THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 589, 26 October 1869, Page 4

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

«*. (From the Melbourne Leader.) Mr J. F. Cathcart has made a hit in New York in Charles Reade's drama of "Dora," Miss Lyclia Thompson has bean again indisposed in New York, and compelled to give up her rule to Miss Weathersby. The Worrell sisters, Sophie and Jennie, were, in July, at their summer retreat, Great Neck, Long Island, preparing for the fall qpason. Irene was in New York. Madame Anna Bishop has arrived in England from the Antipodes in the enjoyment of excellent health and spirits, and was about to start for New York, intending to settle with her husband in America, Says the New Fork Clipper: — Fanny Prestige, late of the Lanri Troupe, at Wallack's, has shaken burlesque and pantomime from her skirts, and dons the breeches, playing poor Oliver Twist. Fanny is an old friend of ours, Mr Clarence Holt and Miss May Holt were to make their appearance at the Royal Alfred Theatre, Mr Holt to play "Hamlet," "Belphegor," and "Don Csesar de Basjan ;" and Miss Holt, Gertrude in " The Loan of a Lover." John Collins, the Irish comedian, opened his fall season in St. Louis, Mo. , at De Bar's Opera House, on 30th August, for two Aveeks, and went, thence to Omaha for two weeks, Cincinnati two weeks, New Orleans, Galveston, Texas, and Pittsburgh. " Arrah-na-Pogue" was to be produced at Niblo's Garden, N.Y., on 2nd August; with Dominick Murray as Michael Feeny, Josephine Fiddes, as Fanny Power ; Alex. Fitzgerald as Col. Power ; and Charles Wheatleigh as Shaun the Pest. Mr Wheatleigh had been secured at a salary of 250d01. a week. A rumor which has been circulated to the effect that our old favorite James Vinson was dead proves entirely without foundation. In July he was stage manager of the Metropolitan, San Francisco, with Charles Poole as lessee, and Mrs Poole as loading actress. That genial soul Dick Cox, had arrived in that city from New Zealand. Not yet engaged. Tom Lenton, of Japanese celebrity, whose ill health was referred to last month (says the "Anglo Australian"), has recovered, and joined Professor Risley in the management of the Tycoon Troupe. They have been performing at the Crystal Palace during the month to immense audiences. They are now playing a successful engagement, under joint management, at the Surrey Theatre. Lemon's two Australian pupils made their bows to a metropolitan audience on Saturday last, in connection with the Japanese, and made a decided hit. Joseph Jefferson was made the happy father of a young Rip Van Winkle on the 7th July. He afterwards bought Ranlett-place, at Hopokus, Saddle River, Bergen County, N.J., for 30,000 dols., and took immediate possession. This property was formerly owned and improved by the late William H. Ranlett, architect, subsequently by Mr Forrester, who said it to " Old Rip." It is a charming spot, lying on both sides of the river, with a fine brook trout in the rear, a capital old brown stone house and spacious outbuildings, the whole surrounded with innumerable fruit and shade trees. This doesn't, look as if we were ever to see " Rip" again. Mr James Stark is a prophet in his own country it would seem. In July he was the recipient of a benefit at the Virginia City Theatre. In the course of the performance the lion. J. C. Currie appeared in the character of auctioneer, and, after a neat little speech, began the sale of tickets, which was, of course, a mere form, as the entertainment being half over, and the bidders already comfortably seated in the house, nobody needed even a single ticket. The first lot of five tickets brought twenty-five dollars, several similar lots ten dollars, and one or two lots five dollars, when Mr Currie said he was done selling afc wholesale, and would now begin in the retail way. He had no sooner said " Who will give one dollar for a ticket V than a perfect shower of silver was poured upon the stage. At least 200 half-dollar pieces must have been hurled upon the stage. They came from the boxes, the dress circles, the parquet and every part of the house. During the interlude Mr R. M. Daggett came upon the stage and read a letter of thanks from Mr Stark. The letter was most appropriate to the occasion, and visibly affected the audience. He has had a paralytic stroke, but has so far recovered as to be able to take active exercise. Another benefit tendered him in !,San Francisco realised about 1000 dols. The Era correspondent writes from San Francisco, under date of 23r<3 June : — San Francisco, with its 150,000 inhabitants, keeps nine theatres going, so you may perceive that we like amusements better than any other community in the world. The New Californian Theatre is a bijou of a theatre, where only performances of a most recAevcJie style are given. At present, Miss Charlotte Thompson is performing ; and, among other novelties, brought out last Monday was T. W. Robertson's new play of " School," a piece which I consider the best production of your talented playwright. Maguire's Opera House is at present occupied by Murphy and Mack's Minstrels, a troupe containing some of the very best talent iv the country ; among others the famotis Murphy, Mack, Cotton, Thompson, and the tenor Beaumont, who came here with the Lyster Opera Troupe from Australia. Slieridan Corbyn is manager, and Mr Thomas Maguire, the Napoleon of America's managers, the proprietor. The house is crowded nightly. The Alhambra Theatre, at which Miss Geraldino Warden, prima donna sccondo of the Lyster troupe, lately appeared, is at present closed for repairs. Miss Warden takes a farewell benefit tomorrow evening, prior to her departure for the East, whither she will be accompanied by Mr Vazie Simons, who is acting as her agent. Henry Squires and Lucy Escott are "billed to take a farewell benefit next week, prior to their departure for New York and London. Fred Lyster is at present leader of the orchestra at Maguire's Opera House. At the Metropolitan Theatre Mr Neil Warner, the young Australian tragedian, opened last Monday evening in " Richard the Third," and made a decided hit. He is one of the best Shaksperian readers 1 have heard for a long time. On Wednesday night, the 21st July, a scene occurred in the St. James's Theatre which need not, and should not, bo repeated either in London or the provinces. At the end of "Orphee aux Enferp," whoa Eurydice, in company with Jupiter

and Pluto, ascends to Mount Olympus, a flash of mimic lightning set fire to the back part of Mdle. Schneider's dress. The gauze blazed up in an instant, aud the actres3 leaped from the pedestal on to the stage. The excitement among the audience was intense, and some gentlemen in the stage boxes rushed to give what assistance they could. The actor who was playing Jupiter had snatched off his mantle Jind thrown it over Mdlle. Schneider, who was struggling on the ground, in a situation of fearful danger. The curtain was run down at once, but the screams and confusion went on for some few minutes. The audience were completely paralysed with fear, and were unable to pay much attention to one or two of the actors who came forward to assure them that the accident was not so serious as might have been expected. The best way out of the difficulty was, as soon as possible, pursued, and, to the relief of every person in the Theatre, the curtain rose and discovered Mdlle. Schneider supported in the arms of the manager and some of the company. The actress was almost in a fainting state, but was evidently uninjured, though the slight dress she wore was completely destroyed. With rare presence of mind she bowed to the audience, now thoroughly assured of her providential escape, Medical assistance, as in most of these lamentable cases was at hand, aud it is satisfactory to know that the injuries received are very trifling. When Mdlle, Schneider bowed and gracefully acknowledged the sympathy of the public, a tremendous round of applause was given in token of admiration of her great courage and presence of mind in the moment of severe trial. In an hour after the accident Mdlle. Schneider left the theatre for her house at St. John's Wood.