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- 22 REMINISCENCES OF OLD VICTORIA
officers of the fleet often helped us out. I see by the bills that the admission was $1.50 reserved seats, $1.00 unreserved, and 50 cents "pit," with $10 for a box. "Performance to commence promptly at 7.30." The orchestra was composed, with others, of Digby Palmer, F. S. Bushell, Gunther and Roberts, with, I think, Bandmaster Haynes. All our performances were given under the direction of R. G. Marsh, a standard theatrical manager, who, with his wife, adopted daughter, " Jenny Arnot," his son and Miss Yeoman, was a great help to us. In fact without their assistance we could not have produced plays with female characters. Not to make this too long, I will wind up by giving what I can remember of a piece called "The Merchant of Venice Preserved," by a local poet. It was full of local hits, which only those who were acquainted with politics and the questions of the day at that time will under-stand :
" This shall inform Bassanio that I'm done Brown, My chance is up, my ship, alas! gone down. The vessel on her homeward way, sir,
Laden with the rich products of the Fraser (river)?The famed sal-lals for making jams,
Monster sturgeon, cranberries and clams?Bumped on the sands and so a wreck became; Captain, as usual, ` not at all to blame.' The people here say just as they like, And lay the blame on ` Titcombe' or on ` Pike.' For me, no sympathy I get; to them 'tis fun; Alas for me, I'm 'Capitally' done;
Then those brick stores, which I fondly thought For bonded warehouses would soon be sought; Bring `Nary red,' no revenue they raise; No ships arriving, no one duty pays;
THEATRICAL MEMORIES 23
From Sorrow's page I've learned all man can know, For ` Cochrane's' just sold oft my grand pi-an-o; So if with means to aid me you're invested,
Haste, for the Jews won't rest till I'm arrested.
" Your loving friend,
" Antonio.
The evening of my. first appearance in female character, I was dressed at home, and escorted down town with a lady on each side of me, and I can remember how hard it was for them to keep their countenance, for several times I thought I was discovered ere we reached the theatre. We all walked to and from the theatre in those days?there were not half a dozen hacks in Victoria.
The photo shows old " Theatre Royal " at the time of which I write, viz., 1866 to 1868, and in which all the theatricals were produced in these early days; although there was a sort of theatre used for nigger minstrel performances' and concert hall business. This was situated under Goodacre's butcher shop. The principal actor and negro delineator was " Tom Lafont," whose equal I have not seen since as an imitator of negro comicalities and as a bird whistler. He will be well remembered by old-timers. The Theatre Royal was situated on Government Street, one door from the corner of Bastion, as will be seen in the picture. This corner was first occupied by Doctor Davie, sr., then by a Doctor Dickson, when first I remember it. He died about a year ago in Portland, Oregon, just after a visit to this city. The theatre was, I think, composed of two of the big barns in the fort, which being connected together, made one long building, reaching to Langley Street. There was a saloon or
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