FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 97, 22 July 1882, Page 292

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

— Harkins goes home by the Australia. — Mr J. Carden has been playing Harold Boycott in " Money Spinner" at the Royal, Sydney ; — Mr W. H, Leak and Mr Arthur Vivian were to open in " Honor" at Newcastle on the Sth. — Fred Marshall is a success iv " Jeames " at the Sydney Opera House. — The Montague-Turner Company opened at at the Theatre Royal, Brisbane, on the 10th. • • • — Williamson will probably bring another company to New Zealand in the Spring. —Miss Pomeroy will play an engagement in Brisbane before proceeding to India. — Emily Melville was to open in Melbourne, at at the Opera House, in "La Periehole" on the Sth inst. — The Simonsen's season at the Gaiety, Sydney, has not been a success. Madame is a magnificent veteran, but time kills ererything. ! — A new theatre is to be erected in Pitt-street, Sydney. It is stated that it will be superior to any : place of amusement in the colonies. — " The Grasshopper" is in its fifth week at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, and still continues to draw big audiences. Miss Jennie Lee and Mr Harwood are the principal attractions in it. —Miss Jessie Raymond, an old Auckland favourite, is lecturing for the Diorama of the Americnn War, at the Victoria, Hall, Sydney. She lectures with a considerable amount of emphasis, some expression, and an invincible quantity of charm. — Miss Marston Leigh (Mrs James Carden) has been dangerously ill with typhoid fever. She has now, we are glad to hear, recovered, and will appear at the Princess, Melbourne, in a new piece, entitled " Where's the Cat," which is selected to succeed "The Grasshopper." — Mr J. L. Hall and his comedy company left by the Rotorua last Friday for Wellington, where, after playing a few nights, they intend to proceed to Waugaaui, from thence to Dunedin and Christchurch, after which tbey -will return to Auckland. Mr Hall's season here, we regret to say, lias been financially a failure. We hope, however, on his return visit he will be more fortunate. - — In spite of the inclemency of the weather, Thompson's Zulu War Diorama still continues to draw good houses. Since last- Saturday evening the proprietor has nightly distributed, in addition to the usual gifts, a handsome drawing-room suite of furniture. We understand that Mr Thompson, encouraged by the success that has attended his two matinees, intends giving another nest Saturday. — Emily Soldene and Alice May were travelling in a sleeping car, recently, when there was a collision. Both ladies were thrown out violently on to the floor, but sustained no very great damage. When they had risen to their feet, Alice couldn't find her jewel-case, Which had been hanging over her head, anywhere. All of a sudden Emily commenced to cough. Then the bag tumbled out on to the. floor. It had fallen from the rack into Emily's mouth, and had remained concealed in the cavity of a hollow tooth. — Kohler's Waxworks have been drawing crowded houses during the week. The/figures are well grouped, skillfully posed, and dressed better than any we have before seen in this, Colony. In fact, it is doutful if some of the originals, are ordinarily as well dressed as their effigies. Any man under the rank of a soverign ouo-ht'to' consider it an honour to be dressed in the style these figures are. The, Royal people, statesmen, politicians, agitators, philanthropists, and other distinguished personages are on the ground floor ; all the scoundrels and thieves in the upper chamber. KoMer has evidently been plagiarising the system adopted, in. the colonial Parliaments. Among the more prominent . figures on the lower floor are Gladstone, Parnell, Davitt, Garfield, the Prince Imperial/ Empress Eugenic,. Leo XIII., Emperor William 111., Bismarck, Peabody, Prince Albert oi Wales, ancl Priuce George/etc. Having made the acquaintance of these celebrities, the visitor con sup full of horrors upstairs,^wh ere there is a very animated, group of the Kelly Gang, representing a sensational incident in their career, apparently life-like figures of Lefroy, Gulteau, and-a host' of .murderers; assassins; highwaymen, bushrangerg,arid distinguished scoundrels. The exhibition is enlivenod by an excellent promenade concert and other attractions.

— Those sterling artistes, Mr and Mrs McGowani„ intend taking a farewell benefit at the Theatre Royal,, prior to their departure for Australia. The performance* is fixed for Tuesday evening next, when, it is to behbped that the undoubted claims the beneficiares have* on the public will meet with suitable recognition. It is but bare justice to say that Mr and Mrs McGowan have* fairly won the reputation of being clever, intelligent, -and conscientious exponents of their particular lines of . dramatic business.and that some of their impersonations--.will not be easily forgotten by Auckland playgoers. . Por instance, Robin and Mrs Wildriar, in "Extremes," and Mrs McGowan's Mrs Jarley, in "Quilp." ,The programme is of a most enticing character, and contains, besides the names of Mr and Mrs McGowan, MissesSampson and iHargreaves, Messrs. Gordon Gooch, Edmiston, Kohler, Hood, Lieut. Herman, ■ and otherpopular professional and amateur performers. Fulil particulars will be found in our advertising columns. •