THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2272, 29 June 1880, Page 2

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

I was sorry to sec such a poor house the other night, at the Queen’s Hall, to witness the performance of the Raphael troupe. The entertainment is good of its kind, but would be additionally attractive if it was a little more varied.

A successful entertainment, consisting of songs, readings, recitations, Ac., was given at the Wai-iti Schoolroom, on Friday evening last. There was a large attendance and everything passed oil; well. The Ashburton Dramatic Club is making great preparations for the production of “The Lost Ship,” a 3-act nautical drama, which is to be put upon the Town Hall boards shortly. The cost is a very large one, and the event is watched for with much interest in the district. Some capital scenery is being painted expressly for the occasion by Mr C. Bourke, the clever amateur scenic artist, to whom I referred in a recent letter. Mr Bourke has just completed a drop scene for the Town Hall stage, which would do no discredit te a professional scene painter.

Abe Ilickcn, the pugilist, was to have quitted Auckland for Australia, per Rotorua, on the night of June 23, but contrived, in some unexplained manner, to tumble off the wharf just as the steamer hauled oil', lie was promptly rescued by a bystander, who dived in after him. This was an unexpected damper for the professor of the “noble art.”

Amusements in Oamaru have been very quiet for some time, if we except election meetings, which seem to have afforded some fun.

The energetic Hal Gray hits organised another company, which has been performing at Sloan’s, Invercargill, lately. Mdlle. Murielle is one of the attractions, and Mr \V. H. Manning, who made a successful debitt at the Timaru Theatre Royal, some months ago, another.

Walter Reynold’s drama of “ Tried and True” was produced at the Royal, Auckland, on Weduesda}' evening last and attracted an overflowing house.

The Mammoth Minstrels and the Victoria Loftus Troupe arc going to try their luck in the old country, and arrangements have been made for an extended tour of the United Kingdom. Hiscock and Co.’ evidently expect to make “big monc}'” out of the spec, the salaries of the leading people alone for the trip amounting to close on £OOOO, while (heir passages per Orient steamship line will run into between £SOO and £OOO. Horace Bent, the popular “ bones” is the only one of the crowd that positively declines to go, although I bear he has had some tempting offers to do so, Richard Thatcher is engaged and leaves immediatel for England.

Boucicalt is back in London and was appearing in bis old part of “ Conn ” in the “ Shaugbraun,” at latest dates.

Two of the late J. B. Buckstone’s sons arc touring with an English Provincial Company, and are fast making reputations for themselves. Sims Reeves is about to start on his farewell tour, which is expected to extend over a considerable period. At its close be will permanently retire from the stage.

The sum paid by Toole to Byron for the sole right of performing the latter’s latest dramatic success “The Upper Crust,” was £SOOO. The amount is unprecedentedly large, but the favorite low comedian considers bis bargain a good one.

A strange story comes to hand by the last mail, respecting live Zulu’s imported from the Capo b} r a captain Williams, who it appears intended to exhibit the savages to the Londoners at the Royal Aquarium. They were to receive £8 a month, in return for their services, but after receiving the first instalment of their money, refused to carry out their contract, and quitting the coffee-house at which they had been staying they went for a stroll thi'ough the London streets in their “ Warpaint” and succeeded in attracting a nice little crowd of about 1000 people about them. This seems to have excited them for" they commenced to brandish sticks and knives in a very threatening manner and finally had to be “ run in.” They were taken before the Bench and “ discharged with a caution.” MASK. N.B. —Correspondents arc requested to address all communications on theatrical matters to “ Mask,” South Caxtuiuiuuv Tuius ” Office, Timaru.