Opening of the New Victoria Theatre

OPENING OF THE NEW VICTORIA THEATRE.
Monday night commenced a new era for theatricals
in South Australia, by the opening of the new Vic
toria Theatre, a full and faithful description of
which appears in another column. The approach
to the theatre has been rendered additionally
imposing by the placing of two lamps of large di
mensions, gilded and ornamented, on either side of
the gate fronting the principal entrance. The in
terior of the theatre, lavishly lit up as it was that
evening, was a magnificent coup d'eail, and the
house being crowded in every part left nothing to
be desired in the ensemble, either as a spectacle not
to be surpassed in these colonies, or in that less
imaginative but more substantial gratification represented
by a well filled house. The act drop is
hardly so effective as we should have expected from |
Opie, the festoons of drapery not being at all in
accordance with the rest of the painting, which is a
landscape, but of what country or clime we fairly
confess our ignorance. The entertainments com-
menced with the band, led by Mr Moore, playing
the national anthem, which was received with loud
plaudits, the whole audience startling. The fol
lowing was the
ADDRESS.
Delivered by Messrs Lazar and Coppin.
Mr Lazar—Although I prematurely perhaps appear,
Time honored custom 'tis which brings me here,
And as I mean to mate but a short speech,
I hope you'll not deem't better in the breach
Than the observance; so, if you're agreed,
Without a further prelude I'll proceed.
Permit me shortly to remind you now,
That on this selfsame stage, T made my bow
Eleven years since, nor ever wished to range
Till forced by adverse circumstance to change.
When I with grief the Drama's temple saw,
Alas ! perverted to the woes of Law;
Ungentle service, from whose pond'rous yoke
Thalia flies and leaves the field to Coke."
Here then, where oft we drew the gushing tear,
And raised the laugh thro' many a circling year,
Far harsher themes have been—
Mr Coppin—Ob, come Lazar,
You push the sentimental much too far,
The audience know full well this wa3 the Court,
For few are here but what have seen the si>ort,
And in broad farce colonial actors are
Inferior to their bretli'ren of the bar.
L.—I wish you wouldn't be quite so abrupt,
And come in thus my speech to interrupt,
Upon my word it's really not polite—
C.—Oh, cut it it short, you'll keep 'em here all night |
And sooner than remain to hear your prose
I'll ring the bell, and up the curtain goes.
L.—Do as you please, but I no part shall play
Until I've finished what I had to say.
C.—Well then out with it, and as here I've stood
So long in waiting, give us something good.
L.—Ladies and gents, then here long since I bore
Dramatic sway—
C.— You told us that before,
L.—Here was the tragic Muss's chosen seat,
C.—And actors but short commons had to eat.
L.—There great O. G., established his arcade,
C.—Did he ? I wonder in what year t'was made,
L.—But when blind Justice here had fixed her seat, |
Forced to withdraw though with unwilling feet,
We in a smaller circle had to claim
Your kind support, and found it still the same.
For which, with zeal and gratitude inspired,
We 've here resumed—
C.—Oh, fudge! they're getting tired,
And don't want such long rigmarole orations
To make 'em notice the fresh decorations.
L.—We'll, then, I'll merely just express my hope
That, you kind patrons,—
C.—Now for the soft soap—
L.—In our New Constitution will, with ease.
Assume your seats, although no nominees.
.Since our desire is to amuse all classes,
And though no Chartists, lecture to the masses,
With cant and humbug ceaseless war to wage,
And prove., while illustrating Shakespeare's page;
Or the productions of the modern mind,
That mirth and morals may be well combin'd.
I could say more—
C.—No don't, I beg. say less.
—But, as time presses, I'll be off
C.—To dress; and, for the self same reason, I
. Must also, for the present, say, Good bye.
Meanwhile, believe
L.—That each succeeding night
C.—Your presence here
L.—Will yield us
C.—Fresh delight.
For naught so well the Actor's mettle rouses,
As the dear spectacle of crowded houses,
L.—Cramned with enlightened citizens and spouses.
[Prompter's bell rings.]
C-—But let's decamp, for, hark, the prompter rings,
So exeunt omnes at the several wings.
The address was well received, and the hits told
well with the audience. The band having played
the beautiful overture to Don Giovanni, the act drop
rose upon the first scene of Stirling Coyne's popular
extravaganza of "This house to let, enquire within."...