THE CRITIC.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 78, 11 March 1882, Page 405

THE CRITIC.

— Greoi'ge Biignolcl is on bis way to Australia. — Rainer says he lias taken £10,000 with his panorama in South Africa. Credat Judaeus ! —Frank Weston, Miss Pomeroy's agent, is not the Wizard Oil man.

— Wilhelmj takes a few tons of curiosities with him to Germany.

— Mr H. H. Smith has been exhibiting his panorama at Kawakawa. — Haidee Heller is now cashier in a fashionable London restaurant.

— A new Italian Opera Company is coming from Milan to Melbourne.

— The Rapido Dramatic Society intend winding up their private entertainment with a ball, prior to the departure of the stage manager from Auckland.

— Marshall's Alderman Jones in " Crutch and Toothpick," at the Prince's, Melbourne, is described as a remarkable portraiture.

— Mr W. G-. Carey's impersonation of the Czar in "Michael Strogoff" is described by the Bulletin as " marvellously realistic."

— Lieut. Herman has been giving a series of ventriloquial entertainments on the East Coast. He had a crowded house at Gisborne.

— The Mastodon Minstrels finished a successful season on Saturday night, and are now playing- at the Thames.

— Mr Robson, elocutionist, has been giving a series of entertainments in Courtney's Rooms, New Plymouth.

— Mr Fred. Marshall has made a big hit in Stirling Coyne's comedy of " The Major," at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne.

—Mr Darbyshire, Avho was here with the Pollards, has secured all the clever little children of Mrs Lewis' troitpe, and has purchased the right of " Pinafore " and seven other popular operas.

—The young lady ushers at the Court Thea.tre, Lqndon, are now clad in a yellow waistcoat, navyblue swallow-tailed dress coat, erect collar, and black eilk erening tie. /

—Miss Pomeroy has made £8000 m Australia, and "Brick" Pomeroy is editing a " screamer" in the Far West of the United States. He only prays one prayer every night, and that is that he may one day become her agent. — The inaugural concert and dramatic performance in connection with St. James' Mutual Improvement Association was a great success, both financially and as respects good amusement. The Misses Thompson, and Stavmton sang charmingly, the latter young lady receiving a perfect storm of applause. Encores were numerous. The dance afterwards was attended by about forty couples, and went off very cheerfully. Mr J. ftow ably officiated as M.C. for the occasion. ' . — "Puck" wires from Dunedin :— "Patience' continues to draw fine houses, the encores being as numerous as ever. On Monday it gives place to "IThe Pirates," with Navaro as Ruth, Riccardi as the Policeman, Forde as Samuel, Verdi as the King, Beaumont as Frederick. Last night Riccardi was ill, his place being taken by Forde. Harry Power, with his JEsthetie Band, comprising Lolo Deglorian, Amy Leslie, and Julian Langtrey, are giving performances in Invercargill. Burton's Circus has got as far as Milton. Solange Navaro goes to Melbourne, having got an engagement there. The Montagu-Turner Opera Company go to Melbourne next steamer. — An adaptation of Moliere's " L'Etourdi " was played at the Melbourne Opera House. The principal actors were two thundering Russian swells attached to Admiral' Aslanbegoff's suite. They arrived at the Opera House, followed by their picturesque little Jap, who was keeping guard. It did not take long before the singing of Miss Nellie Stewart pleased the Russians so much that thay desired to show their appreciation to the charming prima donna. An ukase went forth to the box-keeper to fetch the most beautiful bouquet to be had, and the attendant was bribed to throw the floral recognition on the stage. Miss Stewart was perfectly unconscious of all that was going on, and she was rather surprised, and not at all pleased, when suddenly, in the midst of one of the most pathetic songs, she was struck with the bouquet right in her mouth. It took some time before the sensation on the stage subsided, and Miss Stewart recovered her equilibrium.

—Mr D. H. Harkins, the new "star," has made a decided hit at the Theatre Royal. The opening piece was " The Colonel," a highly amusing comedy, in which Mr F. C. Buraand, editor of Punch, has cleverly satirised ihe "resthetic craze" so prevalent of late. Ie is impossible not to notice the resemblance which this production bears to the well-known comedy of "The Serious Family." So strong is the resemblance that the spectator cannot fail to notice that the idea in both plays is the same, while there is not the slightest difference in the situations. Of course the dialogue, which is smartly written and sparkles with lively and cutting repartee, is original. Mr Harkins is remarkably good in the leading part, and it is not difficult to sec that he possesses considerable dramatic ability. The character does not offer much scope for its display, but the playgoing public will have an opportunity of seeing him in more effective roles before the end of the season. Miss Maggie Knight was vivacious and lively in the part of Nellie, while Miss Ethel Adelle succeeded in reaching the opposite extreme as the " aesthetic and intense" young married lady. Mr and Mrs McGowan, Miss Tanner, Mr Elliott, Mr Dillon and others are all good in their respective parts. There were splendid houses on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and on both occasions the audience appeared to be intensely amused. A good run is therefore anticipated.