THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2303, 4 August 1880, Page 2

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

“ All kinds come to the man that waits,” says the proverb. For the last two or throe weeks I have been grumbling at the dearth of amusement, and now the Theatre Iloyal is to be opened once more. This evening, Miss Clara Stephenson's Comedy and Burlesque Company will open in “ .Fast Lynn” in which Miss Stephenson will sustain the dual role of Lady Isabel and Madame Vine. After such a long interval I would predict a good season hero for a compan3 r of far less pretensions than “ the Byronic Comedy and Burlesque.” The Arothusa Company arc playing to satisfactory business at the Christchurch Loyal. I understand Miss Jenny jNyc is no longer a member of the company. Thompson’s Diorama is still the reigning attraction at Dunedin. A few nights ago the proprietors gave away a realty magnificent suilc of furniture covered with Utrecht velvet, as the chief prize. Mr and Mrs Hart are playing at Tauranga. [Respecting theatricals in Auckland our correspondent thus writes : The stock company which is playing here, under the direction of Walter [Reynolds and J. B. Steele, has been meeting with rather indifferent patronage, although the programme is changed almost nightly, and despite the fact that there is plenty of dramatic talent displayed in the performance. “Jack Shepherd ” drew a good Saturday night house, and a couple of plays from Hejm olds’ own pen “ took ” well also. The Froliqucs did au excellent week’s business, prior to leaving for San Francisco, while the Bellringers have just taken possession of the Lome street Hall, after making a very profitable tour of the country districts. DcLias is at present coulincd to his house by illucss, aud Gordon Gooch has settled down here as teacher of music in the College, as well as in the Girls’ High School.

Montague - Brown, a well-known member of the New Zealand Press, has just gone Home per Orient Line, as agent in advance for the Mammoths. Darrell is in Sydney playing “ The Forlorn Hope,” to be followed by “ Transported for Life.” The Loftus Troupe arc drawing a lot of money at the Sydney Opera House. Maclean’s Troubadours are playing to

good business at the School of Arts in the sumo city. Mr Morton Tavares is in Brisbane, resting on bis oars The Mammoths have been “ farewellin§ ’ round Tasmania, but with indifferent success. Biondin’s great rival, Thompson, lias been killed in Hungary by a fall from his rope. “Itis an ill wind, &c.” The celebrated Chang, the Chinese giant is now on view at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster. Another giant a Norwegian, is exhibiting in the same place. There is not much difference in the bight of the two. The Chinaman is 8 feet 3 inches, and the Norwegian about 8 feet, and quite a light weight, being only 34 stone. The diameter of his finger ring is inches. These big fellows have a nice companion in Chomah, a dwarf, who claims to be “ the smallest man in the world.” _ He is 25 inches in height, and when either of his big friends want to talk to him, they have to put on their glasses to see him.

The death is announced (by the ’Frisco mail) of Mr George Honey, a very well known London actor who possessed a great reputation for pourtraying drunkenness on the stage. Mr Honey was 62 years of age. And so Baker and Farron were not particularly successful in London after all, it seems. They are now playing tn the provincial towns, but the provincial press is not enthusiastic in their praise. It requires no small amount of tact and experience to know how to tackle a Home audience. MASK.