AustLit

A native of Hobart, Charles Hugo first began to establish his name in Australia in the late 1870s as an "Ethiopian" comedian and singer. By 1882 he and his brother William were touring with Bent and Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels. That year Charles also married soubrette and male impersonator Priscilla Verne, who in 1884 became a principal member of Buffalo Minstrels and Circle of Accomplished Ladies. The new troupe also later included another Hugo brother, James. Interestingly, Priscilla Verne, whose specialty act often included her singing in male attire, as took on the typically male role of "Mr" Interlocutor in the first part semi-circle.

Among the best known artists to appear with the Buffalo Minstrels were Alf Santly, Dave Gardner, Fred Turner, Millie Herberte and James Craydon and Ted Holland. The troupe appears to have folded in 1892 following a public fallout between Charles and William (ending in a law suit) and Charles and Priscilla's divorce. After the breakup-up William Hugo moved to New Zealand where he was killed in a hotel brawl in 1896. Priscilla Verne, who spent much of the 1890s on the Tivoli circuit, continued performing in Australia and overseas until her retirement in 1912. Her last stage appearances were as late as 1943.

Charles Hugo continued to perform in various troupes for several years. Although he briefly revived the Buffalo Minstrels in 1898, his reputation was by then severely tarnished as a result of numerous controversial incidents - including the fire which destroyed the Adelaide School of Arts, several law suits (e.g. non-payment of wages/embezzlement and non-payment of bills). He died in New Zealand, possibly from alcohol-related illness, in 1902.

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]