OUR MELBOURNE DRAMATIC LETTER

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6495, 21 December 1881, Page 3

OUR MELBOURNE DRAMATIC LETTER

[noac cms owjr ooßßiaposDiwT.] Hem m tmpmu loeswit. Mtutotnuri, Dec. 7,1881. Mr Coppio’s farewell season at our Theatre Boyal promises to be one of the meet successful ever known in that temple of the drama. I am pleased to aaj that the veteran actor is in excellent health, and plays his parts with all the unction that formerly characterised his acting. As a comedian, I have no hesitation in hazarding the opinion that Mr Coppin has never been equalled here in his especial roUt. How that Buckstone and Compton are gone, Mr Coppin is indeed the only survivor on the British or Colonial stage of the grand old school of Munden, Dowton, and Liston. The main features of Mr Coppin’s humour are its raoiness and depth. It is of the thorough old Bngllsb type, while almost every other come* dian of any eminence is m odelled on the French patternj for as far as I can under* stand it, modem English comedy is little else than a reflex of the Palais Boyal or the Gym* nose. On the night of Dec. 1, the patronage of the members of the Old Colonists* Aisodation was given to the performance, which con* listed of the farce of the Young King and the comedy of Milky Whitt , in both of which Mr Coppin played even with greater success than on the evenings preceding. When the curtain fell on the first piece, Mr Coppin, in answer to a most enthusiastic and unanimous call, came forward, and while delivering thanks to his audience, made some scathing remarks on many of the wealthier portions of our community for not more liberally supporting the good work of the Old Colonists* Association. On Saturday night the Boyal was honored Stiie presence of our Governor tne Marquis Normanby, the es-Governor of Tasmania, Sir John Lefroy, his wife and daughter and Sir George Strahan, the newly-appointed Governor of the same Colony. The performance was Fasti Fry and JS'ot Such A Fool At He Look*. The theatre was crammed in all parts, and the veteran comedian was as unctuous as ever. The same bill was repeated on Monday and last night. This evening the comedy The Conittled Flection and the farce of The Wandering Minttrel will be presented with Mr Coppin as Peckover in the first piece aid Jim Bsggs in the farce. The same bill will be presented on the following evening, and on Friday there will be a grand complimentary benefit given to Mr Coppin, when Sheridan’s comedy of Tie Steals will be presented, followed by the farce of The 2Wapi£* Gale, So great hoe been the demand for dress seats on this occasion, that all the circle having been taken up days ago, the stalls have been made " dress” also, and the prices raised from 3s to ss, and now (Wednesday morning) 1 do not believe that fifty state will be vacant at noon. Oa Saturday afternoon a complimentary benefit will bo tendered to the retiring manager by the member* of the dramatic profession now in Melbourne. The entertainment will comprise the following The 2nd act of the opera bouffe, Tambonr Major ; Mr Fred. Maccabe, in hi* characteristic song “I’m Not Myself At Allthe 2nd act of the successful comedy, Betty j Miss Maggie Moore, J. C. Williamson, Arthur Garner, (who have travelled from Sydney purposely for this occasion). Mr Ooppin will hold a grand reception, when an address will be presented to bun by Mr H B. Harwood. The One*nor, at the Princess Theatre, has again fetched the people; the acting is excellent and the audiences are keeping ap to a very satisfactory standard. It would indeed be Invidious to specialise any one artist over the other, for all play their parts so well. At Christmas the pantomime will be founded on the popular story of l)kk Whittington and Hit Cat , which boa been localised by Mr Garnet Welch, with a part specially written for Mr Fred Marshall, and one of the features in the production is four small ponies, about the sixe of ordinary Newfoundland dogs, which Mr Marshall intends to draw a chariot on ike stage of the theatre. ■ The run of ill luck still clings to the Bijou Theatre, and for some time put the Lewis** must have lost heavily. Oa Saturday evening last Mr J. F. w Fatly en, a recent arrival from home, made his first appearance in Australia at this home, plating the p&n of Oliver Oliplmnt, a Scotch (Sojsus, in a new comedy drama in four acts, entitled, 2’Ae Qalley Slate. The piece is a thoroughly worthless one, and afforded the new arrival but very little opportunity of displaying any histrionic ability, and it is a great pity that he did not select some other play for his Melbourne dikmt. At Christmas we are promised another inil etion of the “kids” in Oeliicer and hit Travel*, but several adults will alto appear, notably Mrs F. M'Fadyer, better known to old Melbourne* playgoers as "Carry Nelson," and Messrs IV Arey Stanfield and fired Dark. The former from Mr J. I>. Toole’s Folly Theatre, London, and the latter from the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, near London. The business at th* Opera House has not been so good as the merits of the performance of La Fill« da Tambour Major deserved. Its two hundred and first performance in Melbourne was given on Saturday night last, to a very good house. On Monday and kit night Madame Favart was revived, and this evening we are promised Let docket de Com#oille, to which Mr Ben Clark, an excellent tenor-—lust returned from San Francisco—will mate his first appearance in opera in this city in the character of Ofcuioncux, with Miss Battle Laverae, Mr Brennir and others in good parts. Mr Fired Maccabe is still appearing to crowded houses at HI George's Hail. Mr Tommy Hudson, with his "Surprise Party" closed their season at Hudson’s Theatre, last night, and will this day proceed to Adelaide, where they wilt open at the i Academy of Musio oa Saturday next, for a i period of four weeks. The "Party" ha* bean reinforced, and will consist of the Misses De Gay (three—violinist, tdmiUt and vocalist), ( Mis* Ada Mavin, Miss Burton, Miss Emily j Neilaon sad Mite Alvina (lady ventriloquist), i

M*m Kennedy end kOarthy, Bromley, Warner, Cottier, Ward and Tommy Hudson. At the conclusion of their Adelaida eapf*roent they will return to Melbourne. Uy the Botomahana, which will bring you this letter, r1«0 tail* Mr Frank Weston, the business agent lor Mr D. H. Bar kina, lb® popular tragedian, who ha* just armed from Adelaide, after a mott successful eaaeon there. Mr Harkins ha* arranged to open aft lb® Theatre Royal, Wellington, on Deo. 2i Amongst the passenger* who arrived ia this port this morning, by the Orient, wee Madam® Pauline Kilo, a lady well known in platform and stage circle* In London •» the poeaeaaor of a high eopiano voice, well cultivated. It I* laid by thove who know her that her pro* senee hero will prove a gain to the optima stage. The lady will mo»t pr ihably mas® her Australian drM at t * m-‘v*. at tb® Opera House, with the Lon- ; ■<> <; •« i Opera Company now playing there. Two more professionals I ,• • ip a tree. Amongst the hat of • *telv issued are the following Wood* year, of Frahrao, dron* p* . »'»•*<•# --f’auM® of insolvency—Palhng off *> ri<« r»<* ipta of my buiineee ae a circu* proprietor. tJabßltier, £75! ISa j assets, £310; deficiency, mi 15*. Mr Haifey, aerignee." This gentleman wa* for »om» ymn busings* manager for Mr Henry Burton, who for thirty year* wae a most successful cirtu* proprietor. When Mr Burton failed, Mr Woodyrar succeeded him. and now he too, it appears, has come to grief- Ths next to taka the " benefit of the Act ” is a lady—Mi*® Florence Neville—for many month* a mem* her of the Melbourne Theatre Boyal stock company, afterward# proprietress of several hotel*, and lately manageress of a travelling opera company. In all of th«»e profeceiona she failed, and thus announces the cause “ Florence Neville, of WMhwry street, 9ft Kilda, widow. Oaowe of lueolrecey • Being robbed of £6O bn money, and jewellery to th® value cf £2O, and bring toed tor a balance by a creditor who had 'previously accepted a composition. Debts, £ 92 Hi sd, of which £26 ii secured j aesete, £3O 10*; deficiency, £l2B U 6d. Mr Haifey, assign**.” M The Royal English Opera and Pinafore Company,” under the general manegsmeat of Mr M. L, Raphael, has been rs-orgvnned, and is now travelling through Booth Australia The company now consists of Messrs O. A. Johnson, T. B Browning, H Trevorah, Charles Harding, B. Brown, B. Bateson, Bft Clair, Johnstone, Mm* Penrose, Miss Beaumont and Ur* J. H. Fox, with Ur H. Trevorah a* stage manager, and Mr O. Ta!U* Trimnell a* musical director, Mr and Mr* J. 0. Williamson do ’at last intend to visit your Colony, and in their performance* 1 promise you a real y rich treat. Their general agent, Mr J. P. Macdonald, leaves this city this day by the Kotorrahan* to perfect the arrangement* alresd* made for their New Zealand tour. Mr and Mrs Williamson (Miss Maggie Moore) with their company, which will Icelodo Mr* Htammerv, Messrs Stuart O’Brien H. H. Vincent, B. A. Vernon, W. H. Seagrave, Walter W eatmore, C. Clarke, and P. Reynolds will leave Melbourne hr the steamer Albion on the Ifttb lust., and will commence their New Zealand tour at the Princess Theatre, Dunedin, owning there on Boxing Nig'rt, Dee. 28th, in their great speciality of Siru-'k Oil. lam perfectly certain that the New Z aland paper* will endorse the opinion* unanimously expressed by the Pm* of this Or our that tha impersonation* of John and Vaii Stoefel are of the very highest order of h» r rionie art, and I am equally *oro that the two stars will make themselves—a* I her hive done here, by the geniality of their manner, unassuming demeanour, and kindliness of heart —thoroughly liked sod respected by ail who may nave the pleasure of making their acqointance. Mr and Mr* Bland Holt left this city for Sydney on Saturday last to fulfil their Christmas engagement at the Theatre Royal. Mrs Hoit (Miss Lena Edwin) hat, since she has been in this city, by her good temper and amiability of manner, made herself an immense favourite both before and behind the curtain. As a coaieqaenee, a few of her friend* who came to with her a pleasant journey, presented her with a little token of their kind remembrance in the shape of a handsome purse and reticule. Mrs Holt expressed her gratification at the gift in a few words, and the occasion, with the exception of the partirg, was a very pleasant one. W. H. W.