THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 3544, 2 July 1874, Page 3

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

The eompany to which Miss Stephenson had to give way at i* uckland was “ Smith’s English and Continental Combination. ” The proprietor is an old frbnd. He introduced the first lot of .taps, into the Colonies, was associated with Mr Lyster in the early days of Italian Op ra in Melbourne, and, after doing the round of this Colony with his present company, will, it is understood, retire from the busy cares of management into the calmness and (for him) deserved ease of private life. The “ combination ” has had a most prosperous time of it in Auckland and at the Thames, and is now oa its way to the South, It comprises Airec, a gymnast; Val. Vose, ventriloquist; the De Castro family, a troupe of carpet tumblers (consisting of three children, the father, and the m«then, and Mr St Vincent and Mdlle. Montebello, “gaslight swells.” W. H. Foley, of circus renown, is also in Auckland with a troupe, Mr Collier’s eompany at the Prince of Wales’s has been playing Formosa., with Tilly Andrews in the title role, Mrs Douglas as Edith, Nelly Saunders (Mrs Collier), Major Jorum (Mr Collier), Saunders (Mr South), Tom Borroughs (Mr Douglas), and Comptoa Kerr (Mr Booth) Miss Aitken is about to give readings at Beefton. She has been delayed in her intention to do so by the serious illness of Mr Bunrea. Turning to the Colonies, and taking them in order, Victoria claims first attention.

Miss Howard’s engagement with Messrs Harwood and Coppin terminated on May 22, and on Jane 30 the Girards made their first appearance. The latter are three young Men, who are described as being so supple and elastic as to make one after seeing them doubt if they are anatomically formed like other bipeds. One of them pogs- sses a remarkable facility of rotating hia leg, as easily and as completely as his arm, while all are wonderful posture makers. What they do is very remarkable, but is excessively short, only occupying twenty minutes Therefore other attraction has provided in the shape of the production of Barnard’s burlesque of “The White Fawns,” with local adaptations by G. Walcb. but the management have been very niggardly in the matter of scenery. At the date of last advices the Opera House was in the occupation of Kickards, but the change of house was not beneficial to him financially. A season of opera bouffe was to commence on

June 22. Mr Lyster’s and the Royal’s forces Rave combined ‘‘for the purpose of giving a series of musical performances in a style surpassing anything of that kind ever attempted in the country.” Mr Lyster opens the campaign with Offenbach’s “ Princess of Trebizsnde,” with a “ cast ” which will include Clara Thompson. Docy Stewart, Jenny Winston. Bessy Royal, and Mrs Byer, and Harwood and Stewart. The piaaagepaent pf the opera house will then be under the control of that of the Theatre Royal, who have also taken the new theatre at Sandhurst. Thus have Harwood and Co monopolised nearly all the Victor-an theatres. Lionel Harding’s company is gaining a precariouu existence in the suburbs of Mel-

bourne. They were to have shown at Wil liamstown not many weeks since, but on the announced night of performance the*-e were only empty bench sto play to. The explanation of that circumstance is that the inhabitants of Williamstown go to bed at 8 30 p.m. ; and it has been announced that ‘‘the company are not going to Williamstown again for the pre*ent, as they are afraid if they do the Williamstown people, in a fit of remorse, may come in crowds, and so lose their rest, which the company would not like to have on their consciences.” Miss Lizzie Watson and Mr Braham have joined the Emerson minstrels, and gone with to Sydney. Madame Cora is in the western districts of Victoria ; and Signor Susini and Miss Jenny Claus back again in Melbourne. Mrs Bates is still the attraction in Sydney The Christian company and the Cafandi is |iave gone to Brisbane, where Mr avares Still is ; while Professor Haselmayer finds it profitable to exp ! ore the northern pan of that Colony, The inimitable Barlow is giving performances to crowded houses at Cook-

town. At Adelaide, Mr Fairclough (having recovered from the accident which he and his agent, Mr Lystor, mrt with when out driving) has been so successful with his Shakesperian revivals that his engagement has been extended, Mi e s May Howard follows him, and af erwards goes to Sydney. A New Zealand evening hymn has been written by Mrs L. V. Ball, of Wellington, and set to music by an inmate of St. Mary’s Convent, in the same city, who only reveals herself to the world as daughter of the authoress, and as “ Sister M. 0, B.” The opening verso giyes the key-note of the composition— ,• . - Avp Maria, His sunset on the sea; Ave Maria, night falleth silently, The nestling seeks it* home beneath some woodland bower, And we to thee are come in peril’s lonely hour. The daylight hath its cares that round our pathway meet, But night, how many snares for weary faltering feet. Hail! Hail! Hail!” Throughout (remarks the ‘ Melbourne Telegraph ’) the lines breathe a tone of strong feeling, and Sister M. C, B has set them to music marked by pathos, and in passages with a subdued brilliancy. No more pleas-

ing work has been placed before the public for a long time, and we may hope that the seclusion of' Sister M. *0: B. will not interfere with hpr agaip addressing the world in pauaical numbers. It is now an admitted fact that the financial results of the Melbourne opera seasons of 1874 have been very unsatisfactory. A loss ef over L2OO a-week was enough to frighten even strong-minded Mr Lyster, and forthwith went the managerial notice of his intention to close on June 2, which night saw the termination very abruptly of the second season The last week pf the season better" attended than any other corresponding period, with the exception of Easter week, during the whole of the two seasons. The event ot the second season was tbe production for the first and only time on June 2of “ The Prophet,” which had the effect of filling the opera house from floer

to ceiling. With Signore Zenoni-Gamboa and Coy in leading parts, assisted by Hosnati Dundi and Tounehe, it is easy to believe that the work was given with great spirit. Gamboa must have been grand in the “ Coronation scene” to be twice recalled at the end of it j and Coy is said to have sang 4 * superbly,” “Don Giovani” was the closing opera. The * A go’ thus accounts for the pecuniary failure of the season Had there been a greater number of new operas produced, and artists undeniably weak and incapable withdrawn from leading parts, Which they were not capable of filling, the reitflf' would have been different. It has been Urged that high-class musio, any more‘than the legitimate drama, will not pay in Melbourne, - This, however, is disproved by the fact that such operas as “ The Prophet,” “ I Lombardi,” Don Giovani,” and “ La Juivo” invariably drew good houses, despite the high prices, and that it was to such operas alone that the managers looked to have their exchequer replenished. The 4 Australasian ’ is much nearer the mark, when it says Italian opera will only Eay in Melbourne with a company that will e large enough to give satisfaction to the audience, but not so large as to swallow up all the profits of the undertaking. It will be many a long year before Melbourne, Wealthy as it is, will be able to support au

opera company which shall include three prime donne, four leading tenors, a couple of baritones, and two bassos of the stamp of Dondi and Baldassare. The company has broken up, I imagine, for the old members of it only have gone to Sydney, with Signor Cagli, to give a short season there. The new importations —Palmieri, Magi, and Persiani, with Signori Baldassare and Palmieri, and L has. Lascelles as conductor and accompanyist —have been, and, when the Omeo left, were entertaining the Sandhurst people with operatic concerts. There Signor Palmieri made his debut in Australia. He is said to be a skilful singer, who knows how to manage his voice so as to conceal its defects, and to bring out its qualities at their best. By the last mail L had a letter from Mr Hoskins, who writes from the “ Cosmopolitan Hotel, San Francisco, Cal.,” (quite American already), under date April 24; and it is so interesting that I make no apology for giving it in full. He says—

We arrived here from Honolulu on the 14th mst., after staying a month there. Wo played seven times, and after being presented to the King, read at the palace by command of the Queen. It was a very grand affair, and the Queen sent Mrs Hoskins her bouquet, and his Majesty presented her with a beautiful set of ornaments, brooch, ear-rings, and bracelet—a perfect curiosity. This place is full of “ stars ”; however, we have splendid terms for a week at the principal theatre (the California). We open to-morrow—Mrs Hoskins at the matinee in Camille, and I follow at night as Dr Pangloss. From what I have seen we ought to do well. This is a great city : geahead indeed. The theatres are well attended. At the California l,ooodols is only considered a

moderate house; matinees go up.to 2,0 Odols. The hotels are magnificent, and this one---not perhaps equal to the Grand, the Lick, or the Occidental—is ten times as large as the Criterion, Dunedin, and not half as dear, considering what you get. A dollar here is about the value of a shilling in New Zealand : scarcely so much. Still it is a great place. Everyone has money, and they spend it freely. There is a new theatre going to be opened in about a month, and I think it not improbable we shall have the first start. If I can see a fair opportunity I shall stay here for a month or two. The climate at present is all that could be desired—bright, bracing, genial weather. I have not seen a drop of rain since we arrived. The hotels are furnished with barber’s shops, and a nigger blacks your boots while you are being shaved ; elevators take you up and down stairs—in fact you don’t do anything for your-

And by way of postscript Mr Hoskins writes, on the morning the Tartar left—“ wo were both very successful with the audience; were called out in the middle of a scene.” With the letter came a file of Californian papers, some of which contained references to Mr and Mrs Hoskins. They met with a hearty welcome on all sides ; but one gushing reporter distinguished himself beyon ; his fellows by producing the following, the style of which is, J should say, peculiar to the soil Migs Florence Colville, a very beautiful actress, just arrived on the steamer Tartar, occupied one of the boxes at the Califo nia Theatre last night, and attracted universal attention. ’ Ihe only notice of Vlr Hoskins’s performance which I can find in the papers is contained in the ‘Alta’ of April 27, which says he made “a very favorable impression ss Dr Pangloss.” Pbompter.