THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 4105, 24 April 1876, Page 4

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

The Simonsen company appear to be doing good business in Christchurch, , though they are encountering strong opposition in Blondin, who is able to draw crowds into his portion without pyrotechnic assistance up to the present. Of course all the shows did wed during the racing festival, and next week will be a better test of what the Opera is doing. So far they have produced “Lucia, 1 ’ “Martha,” and the “Grand Duchess,” and gave a sacred concert on Good Friday. The papers are most kindly disposed towards them, and one critic writes in terms of high praise of the “ Grand Duchess.” The characters must have improved wonderfully since they left Dunedin.—Hoskins has gdne with his company to Timaru and Oamaru,

I am at liberty to make the following extracts from a chatty Wellington letter “ The Marionettes are showing at the Oddfellows Hall, and are doing good business, being favored by good weather. They will probably visit Napier next. The hall is receiving more attention from managers, because the theatre proprietary open their mouths so wide. Fifteen per cent/ on the proceeds, which would return them close upon L4O a-week, is all they ask; and the tenant pays the gas bill, which is never less than L 5 a-week. The hall runs three guineas a-week, gas included, and enables managers to play to lower prices. On dit that the theatre proprietary refused au offer of LI,OOO a-year from Bates, The theatre was taken for four nights by Booth, Howard, Deering Mrs Stoheham, and Jessie Raymond,”—The opera season, of twenty-four nights, commences at Wellington on May 20. At Auckland the Bates’, supported by the Prince of Wales company, have the field pretty much to themselves. I notice that

on Easter Monday Mr Utting’s new piece entitled “Check and Counter-Check” was to have been played. Of it the ‘Cross’ says : Those who have seen it describe it as “full of racy dialogue, good situations, and striking tableaux. ” The scene of the play is America during the Civil War, and the plot consists of the schemes of a colonel in the Federal army to obtain possession of the heroine, his ward, and the destruction of her affianced husband. That there is a failamount of fun mingled with the more serious business may be gathered from the fact that among the dramatis jiersonai are “a peaceful Quaker of the fighting persuasion,” and a “prim, but strong-minded Quakeress, with a strong leaning to matrimony.” The .expedient of wearing a mask in order to get his victim into trouble is adopted by the villain, and the tearing off the mask at the close of the play is described as an “effective situation,” Everetts’ t, ibemicon is alto showing at Auckland. On the opening performance of “CLilperic ” by the Lydia Howard Troupe, the ‘Napier Telegraph’ says The performance afforded a thoroughly agreeable entertainment, which was sustained throughout with unflagging spirit and energy. ..The part of “ Chilperic ” was taken by Miss Lyd a ’ Howard, whose commanding mien admirably fatted her for the support of the character. Miss Howard is a good actress, and au excellent and, finished vocalist, and- possesses talents of a very high order.