THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2240, 22 May 1880, Page 2

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

ThcFroliques concluded their Dunedin season at tho Princess’ Theatre on Tuesday evening last, when Mr Simonson took a successful benefit. The company have been appearing since in Oamaru, and will to-night make their bow before a Timaru audience at the Theatre Royal, when I confidently anticipate a big house. They play at Ashburton on Wednesday night, and then proceed to Christchurch where they will open for a short season at the Oddfellows’ Hall. Stacey’s Panorama of Australia and New Zealand, after exhibiting at Ashburton, proceeded to Christchurch, and opened at the Academy of Music on Friday evening last. After exhibiting for the best part of tho week to rather thin audiences it went to Port Lyttelton.

Those popular artistes the Lynch Family of Bellringers after a most successful tour of Canterbury have now gone to Wellington, but intend returning to Christchurch in about a couple of months I understand.

Some capital pieces have been put upon the boards at the Christchurch Theatre Eoyal, during the past week, including “ Miriam’s Crime ” (in which Johnn}'- Hydes made a distinct bit as Biles), and “ She Stoops to Conquer ” (Hoskins playing Young Marlow.) The company has been also strengthened by the addition of Miss Sally Lloyd and Mr Patsy Gill, variety artistes, in what the bills call their “ Grand Frolique Entertainment.” Mr Gill is very good in character songs, and Miss Lloyd’s skipping-rope dance (with a fiery rope) is worth seeing. “ She Sloops to Conquer ” was repeated last night to a capital house. I wish I could chronicle Hoskins’ appearance here for a short season, but I greatly fear his travelling days are over. How he would draw in Tirnaru, in a round of his favorite characters !

The Hewitt’s have been giving tbeir musical and dramatic entertainment at Eangtora and at Amberly during the early part of the week. They opened last night at Leeston where they will play again to-night, and will open at Southbridge on Monday. They may possibly be coming our way in the course of a week or so. 1

Madame Camilla Urso, the famous violinist, after an extended tour of the Australian centres, arrived at Auckland not long since, and after playing in the chief towns of the North Island, opened on Wednesday evening, at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Christchurch, wdiere she has been appearing nightly _ since. Madame Urso is accompanied by several accomplished artistes, and her concerts have been drawing largo bouses every night. She is contemplating an American tour, but will probably visit all the chief towns of the South Island first, so that we may hope to hear her marvellous violin performances in Timaru before long.

The Comic Opera Boulfo Company has been playing to very fair business at Invercargill lately. I observe that Professor Hughes has joined their ranks. Their performances of “ Pinafore ” and “The Invercagill Ghost” have been especially successful. I have not learnt whether it is their intention to come North, but if they do they should give Timaru a look in. The Ashburton Amateur Dramatic Club are busy rehearsing “ Black-eyed Susan,” which they are going to produce at the Town Hall, Ashburton, on Saturday next, May 29. Miss Florence Colville has been specially engaged to enact the herione of Jen-old’s popular drama.

The Florence’s open at the Queen’s Dunedin, this evening, in their new drawing-room entertainment. The Hart’s were giving their “ Happy Honrs ” entertainment at Port Chalmers when I last heard of them.

Signor Morley and his pupils opened for a short opera season at the Princess’s

Theatre, Dunedin, last Wednesday night, when “ Maritana ” was produced. Last night the Company al go appeared in Lecocq's tuneful little operetta “ Retained on both Sides,” in which Signor Morley sustained the character of “ Barrister Lugden,” with much success. The Carandinis opened at Invercargill to a good house on Wednesday night. Last night the Company appeared at Riverton, and to-morrow (Sunday) they will give a sacred concert at Invercargill, taking their leave of the Invercargill people on Monday. Thompson’s Diorama of the American War, which was so successful on its last New Zealand tour,' opened at Sloan’s Theatre, Invercargill, on Tuesday last, and has been doing excellent business since. The show will probably visit Oamaru and Timaru ere long. | Mr Searle left Lyttelton for Melbourne bytheTe Anau on _ Tuesday. Mr and Mrs Boothman left in the same boat. An amateur Minstrel Company will appear at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Akaroa, on the Queen’s Brithday ; the proceeds of the entertainment will go to the funds of the Akaroa Library. Raymond’s Limelight Diorama opened at the Town Hall, Ashburton, on Tuesday evening. The accompanying lecture on Africa is said to be exceptionally good. The Oxford Dramatic Club will produce “ Aurora Floyd” at the East Oxford Town Hall on Monday evening. The piece is an an adaptation from Miss Braddon’s popular novel of the same name. A lady amateur from Dunedin will appear in this title role. “Kosraos,” of horsewhipping notoriety, delivered his lecture on “Gambling” at the Temperance Hall, Dunedin, on Tuesday evening, The lecture merited a better attendance than it attracted. AUSTRALIAN AND HOME ITEMS. Latest Australian advices state that “ Pinafore” is attracting enormous houses in Melbourne. Its popularity bids fair| to rival that of “ Our Boys.” Mr Wybert Reeve has produced a new piece at the Royal, Melbourne, entitled “ For Life, or the Foster Brothers." It is in live acts, and is of the sensational type and descriptive of colonial life. The Mammoth Minstrels having joined issue with the somewhat notorious Loftus troupe, have been appearing together at the People’s Theatre, with varying success. They are to bo succeeded by a colonial theatrical troupe, who will appear in a piece called “ Pomp.” Professor Pepper is still to the fore at the St. George’s Hall. Carlotta Patti (sister to the famous Adelina), is giving a successful series of concerts in Melbourne. Carlotta Jasca, Signor Or tori, M. De, Munch, and Mdllo. Charbonnct, appeared at her benefit concert recently. Sothern (Lord Dundreary) is making enormous sums in America. MASK. N.B.—Correspondents arc requested to address all communications on theatrical matters to “ Mask,” South Canterbury Times office, Timaru.