The Last Act.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 98, 29 April 1904, Page 2

The Last Act.

AUCTION SCENE ON THE FAMOUS LYCEUM STAGE. " Going ! Going ! ! Gone ! ! !'■ The words had n strange, unfamiliar sound on the stage of the old Lyceum, remarks the Daily Chronicle, and must have brought a pang of regret to many who wore present and-remembered the brilliant first in the famous theatre. Many strange scenes have been enacted on the same stage, but none so strange as that of last month. It was the last scono of all in the eventful history of a building that has been associated for long years with the classical drama, and no wonder Shakespearian quotations rose to the lips. '"Tj s true, 'lis pity, pity 'tis 'tis true," murmured one prospective bidder for relics of n theatre whose boards he had once trod, and there were many who echoed the sentiment.

The auctioneer, however, lost no time in getting to business, but he paid a passing tribute ot regret to the fame of the dead Lyceum. "It is strange and painful,,'•'■'said Mr Chadwick, "that the last act on the stag« of this historic h,quso should bo a sale liy. auction.'' -

The audience, who had groped their way by dark and -devious passages, to. the stage, were confronted Willi a scene of devastation nml rhiios, which allowed only too plainly that, the house-wreckers were already at work. Rolls of carpet, made convenient stunning blocks for the unwary. Dressing-room fittings were piled ruthlessly in dark cornel's. A cottage pianoforte occupied an ignoble position among a collection 01 pewter basins and other relics of the property room.

Nothing is sacred to a hunter after bargains, and every corner of the theatre was invaded in a preliminary examinialt'km of the lots that were not put on the stage. Miss Ellen Terry's dressingrooni was subjected to that scrutiny, and when later ifi fittings, tables, and accessories were offered by the auctioneer as "an interesting memento," thev fetched only ten shillings. Six shillings were paid for Sir Henrv Irvine's side-stand and table, and a beautiful anlfcpio tell-tale clock realised only one shilling short of half a sovereigji.

A notice cabinet and music stand brought lis. and the auctioneer hnd to make heroic efforts to bring the price up to that figure. Everything in fact went for "an old song."