THE LATE PRINCESS’S THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3897, 20 August 1875, Page 2

THE LATE PRINCESS’S THEATRE.

Pam 111. On January 25, 1868, Miss Dolly Green gave her farewell performance previous to leaving Don-vliu for Victoria, and on the 27th Mr J. P. Hydes a.-ain came upon the scene, taking the stage-m-uiagership, and introducing the Martinets trou; e—the chief attraction of which was M. Paul Martinetti’s “Jocko, the Brasilian Ape.” On March 9, Mr and Mrs J. L. Hall (Miss Emily Wiseman) returned to the Duiodin stage, playing in “The Octoroon,” acd subsequently in other popular dramas; and mi the 6th of April, Mr Steele and Miss Adelaide Bowring were re-engaged—Miss Harriet Gordon still belonging to the company. [On the 13th April, Mrs Robert Heir (now Mrs • Amrge Oarrdl) made her first appearance in Dunedin —giving readings at the Polytechnic. .\rs lew’s exquisite delivery of “The Bells” will bo remembered by many.] On the 24th, Charley Wilmot took a benefit, when Miss J Gcugouheim gave her services, aud “The Overland Route” and “ Dido” were produced. [Ou May 5, the In at ban troupe paid a second y.bit to Dunedin, taking the Polytechnic, and tht.ir strength being increased by the addition -f Jcc Small to their ranks ] On Juno 9, Mr 11. H. Cox, the “Australian tragedian,” appeared as “ Richelieu,” aud repeated the performance the next night, afterwards playing “Othello,” and other Shakespearian characters. On the 12tb, a benefit, under distinguished patronage, was tendered to Mr Louis Court, the lessee of the theatre and the Provincial Hotel, and, though the weather was very wet, there was a capital house. The dramatic season dosed on J aly 11, and on the 13th theCarandinis took the theatre for about a fortnight, after whidi the house was closed for a short time, wi hj the exception of the Garrick Club giving a ■e. r nuance on August 10, assisted by Misses Bom ring, Nye, ami Matthews. [ln the meantime some of the Princess’s company, under the leaiaiship of Joey Gougeaheira, had, on July 18, opened at the Polytechnic.] The 24th of the mouth saw the Princess’s re-opened under the leasteship of Mr W. J. Wilson, with Dolly Green and roost of the old company; and also Mv J. G. -Joyce—a capital “ old man ’’—and ctif-r new names. A suitable prologue by Mr V. Pykv was recited on this occasion. On September 2 Mr B. J. Taylor, the “champion skater,” or perhaps better known m the “ Ham-

£at Man,” appeared between th* aota j andfon October 8 eomething better waa provided in Mr J. J. Bartlett, the comedian who made his dibui here aa Mr Dodgeon in “ The Contested Election.” On the 24th Mr E. Cartel, an American traeedian, appeared in ** Hamlet but on the 28th the dramatic company were shunted to allow of the entry of Lenton and Smith’s Japanese troupe—including Cuts-who gero, the slack-rope walker; Gengero, the top* spinner; Che-o-Kitchie, the clever boy; Sapero, the balancer; and the Lenton boys. This novel entertainment: took wonderfully for about a month. On November 30 a leiurn was made to the legitimate drama, “ The Heir at Law ” being produced, with Mr R. P. Whitworth, who made his first appearance, as Dr Pangloss. On the 3rd of December Mr <Vilmst took his farewell of the Princess's, when the house was crowded, A gold watch and testimonial werepresented to him, and in returning thanks Mr Wilmot said he was going to England in a spirit of emulation and ambition, to make his name still greater than it had been in Dunedin. Mr Sam Howard re-appeared on the 7th, and on the 18th the Garrick Club gave a performance for the benefit of the sufferers by the Poverty Bay massacre. Mr J. Black, a Scotch comedian, and Mr James "'immonds, the low comedian, made their first appearances on the 19oh. On Boxing Night the pantomime “ Acis and Galatea” was brought out, but it does not appear to have been of much account, for the ‘Times’ devoted a column and a-half of its space to a most cutting-up article. Mr A. L. Inglis mado his first appearance as pantaloon in this pantomime.

The fir>t novelty in the year 1869 waa the mtrie of Madame Anna Bishop, on February 2, accompanied by Mr Charles Lascelles. [Baohelder’s Panorama of the American war opened at the Polytechnic on February B.] The Gourlays dropped in upon us on the 17th, and on March 13 James Simmonds assumed the position of stage manager, and introduced Mrs Harry Jackson as Lady Audley. Mrs Jackson made a great impression by her vivid delineation of this arduous char cter. Mr Woolfe also made his first appearance on that evening, and on the 20th was presented to us Mr Joseph Rayuer, an old Colonial favorite, who made his Mut here as Claud Melnotfe. Royalty patronised the Princess’s on April 36, the Duke of Edinburgh honoring the performance with bis presence. On May 30 Miss Anna Forde. the “ Australian Nightingale,” made a favorable impression by her liveliness and piquancy in “ The Rustic Prima Donna.” [The diorama of the Apocalypse was exhibited at the Masonic Hail on May 31, Mr Harry Eastwood being agent to the proprietor.] On August 20 a benefit was give® to Mrs Harry Jackson, when a number of amateurs gave their services, among these being a well-known disciple of St. Crispin. This individual was fully persuaied that he was gifted with the powers of any low comedian of his time, so he essayed the part of Handy Andy in the piece of that name. In it he undoubtedly caused plenty of amusement to his audience, but, sad to relate, he “ proven so totally incompetent that the curtain was dropped at the end of the first act,” and a farce substituted. Mr Anthony White may be noted as at this time having been for some months a useful member of the company. A • eusation was created on September 4 by the appearance wf Mr Henry Talbot, tragedian, in his gieat part--Richard the Third. During this gentleman’s engagement he played Sir Pertinax Macsycophant, Macbeth, Rsb Roy, Othello, Richelieu, and other characters. Mr J. Bartlett accompanied Mr Talbot, but the former had previously trod the Princess’s boards. Before the eminent tragedian departed he, on October 11, gave h.s • services in aid of the Benevolent Institution, a very successful performance of “ Still Waters Run Deep” being given before a brilliant audience. On November IMr Whitworth’s adaptation of Offenbach’s “ Grand Duchess of Gerolstein” was produced, with. Miss Anna Forde as the Duchess and Mr Whitworth as Fritz ; and the year wound up with the tradi tional pantomime—the introductory piece being “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

New Year’s Day of 1870 found the pantomime still taking well, and it ran till January 10. In a few days, however, the Princess’s was again closed. [On January 28, Thatcher appeared at the Masonic Hall, with Messrs Small, Daniel, and Salamon. The Carandmis also returned, and opened at St George’s Hall on the 31st. Barlow’s troupe of Dogs and Monkeys pitched their tent on March 14, on the ground where the Union Bank of Australia now stands.] Its doors were not thrown open again till March 16, when Messrs Bird, Blow, and Wills’s Circus took it for a successful reason. [The Lancashire Bellringers re-appeared at the iMasonie Hall on April 7, with the addition of the vocalists Miss M. A. Liddle and Mr W. H. Hilton.] Mr J. G. Rainer’s Christy rtinstrels followed, the troupe including Messrs Rainford, Horace Bent, Cowan, Braham, and the Brothers Collins (step-dancers). [Dr Carr mesmerised nis first subjects in Dunedin at the Masonic Hall on May 23. Mr Kroitmayer opened his Waxworks Exhibition in the lower hall of the Athenaeum on the 29 ih. Mr George Cotterell, the clever delineator, made his bow at St. George’s Hall on June 4.] It will be seen that though there were plenty of amusements of a fair calibre in Dunedin at this time, the old theatre was entirely neglected, save on an occasional night when a performance would be given by the few artists who could be raked together. At last, on June 27 things looked better, for Miss Rose Evans and Mr George Claremont then appeared in their pleasing dramatic entertainment, [On the same night Mr and Mrs George Darrell gave i. rniscellane ms performance at the Masonic Hall, the programme including part of “ Hamlot,” readings by Mrs Darrell, and comic son 's by her husband. The ‘ Times ’ of the following day says “ Mr Darrell presented a scholarly but by no means original conception of the part of the melancholy Dane.” At the present time, with last week’s performance in our memory, we think the critic would say “ Mr Darrell presented an original but by no means scholarly conception of the part.” Mi Robert Heller, the conjuror and pianist, opened at the same place on August B.] In October Messrs J. 8. Willis and Co. opened the Princess’s with a thorough good dramatic company, as will be admitted when we mention that among the names ef the members appear those of Miss Carry George, Mr R. W. Lawrence, Mr G. W. Collier, and our present great favorite Mr Musgrave, familiarly termed “Old Muzay.” The opening piece was “ Blow for Blow.” Among the special play* in wh.ch Carry Geoige ap eared to advantage were “ An Unequal Match,” “Caste,” and “ Frou Frou” (the first time in Dunedin). Mr Walter Hill was added to the company on November 19 and on the 24th Mr and Mrs Steele again turned up, to be again favorably received. [Chang, the Chinese giant, showed himself at the old Athenseum building (the present City Council Chambers) on December 24; and the Charles Dickens panorama, with Mr R, P. Whitworth a. lecturer, at the Masonic Hall on the 26th.] A capital pantomime, with Miss Marion Willis as harlequina, Miss Lizzie Bushe columbine, Mr Collier clown, Mr Austin Power harlequin, and Mr Cripps pantaloon, drew for over a fortnight from Boxing night. The early part of 1871 was remarkable only for the feeble support afforded by the public to the dramatic company’s efforts, until on February 22 Mr William Hoskins first appeared in Dunedin. Two of the numerous great characters in that gentleman’s repertoire were admirably represented by him on that occasion —Mr Affable Hawke, in “ A Game of Speculation,” and Mr Puff in “ The Critic.” The sensation created by Mr Hoskins was increased on the 24th of the same month, when he introduced Miss Florence Colville as Lady Teazle in “ The School for Scandal” [Mr Horace Bent’s panorama of the Franco-Prussian War was exhibited at the Masonic Hall on March 30-1 **Rob Roy” was played on April 17, with Mr Gourlay as the Bailie and Mrs Gonrlay as Diana Vernon, [Another panorama, that of the Pacific Mail Route, opened at the Masonic Hall on May 10.] On May 30 Miss Carry George and Messrs Lawrence and Collier took a farewell benefit, and next evening a combination company opened, comprising the great Barlow, Messrs George Bromley, Charles Holly, T. Buckley, and others. After a few weeks the Princess’s was again shut up, save for an ocoa sional performance—including a benefit to •lesars Hewitt and Hams, the pedestrians, on June 28. [Mis? Edith Palmerston paid us another visit on July 1, appearing in her “Drawingroom Protean Entertainment” at

the MMotlt Hall) Some of the old ocapaay oame back on July 8, Misses Anno Forde, Jenny Nye, and < ‘assy Mathews, Messrs Masgrave, Joyce, and Wolfe being the most piominent names in the list. Matters, however, became so bad that they held together for but o short season, and closed doors were again the order of the day, with a spasmodic attempt by Miss Dolly Green on October 9 to alter the state of nffurs. On November ?7 the American Excelsior Minstrels appeared, of *hom Messrs Kelly and O’Brien were the mamstay, and this troupe kept possession till the end of the year. Th s had been a most gloomy twelvemonths, being relieved . ,nly by the short appearance of Mr Hoskins and Miss Colville.

{To be^continued.)