such words as ‘cleynud’ for cloud, hawse for horse, ‘keyings’ for kings, ‘neow’for now, and ‘seehelLr’ for Omsar could have been shovelled off the tfon ße^n C h rt - oa< i 8 ’^ nd faulta of Pronnncia t.on, emphasis, delivery, and manner were heaped up by this actor until they be-ame a3 ,, offc “. Blv ® f 8 a duug-hill. Old playgoers lent Mr / n i! erSu “ Waa once an excel- [ * rtlßt ‘ and that his Claude Melnotte was incomparably fi lle .' It is a pity he » ou *1 so rashly disturb those pleasant ncol* xctions, and disdaining the customary sym*or a veteran who ‘ lays superfluous on. ihe stage,’ challenge criticism by a loud seifassertion'which sejeks to overturn the whole

play, make Antony the chief figure, and degrade Cleopatra into a love-sick hussey.” The action is to be defended, and the Hornet _ has engaged a very strong bar for the occasion.