THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 4087, 1 April 1876, Page 4

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

** Prompter ” sends us a few items culled from letters lie has received recently:—

“From Christchurch I hear of the Marionettes doing much better business since they reduced their prices ; and that Blondin has his tent up in Latimer square ready to Show in on Monday next. Mr Hoskins is prOVing that he intends settling permanently in Christchurch. With Mr Baylee, of the Criterion Hotel there, he has purchased the ground on which .the old Royal stands.: and in a few weeks we expect to Hear of tenders being out for the much-talked of but urgently-required new theatre.”"' A chatty letter from Wellington contains, among other things, the following: —“ After the Darrells left, the theatre was , kept open by a commonwealth, who managed to pay two-third salaries’the. first week and collapsed the third night of the second. Then came Mrs Hoskins and her- company, who opened on St. ; Patrick’s Night “ Green Bushes,”followed by “School,” “Unequal Match’,and such like played : out stock pieces, and playing to. very, indifferent business. Hoskins appears on Monday in * * School for Scandal. ” Up here it is reported that Mr Sibbald asks L 1,250 a-year, to say nothing of stiff terms besides, for the new theatre in Dunedin. Mr Savills is here trying to arrange a short season for the Rates, who'are great favorites, as everybody Is asking for them, and will himself return, to Ddneoin. Lydia Howard and troupe open at Napier on tha sth inat., where the Wheeler Trddpe are how showing. Both are Rkely to proceed to Sydney to John Bennett, . where little. Nell is doing big Mr Wheatleigh is p'aying at La'zaa’s, but not doing oyer well. In conclusion, “Prompter” mentions the receipt of a letter last mail frqjin/a member pf Julia Matthew’s operabonffe company.' On January. 15 last they were tof» commence a, tour of the Northern - States and-.Canada. John Hall and some artistes who played with him in Liverpool have joined Miss Matthews, and Frank Howson is her chefd'orchfisVre.