Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 18 November 1878, page 5


¡ AMUSEMENTS.

The entertainment at the Victoria Theatre on Saturday night consisted of a reproduction of "One o'clock, for the Knight and the Wood Demon," and a comic drama. The first of these was excellent in character and fairly played, but the second was only commendable from the fact of Mr. Edmund Holloway successfully undertaking in it the impersonation of one of his favourite characters that of a sailor. The audience was large and some sections of it so enthusiastic in expressing their approval or disapproval of some of the actors' efforts that the success of the performances was considerably and unfavourably affected. The first piece here referred to is an effort of the late Mark Lemon's, at one time editor of London Punch, and it is the result of such efforts as it would have pleased that gentleman's genial mind to exercise It is a fabrication in which legend, romance, sentiment, and humour are so cleverly and subtly blended that neither element appears predominant, it would be difficult to determine

whether Mr. Lemon wrote this melodrama in a humourous or a serious vein, or whether he intended it for a comedy or a drama ; but certain it is that it would provide excellent material for a pantomime. the moral of which might be that evil proceedings invariably recoil on those who conceive them. The story of the play is to the effect that a certain human being, disfavoured by birth and disfigured by nature, undertakes to provide a human sacrifice at one o'clock on a fixed day every year for a wood demon, who gives him riches and power for doing so. There is, of course, a horrible penalty attached to this agreement, and it is to the effect that unless the sacrifice is punctually provided, the knight not only resumes his former ugliness, but is to be appropriated to infernal purposes. It will thus be seen that there is a mixture of Faust, Don Giovanni, Der Freischutz, and the Veiled Prophet of Khorassan in the drama, the punishment of the evil genius of the play being very similar to those awarded in the instances referred to, but arising from somewhat different causes. The first act of the play is devoted almost exclusively to an introduction of the personages whose actions go to make up the plot. The victim of the Knight, in his last effort to propitiate the demon is a dumb boy, a relative of Una, the Knight's affianced bride. Una is unaware of the Knight's true character, but Clotilda, her sister, has heard of it, and discovers the plot against the boy. A scheme is elaborated for getting the boy Leolyn out of harm's way, but the Knight becomes cognisant of it and locks the boy in the secret cavern his former victims were sacrificed in. Una releases the boy just as the Knight enters to kill him. The Knight thereupon informs Una that she must be sacrificed instead of the escaped Leolyn, but the boy, whose quick perception has taken in all the circumstances of the scenes enacted around him, pushes forward the hands of the clock the Knight is taking his time by the clock strikes one, and as there has been no sacrifice, the inexorable wood demon series life Knight and descends with him to regions better imagined than described. These interesting details were set forth in a comprehensible manner, and the audience in all parts of the theatre applauded most of them with much fervour. Mr. E. Holloway took the part of the wicked knight, Miss Anstead that of the unfortunate Una, Miss Holloway that of Clotilda, Miss Daniels that of Paulina, and Miss B. Murray that of Leolyn. Mr. Bland Holt undertook the role of"" Willikind," the humorous individual of the plot; and the remaining characters were apportioned as the strength of the company would permit. All the actors played with evenness and manifest care, but the efforts of lioueofthem call for special commendation. The second piece, entitled " A Middy on Shore, was completely marred by interruptions, having their origin amongst the " gods ;!*' and, therefore, it is impossible to say whether it

would have been a success or no.

That excellent specimen of a melodrama of the good old school " Jonathan Bradford, or the Murder at the Roadside Inn," was produced at the Queen's Theatre on Saturday evening. Mr. Booth, as- Jonathan Bradford, and Miss Kate Douglass, as Anno Bradford, performed the parts allotted them to the satisfaction of the numerous audience; whilst Mr. Russell, as the villain of the piece, Macraisy, added another to his list of successful delineations. The scenic effects were well prepared, the quadrupled rooms scene in particular being a triumph of stage mechanism. This evening " Uncle Tom's Cabin" will once more be produced, and it is announced that it will hold possession of

the boards for the remainder of the week.

All over the world balloon ascents are events which greatly exercise the public mind, and it is no wonder that the attempt made by Mr. L'Estrange on Saturday afternoon attracted as much attention as it did. Mr. L'Estrange was the first man in Australia who successfully imitated if he did not equal the original Blondin, and this circumstance tended to render the public confidence greater than it otherwise would have been. He has never attempted anything that he has not accomplished, and this served to increase the impression that balloon ascent failures in Sydney would be relieved by one success. Early in the afternoon crowds of people assembled in the vicinity of Prince Alfred Park. Many paid for admission to enter the grounds, but very many more occupied vantage grounds outside, from which they could see what was going on within the enclosure. The inflation of the balloon had been commenced at six o'clock, under a contract with the Gas Company to supply 50,000 feet of gas. Early in the day's proceedings it was rendered evident by the "slack" sides of the intended aerial voyage and that there had been a hitch somewhere, and this was confirmed by what subsequently happened. The balloon which should assume a spherical shape when filled with gas presented up to after four o'clock more the appearance of a top-heavy pillar than anything else, and even after that the upper portion of it did not seem to swell to any material extent. Those who were present were exceedingly orderly until shortly after five o'clock, when the larrikin element commenced to rise to the surface. Whether the Gas Company did not supply sufficient gas of good quality of what, it is difficult to say. One thing is certain-the balloon ascent was a failure." Mr. L'Estrange, more perhaps to satisfy the public that he was honest than anything else, entered the car when there was only sufficient gas in the balloon to skim the ground, and a ridge in the contour of the park made him effectually kiss mother earth. The balloon was again brought back to a starting point, and after a little delay Mr. L'Estrange started away without the car and hanging on to the ring alone on what most people there considered a very foolish errand. The wind underneath the voyage and caught the parachute and raised it high enough to encourage Mr. L'Estrange to make the attempt which he did, and when the wind failed he landed in a sort of obtuse angle position on a railway truck, where the people from the Park quickly followed him and assisted in helping him through his difficulties. The attempt to go, under the circumstances, ought never to have been made. He had no hope of avoiding chimneys and church steeples, and in that case ought certainly to have been stopped from tempting Providence in the way he did. As it was Mr. L'Estrange landed safely on the truck, and with great presence of mind opened the valve to allow the gas to escape, at the same time that, he clutched hold of the side of the truck with both legs. Mr. Evans, the station master, happened to be close to the place at the time, and lent Mr, L'Estrange very generous aid not only in holding back the balloon, but also in securing its safe custody. As it is it is considerably injured, but the injuries are not of such a nature as to necessitate a long delay in their being made good. As Mr L'Estrange returned into the Exhibition building he was carried shoulder high in honour of what was generally considered a plucky attempt, which it certainly was, and the excitement was so great that he was obliged to appear at the door of the building and address the assembled spectators. In a few words he stated that he had endeavoured, as far as he could to make the affair a success, that the failure was owing to the Gas Company, and that those who had obtained ttob&ts of admission would be allowed in free on the next occasion when he intended to essay an ascent. The pipe that was laid on to the balloon was only three inches in diameter and not only is this not considered sufficient, but it is said that the gas was very dense, and that the pressure, owing to faulty reticulation and leakage of the pipes was very f slight. It is likely that next Saturday another attempt to i rise will be made by Mr. L'Estrange. '