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Notes
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In this issue on page 2 a brief report announces that 'Messrs. [Joseph] Simmons and Meredith will succeed Messrs. [John] Lazar and [Thomas] Simes in the management of the [Royal] Victoria Theatre at the commencement of the new season.' The present season was to 'terminate with the benefits in about three weeks.'
Contents
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Clerk,
single work
advertisement
(p. 1)
This new advertisement for an accounts clerk for the Sydney Gazette newspaper office is dated 3 September 1838. It was first published in the 4 September 1838 issue of the newspaper. It is substantially revised from the advertisement, dated 1 September 1838 and published on the 1 September 1838, for a temporary accounts clerk. The Sydney Gazette's 'Chief Clerk', John Montgomery died on 3 September 1838 and a death notice for him appears in the 4 September 1838 issue. This event may be linked to the advertisements.
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The Dog Bruin,
single work
advertisement
(p. 1)
Advertisement for benefit performances for Mr. [J. H. S.] Lee at the Royal Victoria Theatre on 11 September 1838 to include a 'Drama, founded on Sir Walter Scott's celebrated Novel of the "Talisman," called Richard Coeur De Lion; or, The Crusader and His Dog' and the 'popular and interesting Melo-Drama, called Raymond and Agnes, or the Bleeding Nun of Lindenberg '.
J. H. S. Lee was an Australian actor, actor manager, 'utility man' (an actor who plays many small parts) and comedian. According to Philip Parsons and Victoria Chance he was the 'first to work regularly with performing dogs and one of [the] first to sing blackface minstrel songs'. Parsons and Chance mention that Lee introduced "Jumping Jim Crow" 'a blackface minstrel act' in Hobart in 1843. This was not the first time he performed the work,The advertisement for his September 1838 benefit announces that 'Mr Lee, for the first time, will Jump Jim Crow'. He also seems to have been an exponent of stage fights as the advertisement mentions a fight scene from 'the celebrated Roman Drama of the Horatii and Curatii' as part of the varied entertainment for the benefit. The advertisement includes a description of the scenes and a list of the actors and the names of the characters they portray for each play
Source: Parsons, Philip, with Chance, Victoria. Concise Companion to Theatre in Australia (Sydney, Currency Press, 1997): 157
Note: With title: 'Royal Victoria Theatre : Greatest Treat of the Season : The Dog Bruin : For This Night Only'. -
Mechanics School of Arts,
single work
column
(p. 2)
This column lists the rules of the 'Mutual Instruction Class of the Mechanics' School of Arts'. The unknown author recommends this class 'especially to the young gentlemen in the various public and mercantile offices ...'
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The Victoria Theatre,
single work
review
— Review of The Mountaineers 1793 single work drama ;(p. 2)This review, probably by William Kerr, is of the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, September 1838 performance of the play, The Mountaineers. This review is mainly of the actor Charles Faucit's performance.
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Lee's Benefit,
single work
column
(p. 2)A short column about the benefit for the actor J. H. S. Lee due to take place at the Royal Victoria Theatre on 11 September 1838. The author (William Kerr?) discusses Lee's capabilities as an actor and adds that the 'great attraction of the evening is the dog Bruin which Lee ... has trained to much perfection.'
- Subscription Entered into to Defray the Funeral Expenses of the Late Mr. John Montgomery, single work advertisement (p. 3)
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For the Benefit of Mr. & Mrs. Cameron,
single work
advertisement
(p. 3)
Advertisement for performance 'for the benefit Mr. & Mrs. Cameron ... under the patronage of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons' of The Massacre of Jerusalem and Rob Roy 'in which the Son of a Mason will Dance the Highland Fling' at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, 13 September 1838. Several other songs and dances were also advertised on the program including a dance 'Cat-Choca' by Morris Phillips.
