THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2234, 15 May 1880, Page 2

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Under this heading I purpose briefly chronicling, week by week, the doings of theatrical people in the colonies, together with an occasional resume of tilings theatrical at Home. I take this opportunity of saying that I shall be at all times happy to hear from members of the profession with a view to noting their movements and intentions in this column.

The past week in Christchurch has been a very interesting one, from a theatrical point of view, on account of the revival of Holcroft’s line old comedy, “ The lload to Ruin,” and the always welcome “ School for Scandal.” Both pieces were creditably mounted, and seem to have hit the taste of the Christchurch public. The “ School for Scandal ” served to re-introduce Mr C. F. Searlc to to the boards after a long absence from the stage. Mr Scarlo, formerly known as a good stock actor, has been for some timepast connected with the Press. He was very well received on Monday evening, and having sustained the part of “ Sir Peter Teazle ” in the “ School for Scandal,” and “ Old Dornton ” in the “ Road to Ruin,” he last evening took a benefit (when there was a capital house) prior to his departure for Melbourne. Speaking of the recent performance of the “School for Scandal” at the Royal, and of Miss Florence Colville’s impersonation of Lady Teazle, the “ Lyttelton Times ” says ; earlier scenes Miss Colville gave indications of her former excellence, but in the later scenes she was evidently too ‘ indisposed ’ to be able to do herself justice, and her inability interfered Avith ithe efficiency of the other dramatis persona?' Professor Taylor and Lillie, “ Queen of Skates,” who were lately performing at the Queen’s Hall, in Timaru, haA r e

found their way up North, and were very recently giving skating entertainments at the Thames. They will probably visit Auckland next. Stacey’s Panorama of Australia and Now Zealand, exhibited at the Town Hall, Ashburton, after leaving Timaru, to a fair house. The Lynch Family of Bellringers seem to have hit the taste of the Akaroa people during their recent visit to the “ sleepy hollow.” Akaroa nsed to be considered as unpayable for professional companies, but it is redeeming its character it would seem. The Bellringers performed on their opening night to one of the largest audiences everseen in Akaroa.

The Carandini’s have been playing to capital houses in Dunedin lately. On Tuesday evening last Madame Carandini took a benefit, and there was a bumper house. Mr Gordon Gooch also had a successful benefit on Thursday evening. The company opens at the Theatre Royal, Invercargill, on Monday evening next. The Hcwetts opened last night at Kaiapoi in their musical and dramatic entertainment. They repeat their performance this evening, and play at Rangiora on Monday and Tuesdajx The Harts, after a very successful season in Dunedin with their “ Happy Hours ” entertainment, went on to Invercargill, where they recently concluded another highly successful season. The “ Froliques ” troupe, after an extended tour through the Australian Colonies, are doing splendid business at the Princess’s Theatre, Dunedin. The company comprises 15 artistes ; the entertainment is worth seeing, if onlyon account of its novelty. They will open in the Theatre Royal, Timaru, on Saturday next. Doran’s Variety Troupe (including Abo Hickcn, the West Brothers, and others) have been doing fairly well at the Albert Hall, Auckland. Arthur Sketchlcy, who lias been introducing our old friend Mrs Brown to the Aucklanders, has just left with the old lady in tow per Rotomahana for Sydney. Thompson’s American War Diorama Troupe arrived at Invercargill the other day from the “ other side.” The exhibition will open at Sloan’s Theatre on Tuesday next, and will probably arrive in Timaru before long. Professor Hughes (who lectured in Timaru lately on “ Thomas Moore”) was at latest dates at Invercargill, where he has been performing to fair houses. His company has been strengthened, I believe, by the addition of Mdllc. Murielle, who was a prominent member of the Operatic Company that appeared here a month or two back.

The Arctlmsa Star Dramatic Troupe has been playing to moderate business lately at the Theatre Royal, Wellington. The company have now gone farther north. Mr George Geddes, their wellknown business manager, having seen them through their Wellington campaign, has now returned to Christchurch. “ Such is life, sweet child.” AUSTRALIAN AND HOME ITEMS. Mr William Crcswick after an extraordinarily successful tour of the colonies has now gone Home per s.s. Durham. Mr Crcswick made his first appearance south of the line at the Melbourne Academy of Music, August 27, 1877. His farewell performance took place at the same house on April 22, 1880. An enormous audience assembled on this occasion to bid farewell to the veteran actor. He was presented between the pieces with a massive silver claret jug by the members of his profession in Melbourne, and at the same time with a line portrait of himself in the character of Wolscy, the latter being the gift of Mr G. 13. W. Lewis, the lessee of the theatre. Mr Crcswick has earned for himself the reputation of being one of the best living exponents of Shakespearian characters, and he will doubtless meet with an enthusiastic reception on his return to the London boards. McLean’s Juvenile Troubadours have been performing to enthusiastic audiences at the Theatre Royal, Hobart Town. They seem to have very literally “ Struck Oil.”

Chiariui’s Circus is expected in Hobart Town daily.

Miss Ada Ward commenced an engagement at the Connaught Theatre, London, on March 8. The Kcv. Charles Clarke is at presentin the Old Country. Tclbin, the well-known London scenic artist, has just completed painting a large diorama of the Zulu war, to the order of Air Batchehler, who intends exhibiting it through the Colonics. The Juvenile “ Pinafore ” Company at the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, are the talk of the city and are drawing big houses. Miss Amy Shorwin, the Australian pvima donna has been specially engaged to sing at the Cincinatti Festival. Professor Pepper, who is as well known for his ghosts as Holloway for his pills, or Timaru for its breakwater, has been performing for some time past, at the St. George’s Hall, Melbourne, with considerable success. He announced a series of Sunday evening lectures recently, but found that he had brought a hornet’s nest down about his cars by so doing, and was warned by certain shocked individuals that if he took money at the doors he would be prosecuted. He tried one lecture on the voluntary contribution system, but found it did not answer, and so has abandoned the idea. The lecture was on “ Astronomy,” and assuming it to have been a type of the series, I should hardly think that the course of lectures would hare any very demoralising effect on the public mind. People have occasionally been known to do worse things on Sunday than devote an hour to their mental and intellectual improvement, which so often paves the way to a corresponding improvement in morals and maimers. MASK. N.B.—Correspondents arc requested to address all communications on theatrical matters to “Mask” South G'AMiiunuiiY Tunis office, Timaru,