THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 77, 3 April 1899, Page 3

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

A TRIP TO SIDNEY.

Mr P. R. Dix, the well-known theatrical agent, who has just returned from a business trip to Sydney, in the course of an interview with one of our staff yesterday gave a few impressions of his visit, more especially from a theatrical standpoint, Matters theatrical, said Mr Dix, are somewhat dull and uninteresting in Sydney at present, with perhaps one or two exceptions. 'The Geisha' at Her Majesty's Theatre ia certainly staged by 'The Firm' in magnificent style. But while the music is exceedingly pretty, one misses the witty dialogue say of 'The Mikado,' or indeed of any of the GilbertSullivan operas. Mr Geo. Laurl has a big part and plays it well 'The Geisha* Is having a most successful run, thus showing that comic opera has still a strong hold on colonial theatregoers. The most popular place of amusement, however, Js Mr .Harry Rickard's Tivoli Theatre. Variety entertainments are still very popular as is evidenced by the large crowds who nightly attend this theatre. The inevitable 'first part' still continues a place on the programme. But what a change. The old time jokes from the corner men are not heard nowadays. In fact, said Mr Dix, first parts are dying out. the people prefer the quick change from serio-comic .to specialty, and so the Old fashioned 'end man' will, I think, SOQn become a thing of the past.

At the Theatre Royal Mr Holloway'S Dramatic Company has had a good run with 'The Work Girl' and other play*; but the taste for melodrama Is not W any means increasing. Mr Holloway has removed to the Lyceum to make room for the Broughs.. Perhaps the most interesting sight is on Saturday nights at t*he» Town Hall. Here Mr Philip Newbury' gives his 'shilling pops,' assisted by Madame Spada and Mons. Wiegand. *I^> Immense hall is generally full to the doom.; It it indeed a pleasant sight to see such* an immense crowd of people gathered together to • listen to good music, as the programmes presented are mostly high class. Mr Newbury sings as well as ever, but his rendering of 'The Holy City' was disappointing. Mons. Wiegand's organ solos are always most cordially received, and are of course a great feature of the Saturday pops.

At the Palace Theatre the popular Dante was appearing nightly to fairly, good business. The Palace is a beautiful theatre, being most richly furnished, but is really too small to pay. It is generally, understood that the Palace was built out of unclaimed moneys In the Tattersall's sweeps, but I cannot vouch for the truth! of this. The marble bar adjoinln/? Is Oii» of the sights of Sydney, and tbs uixpenny. counter lunch has to be seen or rather" partaken of to be appreciated.

At Easter time Mr Geo. Rignold open* in 'Othello' at the Criterion, and tvom all accounts Shakespeare is not to spell ruin with 'Handsome George' at the helm.

On the whole the theatrical outlook i$ not very bright in Sydney, said Mr D_x, as frequenters of 'Poverty Point' will readily admit. Colonial artists have to give place to the imported article. Then again whereas in good times in Sydney there would be a dozen .places of amusement open, at the present time there ar» not more than half that number. "" *'•

Asked as to his own business arrangements Mr Dix said that he had imad» some excellent engagements for the wittter season, and had been successful hi inducing several good companies, to vfaif New Zealand, including The Gaiky_ Co.; who open at the City Hall with the Lucifers on Saturday evening. . ,'„.. '5