NEW “STARS” FOR AUSTRALIA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1241, 6 January 1883, Page 2

NEW “STARS” FOR AUSTRALIA.

Mrs Lasgtry, it is now definitely announced, like Archibald Forbes, makes America the half-way house to the Antipodes, and at the termination of her tour in the United States will ’visit Australia: keep the point you take out of here Our Colonial cousins will pay largely for the honor of seeing a somewhat indifferent actress. If Mrs Langtry’s American prices are maintained, the sum given for seats to see her are nearly fabulous—£Bs for a box, £4 and £5 for a single seat, £3 for one in the upper parts of the house—show what vogue will do in a country where money is plentiful. These prices are in excess of what was paid for any of the Sara Bernhardt; but then the divine Sara was never popular in the States. Jenny Lind’s takings are left far behind. Mrs Langtry seems fully to understand how to make the most of «her chances. The cablegram received from the Prince of Wales on her arrival at the other side of the Atlantic was an inspiration, and gave her at once a status with the American public. She was clever enough, too, in I humouring their national vanity, and her | request that the band should strike up I “ Yankee Doodle ” on board the mail stea- I iner proved that she’knew what was what. I It will no doubt bo the same throughout the t tour. Already in the more distant cities of the Union—Chicago, San Francisco, and so I forth—the excitement is great, and theatri- | cal managers are competing in large sums ! for the privilege of bringing her out. Another more eminent, if not more sue- I eessful, theatrical star will shortly follow I Mrs, Langtry across the Atlantic, and, like |

her, wiliprobabiy extend hl) trip to Amtrails. This la Mr Henry Irving, who pro l poaea to take thia whole of hie company, Including Miaa Ellen Terry, for a tour through the Statea, and perhapa round the tWriqThia enterprise will be about the biggeat of its kind ever attempted. What has made Mr Irving’s representations of Shakespeare such a success has been the marvellous manner in which they are put upon the stage. In “ Much Ado About Nothing," which is just now attracting such crowds that setts have to be engaged weeks ahead, the soeNO.< arrangements are on the ffiqrt perfect seali), ’ The great cathedral scene is an exact reproduction of a gorgeous Italian interior, and the whole of the ceremony of the marriage is faithful, even to the orimson-olad acolytes with their swing censers of burning Incense. There is another beautiful and realistic scene of the harbor at Messina. Yet these are but a hundredth part of, the theatrical plafitj which Mr Irving’s stage manager will nave to transplant some thousands of miles. Probably the scenery, wardrobe, and other theatrical properties will amount to hundreds of tons. Fortunately the performance, which might easily be dwarfed to seoondary importance, is in every way worthy of its gorgeous setting.—“ Home Newt."