DRAMATIC NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6511, 9 January 1882, Page 6

DRAMATIC NEWS.

Arrangements bare been made by which the season of the Pomeroy Company will bo shortened by one week, Wnilo this will be regretted by all who have had the pleasure of witnessing tho excellent performances of the company, some palliation of their regret will be found in tho fact that tho first appearance of Mr J. C. Williamson, and his company will bo or.o week earlier than had been anticipated. Tho Pomeroy Company proceed to Dunedin on tho termination of their season at the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, opening in tho former city on Jan. 16. The season will extend over a fortnight, after which tho company may visit Invercargill for a week. This will conclude the New Zealand tour, and Miss Pomeroy will afterwards return to Melbourne, in which direction Mr and Mrs Beskins, Mr Flemming, and some others will also proceed. From a private letter wo learn that Mrs J. J, Kennedy (Miss Lily May), now in Melbourne, has presented her husband with a daughter. The Williamson’s will open here a week earlier than originally intended, the date now fixed being Jan. 16. This alteration has been effected by arrangement with Miss Pomeroy, whose season at the Royal will accordingly be closed at the end of the third week, inetcad of the fourth.

The Montague-Turner Opera Company appear to be fully appreciated in Auckland, where the patronage so far bestowed upon them has been of a very liberal character.— By telegram we learn that Herr Wilhelmj opened at tho Choral Hall on Tuesday, and was received with great enthusiasm. —Horan's Variety Troupe visited several of tho Auckland t arm ships during tho Christmas holidays, and did a good business.—'The Jenny Kyc and Fisher -Pleasure Party are in tho Mnnawatu district, where they hove attracted largo audiences. —The Hart* drew big house? at the Princess Theatre, Wanganui, during tho Christmas and New Year holiday*.—Herr Will ehnj is to appear at Wanganui on Jan. 13 and 14.—Mr Cary’s Juvenile Company opened with The Pirates at the Theatre Royal, Napier, on Dec. 26, when tho lower part of the house was crowded to excess. From then up to the date of our latest advices the attendance bad only been moderate. On Monday last Chilperic was to be produced. —Herr Wilhelmj concluded a very successful season in Wellington on Dec. 30. —fie Colonel, with Mr H. D, Harkins in tho tide role, concluded a satisfactory run at the "Jin'.yt tv Jfayal, Wellington, on Dec. SO, and on ;bf two following sights Mamlet and Qfh:U'/ were produced Mr Harkins was *•»-..praised for his artistici rendering of the Cj - Vj pirte. —Kohler's Combination continues to be wcli pa tracked in Wellington.—The r r. knnered to the Pirates of Penzance Company at the Public Hail, Greymoulb, was not a financial success, the weather again being very wet. The company subsequently proceeded to Hokitika, opening there on Dec. 24 to a capital house. The Pirates was produced, and on the following day a sacred concert was given to a moderate audience. The Pirates was repeated to good busir.es on the Monday and next evening Les Cloches ds Corneville Was produced with equally satisfactory resals. Gn the termination of their Hokitika season the Company will return to Grey mouth. —Bent and Baehelder’s Minstrels are appearing to crowded home; at Greymouth.* Mr Robson, the elocutionist, has been giving entertainments at the Volunteer Hall, Oamaru, to appreciative audiences. — The Williamson’s have scored a decided hit Li Dunedin, where their performances are drawing the best audiences seen at tho Princess Theatre for a long time past. Struck Oil occupied the boards up to Tuesday evotinc, and on the following night Boucicault’s comedy Kerri/, The Fool of the Fa-r.’.hj and The Chinese Question, with Mr end Mr? Williamson in each, were produced. —The Zulu War Panorama continues to draw capital houses at the Queen’s Theatre, Dunedin.

Tbs mail to band daring the week brings dramatic news from Sydney up to Dec. 24. In order to make way for the pantomime at the Soya!, Patience was to be moved to the Opera House on Boxing night. It is as popular aa ever.— W lifoa’s Circus still holds its own among the amusements of Sydney.— The Black Flag is a big success at the Gaiaj, where crowded houses continue to be the role,—The Cardens closed their season at the Optra House on Dec. 24.—The Marian W;!;.- i puny have closed their season at the Queen’s Theatre.—The pantomime to be produced at this theatre on Boxing night was Harlequin Blue Beard, or The Heathen Chime, ia which Miss Emma Wangenheim, Sfiis Blanche Leopold, Miss Fanny Rogers, I£jt G. Leopold, Mr C. F. Coatts, the Easton Family, Mons Eugene, end the Infant Worker Carlo were to appear.—During the Christmas week the Melbourne Liedertafel were to visit. Sydney for a series of concerts. —After the pantomime eeason the Royal will pase into the hands o! Mr Allison for a during which Miss Ada Ward will It; the stab.-’Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Mu-grove enter upon the joint management of the Royal in May next. They have already commenced negotiations for the production of Youth and Lights o' London, in which Mr George Eignold will make his re appearance in Sidney. The Colonel will follow, in which Messrs D. H. Harkins and Wybert Reeve will appear. The new management have also purchased the right to produce La Haseoite and Billee Taylor. —The pantomime to be produced at the Theatre Royal on Boxing-night was Sinlad the Sailor, with the Misses Maggie Stewart, Lena Ed win, Theresa Horan, and Maggie Oliver, Messrs E. Stewart, J. L. Hall, Harry Leston, Bland Holt, J. W. Wallace, Signor Gonzales, Madame Pasta Moore, and Mr If. MfLean in the cast.

Owing to some unexplained cause, cur usual dramatic letter from Melbourne did not reach us by the mail which arrived on Thursday. We have therefore been compelled to fall hack upon our flies for in formation, tho latest date being Dec. 28 —On Christmas Eve Olicefle was produced for the first time at tho Opera House. Mies Elea May, who had been specially engaged for the purpose, sustained the title role, Miss .Nellie Stewart, Meters Bronnir, Harwood, Wallace, and Kelly also being m the cast. The opera was magnificently mounted, the costumes and scentry being of the richest description. _ The performance was cot, however, an entire success. Tho music is superior to that of any previous one:* of the kind produced in Melbourne, but 'La d rim ate portion of the work is inferior, and Miss hlea May did not prove a good substitute for Miss Patlie Laverne. Mis-May’s vocal abilities are equal to Alisa Lavcrne'e, but as an actress she cannot compare with her predecessor. The other characters were fairly well sustained, while tho choruses and orchestral music were excellent throughout.—Both Misei Puttie Laverne and Mr Marvin have severed their connection permanently with the company at the Opera House. Mr Herrin's continued ill-health renders itnecesaary that he should take a long rest. '/he pantomimes at the Eoyal and Princess Theatres were both entitled Dick Whilington and hie Cal. At tho Boyal Miss Georgio Smithson appeared as Dick, but was very disappointing, Miss Docy Stewart though only entrusted with a secondary character being from her excellent acting the central figure of the piece. The pantomime as a whole did not equal the expectations which had been formed of it, though it is duo to Mr Hennings to say that bin scenery was worthy of the warmest praise, Mr J. Holloway a pv,- r! r« ns clown, Mr J/yster as pantaloon, Mona Massartic as hs.rlequin, and Miss Josephine Coutts as columbine,—The pantomime at the Princess’ had been specially written by Mr Garnet Walcb, and it appears to be a fairly good production. The “Age in summarising the first _ performance re-marks:-“The really meritorious feature of the whole presentation was the scenery, whica hm never been surpassed, if ever equalled, in this hemisphere. The mediaeval pictures of London, the panorama and the transformation scene are works of high art, in which details are carefully studied, and every eKect calculated to please the* eye or gratify the Sd ie brought out with a vmd reality

that is praiseworthy and excellent. Mr George Gordon waa very deservedly called before the curtain. The singing and the music generally throughout the piece is flat, and instead of giving vivacity causes a drag that ie often positively painful. The ballet arrangements, under too direction of tho BuvsJlis, arc good, and the harlequinade is tolerably lively and diverting.” Miss Annio Taylor appeared as Diok Whittington with considerable success, while tho following were also engaged in the performance : Miss Cora Gwynno, Mrs Kdouin Bryep, Miss Emma Fischer, Miss Carrie Wallace, Miss A. Capper, Miss Jessie Grey , and tho Bisters Duvalli, Messrs F. Marshall, Sterling White, Frank Cates, K. W. Marshall, James Grattan, Frank Forbes, H. Hughes, 0. Wardlow and Martin Fordo. Pollard’s Juvenile Opera Company opened at Hudson's Theatre on Boxing Bight, and made an excellent impression upon tho largo audience assembled to greet them. —Tho first of an intended series of concerts was given at the Exhibition Building on Christmas Eve, the performers being Mis* Kate Thayer, Miss Alice Holland, Miss Mario Carandini, Messrs Maronev, Tucker, and Charles Sykes. There was only a moderate attendance. —Mr Maccabe is doing ns well as ever at the George's HolL

Mus Ada Ward is still at tho Theatre Royal, Adelaide, but dots not find great favour with tho local critics. Mr J. B. Steele, who is supporting her, also receives but occasional praise for his acting. Hudson's Surprise Party are doing well at the Academy of Music, Adelaide.—Professor Hasol mayor is doing tho Northern towns of Queensland, with moderate success.