The well-known actor, Lex Marinos, spoke about his research for his forthcoming publication Dear Mr Smith … at the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation in Sydney’s Neutral Bay on Sunday 15 October, the second of THA’s Sydney events.
Lex’s study of the letters written to the Melbourne Age’s theatre critic, James Smith (1820-1910), have resurfaced a number of now-absent stars– such as opera singer Anna Bishop (1810-84), American actress Mary Provost (1835-1914) and Avonica Jones (1839-67). Among the correspondents are entrepreneur George Coppin (1819-1906) and Shakespearean tragedian G. V. Brooke (1818-66).
The capacity audience was fascinated by the revelations which these archival letters reveal of a time when Melbourne’s theatre world, post the gold rush, was booming. Watch this space, more events are planned in Sydney in 2024!
