Page:ChroniclesofEarlyMelbournevol.1.pdf/498

It did not even creep into any ofthe newspapers; and this almost incredible attempt to overthrow the first theatre in Melbourne, is noyv detailed to the yvorld for thefirsttime. I m a y add that m y informant, no less a personage than the " Captain of the G u a r d " himself, is still alive and jolly, and laughs heartily yvhen he recalls to m e m o r y the particulars of his idiotic escapade of over forty years ago. T o resume m y narrative at the point yvhere I broke off, I yvould mention that the Stewards sometimes pretended to suppress smoking. Occasionally they succeeded, but often failed, and got not only roundly abused, but pummelled into the bargain. A notable instance of this kind occurred one night, yvhen Mr. George Gordon Wyse, the second clerk at the Police C o u r t — a self-sufficient, under sized specimen of humanity, refused point blank to conform to an anti-smoking regulation conspicuously posted up, but more honoured in the breach than the observance. In a dress circle seat, yvith his short legs dangling over the heads beloyv, and a huge cigar between his teeth, his jaws worked like a furnace. M r . George Arden, one of the stewards, insisted he should knock off, yvhen the little cloud-propelling Jove, replied by bunging up one of Arden's eyes. T h e constables yvere called in and W y s e yvas removed, braying and kicking like a m a d jackass. . H e yvas also so umvise as to b% very tipsy at the time, and for his gross misconduct Major St. John (the Police Magistrate) sacked him next day. H e soon aftenvards turned up as a Sergeant of Mounted Police, and his change from town to country life turned him into a wiser and better man. In November, Mrs. Arabin, a well-knoyvn colonial stager in Hobart Toyvn and Launceston, joined the motley creyv, yvhich yvas also strengthened by Messrs. Boyd, Winter, and Miller as professionals. T h e establishment shortly after appeared as " T h e Royal Victoria Theatre," yvith more professionals in Messrs. Deering and Mereton, and the latter's wife. This triplet hailed from the Launceston theatre, and there yvas a short run of good " houses." Though Mereton aspirated his H's so shockingly, the wife yvas gifted yvith a "goodfigure,handsome face, and fine clear voice." T o these she added considerable histrionic talent, and played yvell in tragedy and comedy, especially the former. Deering yvas a respectable performer, and though his William, in "Black Eyed Susan" did not c o m e up to expectation, it yvas not quite a failure, whilst his Teddy O'Rourke yvas done to the life. T h e next supposed acquisition to the staff yvas a Mrs. Murray, but her performances were beloyv the expected standard, and she disappeared in consequence of a tiff yvith the manager. Hodges' reverses yvere pressing on him so heavily all this time that by March, 1843, he yvas only too glad to find refuge in the Insolvent Court, and it yvas alleged that there yvas ^ 3 0 0 due as arrears of rent. T h e performances suffered m u c h from the conduct of the amateurs, and on St. Patrick's Eve the company amused themselves by a freefightbehind the scenes, for yvhich some of them yvere bound over to keep the peace at the Police Court. Buckingham at length retired from the stage management, to make way for M r . John Stephen and R. Winter as stage managers, a change of front yvhich could only terminate in disaster. Winter yvas about a yveek in office when he vacated, to be succeeded by Capper. Before the end of March the Amateur Dramatic Association collapsed, and an Amateur Club yvas organized yvith the once yvell-knoyvn Isaac Hind as Secretary, marvellous results being anticipated from the sweep of the neyv broom. Mr. Nesbitt, a tragedian of some repute, arrived from Sydney, in April, and negotiations were attempted with him, but as his tariff yvas ^ 2 0 per night, the management could not afford to have anything to do with so dear an article, and he went over to Launceston. Before the month ended, Buckingham, as "Richard is himself again," had resumed the stage management, and the Amateur Club yvas reported as being in great form. T h e 12th April yvas to witness wonderful things. T h e house had undergone m u c h internal improvement. Every seat and box from the pit to the slips had been washed and brushed. T h e orchestra board was covered with drapery, and the stage overlaid with a green carpet. A grand new chandelier yvas swung from the centre of the roof and more brackets for lights nailed on to the side boardings. T h e first piece yvas " T h e Rich M a n of Frankfort," and the novices so acquitted themselves as to astonish a crowded audience. There were some awkward hitches though, but the after-piece, " W h y Don't She Marry," m a d e up for any shortcomings. T h e Mayor, Alderman, and Councillors were there in official rig-out, and there was the largest attendance yet at any theatre in the colony. T h e Amateur Club continued