FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 227, 17 January 1885, Page 12

FO OTLIGHT FLASHES.

Kainor's Diorama is at Tamworth, N.S.W. Dunning is playing '• Hip " at the Adelaidelloyal. Chiarini's circus attracted large houses in. Dunedin. Horace Bent is with the Hiscooks at tlie> Sydney Academy. Tom Bracken has been lecturing at Sloan's-' Theatre, Invercargill. George Sala and Sims Reeves are coming-, [ to Australia, via America. Mr Fairclough and his wife are to appear 1 at the Jubilee Exhibition. Woodyear's Circus has been doing a good' biz. in the Canterbury township. Stanley's Juveniles played " Jack the Giant-killer" for a Christmas bill at BrisbaneA critic says that Joe Emmett's new playrepresents his own condition after a debauch-* Clarke, of Clarke and Ryman, took a ben., at the Theatre lloyal, Christchurch, the other day. Miss Marie De Grey goes on a provincial tour in Victoria before coming to New Zealand. The " Fun on the Bristol " Companyplayed to crowded houses at the Princess,. Dunedin. The Howard - Vernon Mascotte Opera Company recently gave a sacred concert at Inverei. Zulu Thompson is showing a new dioramatof the Egyptian War, painted by Mr GeorgeGordon, at the Victoria Hall, Melbourne. The Pritcharrl Dramatic and Musical. Troupe have started on a tour through. Waikato, on the completion of which they will open in Auckland. Miss Genevieve Ward has finished a successful week at Wellington with " Forget me Not," and has followed up her success, with " Mammon. Hoss." Archibald Forbes says he has seen Sarah. Bcri-hardt reeling about the stage of theLondon Gaiety in an obvious state of alcoholic stupefaction. The Australian Sportsman, Sydney, says : " Percy Shannon, Marian Melrose, and othersarc doing drama onsf|he back blocks round. Auckland." Mr Abbott ought to send a map of Auckland to the editor of the A.S.S. Our old friend, the only " Liddy," i&. once more with us, as the herald of that gifted and popular actress Miss GenevievoWard, who will make her first appearance in Auckland, at the Opera House, about the end of this month, in the original threeact play of " Forget me Not," of which the Melbourne Argus speaks in the highest terms. The emotional play of "Jane Shore,'* after a good run, was brought to a close, at the Opera House, on Wednesday night.. On Thursday, the four-act drama " Clouds, >T by Marsden, was produced for the first time in Auckland. The play is very highlyeulogised by the Press in the Australian Colonies, and Mrs Lewis, as Stella Gordon (a young lady under a cloud), fully sustains her reputation as one of the best actresses in the Colonies. Owing to going to pressearly, we are obliged to postpone an extended notice until next week. We can^ however, promise oiir readers a treat of no- . ordinary nature in "Clouds," the dialogue throughout being witty, vocative o£ mirth, without vulgarity, infect, a thorough^ society piece, and well worthy of a visit. Alexander McDougal, better known in. the profession as Mac. Alexander, died afc Liverpool recently, at the age of 36 years, of consumption. Ho was the son of Dr» McDougal, of Glasgow, and came to Ausiralia, about twelve years ago. He was,.

however, better known in New Zealand, where he first appeared in conjunction with the Lydia -Howarde Burlesque Troupe, with which he travelled over various parts of this -colony. He afterwards played with dramate •companies, appearing at various times in -every city in Maoriland. Although he mever made any particular mark as an actor, /he occasionally played some eccentric and jheavy characters with considerable power. He was a fellow passenger from Glasgow, M-we understand, to these colonies, with Mr ~W. Sniythe, the present manager of His- ' Cock's Federal Minstrels. Poor "Mac" will be remembered as a right good fellow, •and general regret will be felt at his early •decease.