COPPIN'S LAST APPEARANCE ON THE STAGE.
The Coppins took as large a benefit as the house could possibly hold on the 18th June, 1846 (Waterloo Day), and announcements were m a d e that it yvas to be " most positively the last appearance of Mr. Coppin and his wife on any stage." T h e pieces produced yvere " Captain Charlotte," a new production by E. Sterling, and the " School for Scandal." M a d a m e Veilburn and a Master Chambers (new attaches) figured fantastically in a neyv-fashioned polka ; and another new version of Coppin's " Billy Barlow " yvas served out in such a racy manner as more than satisfied everyone. During the month of August the Coppins left for Adelaide, after making a favourable impression, yvhich the sponge of time has never thoroughly erased from that day to this; and Smith again assumed the joint position of proprietor and manager. W h a t a singular contrast is presented by a comparison of the cost of working a Melbourne theatre in 1S45 a n d forty years after. In 1845 the Queen's Theatre was opened only three nights in the yveek, and the entire expenses, taking an average of twenty weeks, were ^ 4 7 per week, the salaries varying from 15s. to 40s. per week. In 1877 the weekly expenses of the Theatre Royal averaged ,£420 per week, the salaries being proportionately high. O n this subject I quote from a recent communication from Mr. Coppin:—"I cannot give you a better illustration of the progress of the drama than the fact that during m y management of the Queen's Theatre m y weekly expenses, including rent and a salary for myself, were ^ 4 5 a week. Ever since the erection of this (the Royal) theatre the weekly expenses have been close upon ^ 4 0 0 a yveek, and I do not hesitate to say that I had leading talent in m y company at ^ 4 5 a yveek that cannot be equalled at the present time in Australia." FRANCIS NESBITT
Was an actor of considerable merit, yvho never settled doyvn steadily for any time in one place. A theatrical meteor, shooting about between the colonies, of no steadfastness of purpose, bothering himself little as to yvhat the morroyv yvould bring forth; a good felloyv and yvell liked, it yvas regrettable that one of his undoubted ability should be so deficient in the brain ballast necessary for a fortunate trip through the world. A n Irishman by birth, he found his way on the stage at an early age, and yvas for years a " stock " actor in the Mother-country, his last " H o m e " engagement being in Glasgow. O n reaching Sydney, being unable to obtain theatrical employment there, he was glad to accept the baton of a policeman. In a short time he intervieyved Mr. Joseph Simmons, stage manager of the Victoria Theatre. Simmons, w h o played everything that was good, asked the applicant yvhat he could do, and the reply yvas "any leading part," but he should like to open as Rolla in the tragedy of " Pizarro." Simmons, someyvhat scoffingly, rejoined that Rolla being one of his oyvn specialities, the Sydney public yvould not recognize anyone else in it. It was decided, hoyvever, that the tragedy should be put up, and Nesbitt to play Pizarro. This impersonation is a very shoyvy one, and, set off with Nesbitt'sfinemanly figure and splendid voice, Simmons, much to his oyvn discomfort, yvas completely cast in the shade. The contrast between the style of the two performers was such as to exclude any professional comparison. In a foyv nights after, the public recognition yvhich Simmons fancied he had exclusively for himself, was so impaired that he yvas not umvilling to change places yvith the neyv-comer. H e remained for some time f.t a very moderate salary, but his Australian yvanderings soon commenced, and he keptflittingfrom place to place until his death. O n applying to Mr. Coppin for information as to Nesbitt's ultimate fate, he favoured m e with the folloyving ray of hallowed light shed over the untombed grave which Brooke found in the Bay of Biscay, yvhen he yvent down with the " London " steamer on his voyage from England to Melbourne in 1866 :—" Nesbitt was of the same school of acting as Brooke, and very like him in voice, manner, and talent. I buried him at m y oyvn expense yvhen I bad the Geelong Theatre, before going to England. U p o n m y return yvith G. V. Brooke, I took him to see Nesbitt's grave, and gave him the history of his countryman. The result yvas that poor Brooke erected a headstone with the following inscription :— " Erected in memory of Francis M'Crone Nesbitt, w h o departed this life 29th March, 1853, aged 42 years, by his felloyv countryman Gustavus V. Brooke, as a last tribute to the genius of a brother tragedian.'"
