A THEATRE IN A STABLE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5352, 23 May 1878, Page 3

A THEATRE IN A STABLE.

Under the above title, Mr. B. L. Farjeon, the well-known novelist, contributes to the “Era Almanac ” the following amusing sketch of theatrical entertainments as they were some fifteen years ago in Dunedin : A theatre in 'a stable ! Yes, and a flourishing theatre, too, where the receipts were sometimes over £2OO a night; and this in a city containing certainly not more than 20,000 inhabitants. But then the place was wonderful; and the people, having great opportunities open to them, were as wonderful as the place. They supported three daily newspapers, the largest of which was the size of the Daily Telegraph eight double-demy pages. _ A difficult task we found it to get sufficient news to fill its columns,- but the advertisers came up, nobly, and some of the reporters were ingenious. The name of the city was Dunedin, the most flourishing of all the cities in New Zealand. Gold had been discovered in .the province of Otago, of which Dunedin is the capital, and thither flocked hordes of restless spirits, animated by the hope of making fortunes in a month or less. I doubt if Dunedin, of Lesser Britain, could not have shown you sights as strange as any you can see in London, of Greater Britain. All the trades of. the . world were represented in the little place, all the professions, all the grades of life and society, from an earl’s son to a chimney-sweep. I pledge myself to both the earl's.son and the chimney-sweep, .for both of them did I know. The chimney-sweep once treated me to a bottle of champagne, and I more than once treated the earl’s sou to a glass of English beer. He didn’t have money enough to pay for it himself ! As for jumps up the social ladder-, they were numerous enough. I was acquainted with a Scotchman 1 who paid just ss. for his quarter-acre town allotment, and who sold it for just £40,000 Would yon be satisfied with such a profit? Well, newspapers, fire brigades, volunteer regiments,: benevolent institutions, prisons, hospitals, lunatic asylums, all being set going, do you think we could live without pur theatre? Not likely. But where should it be built? Then, again, how long would it take to build ? It was not to be supposed wo were going to wait a mouth for it. , We wanted it as wo wanted everything ehje—at once. There war no time for shillyshallying, so at it wo went. Attached to the Provincial Hotel, the bars of which were crowded night and day with crowds of eager adventurers, was a horse saleyards, in the rear of which were stables for the horses. From early morn until sunset the auctioneer was pegging away in his box, knocking' down horses—you know what I mean —to men about to start for, the gold diggings. Such of the horses as were not sold, and others that; arrived for the next dayls sale,, were housed in the stables-at the bottom of the yard, often with other four-footed creatures—sheep, oxen, and once or twice a donkey. It was here that it - was decided to run up the .Royal Princess’s Theatre, and, being decided, the tiling was done. You 1 may contend that; it was not a stable concern, for, every evening the theatre was built; and every moruipg it was taken to pieces. The. moment the auctioneer loft his rostrum, and the unsold.horses were trotted..into jtheir. stalls—not theatre stalls, there were none ; only boxes and pit—at that moment, then, a number of carpenters and builders - iqade their appearance, with deal;.-planks, and hammers, and nails, and screws, and, a stage, and scenery, arid flies," arid boxes of props, aud a green qurtain,. and every other ■ necessary thing, and almost before you -could cry.“ Jack Robinson !” the theatre was enclosed, the stage was fixed, the dressing-rooms were ready, the footlights were arranged, and future Garricks, and Robsons) and Siddons were- pulling on their tights and painting their, cheeks. Hark ! There are the musicians tuning up, and you can hear the jolly laughter of-the gold diggers as they scramble over the benches to the best seats. In less than no time boxes and pit are filled in every corner; the. baud has commenced the overture from the last popular opera, the theatre is ablaze, with light, Jack is shouting to John, and Dick to Harry, the actors and actresses are walking about the ve led stage conning-their parts, there is a pleasant buzz all over the bouse ; the little bell rings, the music ceases, the buzz is hushed, the green curtain is drawn up, and the play is commenced, to the delight of the beat humored and most appreciative -audience that ever assembled within a theatre’s walls. Snob roars of laughter ! Such clapping of .hands ! Such healthy enjoyment of- good,, bad, and indifferent acting ! The actors - were in their glory, as were also the people who paid their money f . - ; , ) (.■ One night there were in the stalls outside the theatre a motley collection of animals—- : horses, sheep, oxen, cjonkeys, aud goats ;. also a number of fowls ini coops, which-a speculator intended to-• take to the gold diggings on the following morning. “Romeo and Juliet” was being, played, and well played. /The house was crammed. All engaged were on their mettle. The first act went off well. Then came the balcony scene— . . .

Romeo : Hot eyes in ba-iyon Would through the'airy region stream so bright That birds would sing, arid think it were riot night. Voice without:'Cock ordoodte-doo /'* " Romeo :;Seo; how she-leans her Olieok upon her /Hand; ... , , : Voice without: Jlacut'da-aa! Romeo : 0 that I were a glove upon that hand, , That X might touch that check, i Voice without: Hee-haw! . v.-i- --i . Joliet: Ah, me ! , - ItoMKo: She speaks! O speak again, bright angel. Voice without :’:ilcC:hmo'l Hee-haw ! '- ' -I' Rome o(aiide): Choke that cursed ass ! ; Voice without: Cock-a-dbidle-doOl , . Romeo : And that fowl llend !■’ > Here donkeys, horses,, sheep, l fowls, and every creature iu the stables that had a voice joiued in a chorus so loud' and. varied that the scene could not proceed, and- the curtain was rung down amidst tpeals "of 1 convulsive - laughter. Such interruptions'! to-the performance were not uncommon, and they sometimesoccurred at a critical moment—wheii 1 the'leading lady was going sentimentally mad, or the walking gentleman was on his knees- making love,; or the tragedian was sublimely invoking the go’ds. Then would the audience burst into merriment; then would the tragedian sbovvl; then would the ‘leading lady oast up her ! hands in despair, as who should say —“ GTacious powera 1 Havel descended so low?” But oh treasury day she was by no means inclined to_ curse'hel’ Stars because her’lihes had fallen in a stable. ■ " Hood salaries were paid, and every person in the company could live and save. Then, were they ' not the 'gods' ; and goddesses of' the little city ? Were they- not" feted, stared at, ■followed, courted, treated, dined,' wined, cigared, because of the honor ami glory attaching to their profession? They yhad 'little to grumble at. No sooner ■wad the play bvernrid the audience gone, than the army of Carpenters arid hpiiders-again made their appearancej'and down came the Royal Princess's Theatre. ' By one o’clock in the roornirig all traces of it were cleared away, and the sale-yard* was* ready for the next'dayls auotioneeririg.'* ii:; * * 4-mong the'-xompanyi who played-on the opening night were okT‘Jack 'Dunn,-'the low comedian',-- who lately died in ' Melbourne, 'and Gr. O’. Rowe’s two and Sandford, good fellows both; 1 rind f bo'th gone to join •other good follows in the '.flies.-; "I can recall many and many-g happy'niglit passed iil that theatrein astable, and '.(the!: only creatures to wbom>it i may - not thave been* a delight were the aniraals whose slumbers the musicians were wont nightly todist rb.' •' .mbi';' ■<