A GROWL FROM THE FOOTLIGHTS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2441, 14 January 1881, Page 4

A GROWL FROM THE FOOTLIGHTS.

The Simonson Opera Company have lately been playing in Dunedin, but the houses have not been up to the impressario’s wishes. The “ Star ” says that on Tuesday evening, in response to a recall for his violin solo, Mr Simonsen made this speech, which was received with somewhat mixed feelings :

“ Ladies and Gentlemen, —I am not going to make a speech, for two reasons —first that I never make speeches ; and second, that I am very bashful. — (Laughter). On behalf of Madame, I desire to thank you for your attendance this evening. I may as well tell you that I have travelled nearly all over the civilised world, but Dunedin is the worst place I ever was in. And this reminds me of a circumstance in my career, which I will narrate to you. Some years ago I went to Barbadoes, in the West Indies. I took with me Mr Thalbcrg—perhaps some of you in Dunedin have never heard of him, but he was one of the finest piano players in the world —Mrßeichardt.the composer of “ Thou art so near and yet so far,” a very fine tenor ; my wife, who can sing a little ; and myself who could play the yiolin much better than I do now, because I have had little or no practice of late. It was one of the best concert companies I ever travelled with. Now, Mr Thalberg took out with him from Europe letters of introduction to a prominent man at Barbadoes a Scotchman by the way (laughter)— which he delivered on arrival there. We gave several concerts, but that gentleman never honored us with his presence. Well, in taking a stroll one day Mr Thalberg and I chanced to meet this gentleman, and naturally we inquired how it was that he had not been to see us. He replied, “Oh my wife sings, my daughter plays the piano, and I play the fiddle myself, and we don’t want to hear you ; but it you will come up to my house and take dinner with me on Sunday I shall be very pleased.” Now, as a rule I object to going out to dinners, because I like to have my meals at my hotel and pay for them, but as he was very pressing we went. We had dinner, and immediately" afterwards his wife sang, his daughter play’ed, as he did himself. Such singing and such playing. Then turning to us he said, “ We should be delighted to hear you play,” but I replied that we were hot in the habit of playing for our dinners. (Laughter.) This brings me to what I intended to say. I have been in your town and heard not the opera of “ Maritana,” but, yes, I will call it “ Mary Turner,” sung most wretchedly by amateurs—yet, all their cousins, aunts, and , sisters went to hear it, and the theatre was crowded, I have brought to this town not an indifferent company. I say it with all humility it is the best that can be collected together in Australia; we have put on the operas pretty fairly, I think, and you know what our audiences have been. Some persons—jackassses I should call them—have been writing to the papers protesting that our prices have been too high. Of course, it is easy for a “ star ” surrounded by a few indifferent actors to play to four, two, and one shillings ; but no opera company can do so. He has only a few people to pay ; I have over forty. And I say it without fear of contradiction that the prices I charged have been the lowest ever charged in Dunedin. I remember the Lyster and Alien prices. However, I have plenty of money to lose, and it does not matter (loud laughter)— but I reckon that you will not see my company in Dunedin again.—(Repeated applause and some hissing). On Mr Simonsen returning to the stage he said : “ I had forgotten to say that I am deeply thankful to the Press of this City for the kindly way that they have noticed us. And to the few of the public who have consistently supported us throughout our season we are indeed grateful. In ‘the circle and stalls we have seen night after night the same faces encouraging us. That is the kind of appreciation that we as artists do feel and, oelieve me, in all sincerity I say so that to these people we shall ever be grateful for their sympathic support—(Loud applause).