scene painter, was living at Maitland, New South Wales, in the 1840s. A member of the local amateur dramatic society formed to aid the Maitland Benevolent Asylum, he provided the 'Appropriate Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations’ for the group’s first performance on 28 August 1843 in the Northumberland Hotel, West Maitland. The Maitland Mercury reported that 'the scenery, which was painted by Mr Random, was executed in a manner which reflects very great credit upon him as a scenic painter. The whole arrangements of the stage, which were under the superintendence of Mr R., were such as to give satisfaction, and, considering the very limited space upon which he had to work, produced the best possible effect.’
Random painted the scenery for a second season in May-June 1844, held in a storeroom in High Street. For the third performance of the season he was assisted by Simeon J. Cohen in preparing a new scene for The Midnight Hour . Random also decorated the billiard room of the Albion Inn for a farewell dinner to Phillip J. Cohen, Simeon’s brother, on 10 July 1844. It was said to have been 'fitted up for the occasion in a splendid manner’. A third season of amateur dramatics performed in the old Maitland Court House in 1845 again had 'new and appropriate scenery by Mr Random’.
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
