ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 126, 26 October 1874, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

“ All the world’s a stage.” —As You Like It. The dramatic season is drawing to a close, and ere long the playgoers of Christchurch will be able to welcome the reappearance of the English Opera Company amongst us, I am told that on the occasion of a recent benefit it was intimated that an intention existed of entering an action for libel against the Globe, I think that the most sensible advice that could be tendered would be that offered by Bunch to the matrimonially inclined, which has the merit of being both terse and expressive. The Stephenson-Burford troupe open a season at Wellington shortly, and are, I believe, now en routeior the Empire City from the West Coast, where they have been playing to good business. John Smith, with Verletti and Airec as his gymnasts, Messrs Vincent and Turner in the singing line, and Val Vose, has opened a season at Invercargill, where he appears to be doing good bussiness. The local crific gushes so “muchly” in re Airec that I am tempted to reproduce just one sentence, which for “ hifalutin” runs our American cousins—no mean professors in the art themselves—very close. He says :—“ As to Airec, “ The King of the Air.” we have never seen any performer so well entitled to assume serial supremacy. From the manner in which he floated about, one would scarcely have been surprised if he had flown off like a bird — whose poise on a slender twig swayed by the wind his marvellous balancing surpassed.” _ John Smith has evidently done well in New Zealand with his venture, and I expect to hear of his return at no distant date with more novelties in the “ show biz.” His route I believe after Invercargill, will be through the Lake district and to Dunedin. In Dunedin the Oxford Combination Company has been playing, but the public do not appear to have appreciated their merits sufficiently. One of the local papers after stating that the house was but indifferently attended, says—“We observed several pjeople quitting the dress circle as the pro-

gramme was drawing to a close. No doubt they considered that they had had their money’s worth, and did not wish to ba greedy.” As Artemus puts it, this is “ earkasticul.”

In the North, the Californian Minstrels instead of starting for home, hare migrated to Napier where they are doing well. An extra night given in Auckland before they left, for the joint benefit of Messrs Amery and Mavor was well patronised. Mr Bates was still sustaining leading business having played Asa Trenchard, Ingomar, and Eccles in “Caste.” The papers speak highly of his performances, but the support given to him by the other members of the company except Miss and Mr Stoneham does not appear to ba of a very high quality as to talent. Prior to the Opera Company leaving Wellington they intend giving two concerts, and I notice in a recent issue of the New Zealand Timet that it is suggested that Mr Rainford the popular basso, should take a benefit prior to their departure, so as to afford his numerous friends an opportunity of testifying their appreciation of his efforts. My budget of home news is not large this week, but before speaking of the movements of old favorites who have gone further afield I may notice that the Press Dramatic Club in Dunedin {intend giving a performance in aid of the Hattie Sheppard e Memorial Fund, and I hope that the Christchurch admirers of that talented lady will also subscribe something towards it. Of old friends far away, I have news from various quarters. First as to Little Rosa Towers. Owing to the theatres in Melbourne all being crowded with novelties, and the Williamson’s being so great a success, there was no show for her in Melbourne. She has therefore migrated to Sydney, and opened at the Victoria Theatre in that city on the 9th inst. to good business. Those who know the perseverance and pluck she has evinced in her study for her profession, will with me wish her every success in her enlarged sphere. Grace Egerton has concluded her performances in Melbourne, and I hear will shortly leave for New Zealand, where I feel sure she will do well, as both herself and husband are clever, and they a neiy “ B written expressly for them by Edmund Yates, Miss Adelaide Bowring (Mrs Steele), who has been for some time past in South Australia, appeared recently in the new theatre at Sandhurst in her favorite character of Harriet Routh in " Black Sheep.” She had a capital reception, and was several times called before the curtain. In the oast I find the name of Miss Flora Anstead as the American widow Mrs Bembridge, and she gets any amount of kudos for her representation; Another old Christchurch favorite, Miss Rosa Cooper, has, I find, gone into management, having the direction of the Ballarat Theatre, which appears to be doing well, Mdlle Legrand and Mr Fairclough are in the same city, giving their dramatic recitals, but the local critic makes an objection to Shakespeare in broken English. From Sydney I hear of Mr S. Woolfe, a very old Christchurch favorite, being engaged at the new theatre there, the Queen’s, recently opened. He made his first appearance in the comedietta, “ Broken Ties,” and is well spoken of. Going further afield still, the Gourlay Family have opened a new theatre in San Francisco, and ape dpipg well, the “canpv Scots’' particularly rallying round them tq any extent. Lottie and Prank were in tbe same city at last advices, performing at McGuire’s Opera House, and they have been a decided success, indeed their first night was quite an ovation. Billy Emerson appeared in conjunction with them, and was also well received, Mr and Mrs George Darrell (net Fanny Cathcart) are in New York, and doing well, Mr Darrell baring achieved a success as a dramatic author.

PROPS.