THEATRICAL GOSSIP

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2259, 14 June 1880, Page 2

THEATRICAL GOSSIP

Raymond's Limelight Diorama attracted a full house at the Queen’s Hall, the other night. On Thursday evening the first of a scries of amateur entertainments, consisting of .fongs, readings, Ac., was given in the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Rank street, and was a decided success.

They produced the well-known “ Flying Scud ” at the Ihryal, Christchurch, during the carty part of the week. The piece was well mounted and the cast sufficiently strong to ensure a success. The dramatic season at this house, however, seems to have come to a somewhat abrupt termination for the Theatre lias been dosed for the last two or three nights. On Saturday evening Bacholder’s Panorama took possession of the boards. The exhibition lias been lately exhibited at Lyttelton to good houses. In addition to the views the show comprises a couple of automaton acrobats, and Mr Chalet, a ventriloquist. It is just on tiro cards that the company will travel south on the conclusion of its Christchurch season, in which case I hope we shall be favored with a visit.

The Froliqnes wound up their Christchurch season ou Wednesday evening, and left for Wellington on the following dav.

The Florences opened at the Royal, Invercargill, on Saturday night, and have been playing to fair business during the week. Harry Benbam’s song of “ Too-rall-100-ral-lco ” seems to have tickled the fancy of the Southlandcrs.

A “Grand Dpanish-American entertainment” was produced on Saturday night at tl 10 Princess’s, Dunedin, but the audience was composed chiclly of larrikins, wiio utterly failed to appreciate the lecture on South America., for such the entertainment proved to be, and not even the assistance of Professor Hughes <md Air Drowning, the baritone, could make it go down. The behaviour of the young ruflians in the pit became at last so outrageous, that the curtain had to 1)0 lowered, and lecturer and musicians retired disgusted. The constant rowdyism which occurs in our colonial theatres and places of entertainment generally is positively disgraceful. The Arctlmsa troupe arc still in Wellington or were there voiy recently. Thompson’s Diorama of the American War hfiving concluded a good season at Invercargill, opened at Dalclntha on Thursday, and exhibited there for the last time on Saturday.

The Raphael Variety Troupe were performing at the Ashburton Town Hall (which now boasts a “ dress circle”) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

The Ashburton amateurs have been lately giving two representations of “ Black Eyed Susan,” in one of which Mrs Hoskins sustained the title role. The whole of the scenery was painted by a young amateur artist, Mr G. Dourke, well known in Ashburton, ami who is entire!}' self taught. Mr Dourke is possessed of undoubted talent, and I am pleased to learn that he is to bike a “ ben” on -Inly b, when the spectacular drama of “ The Lost Ship” is to be produced.

The Ashburton Amateur Dramatic Club is making considerable progress, many new members having - joined recently. I hear there is some talk of a similar club being established in Timaru. Th is, if true, is a step in the right direction. The trial scene from “ Pickwick,” with proper wigs and gowns (and my friend ‘'Pour-eyes” as the judge) could bo easily got up with a little trouble, anil wmdd prove an immense hit. “ Drink ’’ was produced for the first lime in Australia at the latter end of last month. The piece, as most of my readers will be aware, is a translation of a French novel and has enjoyed great popularity at Home, where it is still, in fact, being played at some of the minor theatres. It was much too full flavoured to be put upon the boards as it came from the pen of the author, and having undergone the pruning process is now little more than a temperance drama. EStii 1 it retains suflicient of its original plot to make up a fairly exciting story, as may be judged from the fact that the six acts of which it is composed introduce a vengeful woman, a virtuous ditto, a light between the two, which takes place in a wash-house; and last, but not least, a clipsomanic, whose horrible ravings, while suffering from do i.'s, are presented with a vividness and reality that arc positively horrible. In addition to all this, and just to prevent the interest from flagging, wo find adultery, bigamjg drunkenness, madness, and murder introduced. Truly a delectable drama ! There arc said to bo no less than 300 music halls now open in London. “ The Only Vance ” is dividing his attentions

between a few of the loading ones just now.

Baker and Farron (the Colonial favourites) are in London, and have been astonishing the natives with their clever acting and singing, at the Duke’s Theatre, High Hclborn. The revival of the famous sensational drama “The Streets of London,” has been a great success. It is many years since 1 saw the piece originally produced at the prclt} r little Oxford Street Theatre. The great lire scene, in which a house in London Alley is really burnt to the ground on the stage, is marvellously like the real thing, and is now more successful than ever.

Adelina Patti, and her husband Yicolini the tenor, are singing at Monte Carlo, at flic moderate figure of 15,000 francs (£625) per night. Byron’s new piece (written for Toole) “ The Upper Crust,” is making an immence bit in London, and a long run is confidently anticipated. Salisbury's Troubadors are playing to big houses in Ts T ew York. Ada Ward is playing at the Surrey •Theatre London. Christine Ncilson “the Swedish nightingale,” expects to clear £50,000 by her American tour.

Three Zulu maidens, reputed daughters of the famous Cctcwayo, were until very lately the principal attractions at the London Aquarium. Farini has now taken them, and also Zagcl, a young female gymnast, to America under engagement to Barnum, at a salary of £SO a-day. Somebody ought to make some money out of them. Tlio world-i’amud Moore and Burgess Minstrels recently inaugurated their fifteenth year at the St. .lames’ Hall in Piccadilly. Think of that yo colonial managers ! MASK.

N.B. —Correspondents are requested (o address all communications on theatrical matters lo “Mask,” South Canterbury Times office, Timaru.