AN UNLUCKY THEATRICAL VENTURE.

Evening Star, Issue 9688, 4 May 1895, Page 2

AN UNLUCKY THEATRICAL VENTURE.

A meeting of creditors of Arthur John Cuming, manager of the ‘ Woman and Man ’ entertainment lately opened in Christchurch, was held there yesterday. The liabilities were stated at £595 17s, and the assets at £377. Bankrupt’s statement was to the effect that he had been asked to run an entertainment in aid of the funds of St. Mary’s Catholic schools. He sketched out the plan of the pie sent entertainment, which was approved by Father Le Menant des Chesnais, He hired the theatre, had handbills printed, and made other arrangements, when he received a letter from the priest that as he had no money he would not consent to be made responsible for any loss incurred on account of the show. If Cuming, however, saw his way to getting enough money to run it from advertisements and intending exhibitions, well and good. The bankrupt then continued the affair on his own responsibility, but intended to hand any profit to the schools for the benefit of which it had been planned. At the end of the first week of the show he found he had not, enough money to pay the rent of the theatre, and after some negotiations with the landlord, the employes and performers took over the show for what they could make out of it. Bankrupt stated that by verbal arrangement with the parish priest he was to receive 25 per cent, on any profit over £6OO, the amount of the school debt. If the profit was below £6OO he was to receive nothing. After the examination of the bankrupt had been concluded, the meeting adjourned so that Father Le Menant dea Chesnais might be beard.