Dramatic Notes from Australia

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 286, 1 August 1888, Page 3

Dramatic Notes from Australia

Sydney, July 8. Professional "biz."' is decidedly humming in this city. Sensationalism is all th&rgo, and real water now takes the place of the old imitation upon the stage of Her Majesty's, where "Handsome Gen-ge" nightiy takes a header into about 12 feeb of water, and bobs up serenely, after rescuing Sefeh Preene (Sterling Whybe) in the great canal scene in the "Lights u London." The crush, of course, is tremendous at the doors, and houses overflow. Another attraction that has just completed its sea-on has been Plain Bill HolloAvay's Dramatic Company, with Miss' Essie Jenyns (his daughter-in-law) as the blight particular star. She is, without doubt, a wonderful actress, and specially gifted for one so young, reminding one very forcibly of Colville in her best clays. At date of writing the Company were completing engagements in Adelaide, then after a farewell season in i% The Cabbage Garden %> they tour the Old Country. An attraction that may be expected through New Zealand shortly is a dramatic company, with Miss Ada Ward as leading lady, supported by the balance of Holloway's Company referred to above, and piloted by Mr W. H. Manning, a gentloman not unknown in the land of taxation. They will open in Dunedin on Boxing Xight, and amongst the repertoire may be mentioned the "Ring of Iron, "The World Betwen Them,' and other dramas of a similar calibre. Another show worth honouiable mention is the combination known as the " Jungfrau Kapelle, 1 ' or, being translated, "^?he Swiss Mountain Singers."' They aie In bhe hands of Messrs Pete Hughes and W. Jinkins — in all, fourteen perfoimers, and everyone good at that. As instrumentalists, they excel, and as melodists one may go a long way and not hear finer. They have a European reputation, and are being taken t trough the colonies at rail* road (not New Zealand) pace, the management having pledged themselves to land the Company in London on l'2bh of March next. As showing to what perfection the question of laying: out a route has been brought, it is stated as a positive fact tnat since their arrival they have not lost playing one night, and that both on their northern tour from Sydney to Rockhampton, and from the Bluff to Auckland, (hey do not miss one playable night. Rinks and roller skating are in big demand, and half the population heie aie on wheels. Mis? Sylvester, who appeared tor one night as she passed through Auckland is the latest American novelty, and at pra sent serves as a sure draw bo the patrons of the Elite Rink. The "Aquaria" management, not to be surpassed, have rinking on the tight-rope at Coogee, also a troupe of Buffalo Bill's horsemen from the Wild West daily capturing and subduing some, of the wildest animals that can be secured, for the purpose of showing what adepts these horsemen are. At Bondi, the Sunday concerts, rink and piscatorial exhibits take the cake, added to which the managemeufc have lately eiected a "Switchback Railway," which carries passengers at a dizzy height from cliff Lo oliff, giving them a variety of sensations, to wit the pitch, the dive and the sweep, ar.d-.the cars are propelled by their own momentum on a long line of rails fixed upon strong uprights, the curves being anything but leassuring to the nervous and timid.