ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 66, 17 August 1874, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS, &c.

“ All the world’s a stage.” As you Like It, So far as the Smith Combination Troupe has been concerned, during the week the cry has still been, “ they come;" crowded houses having been the rule, a fact which speaks volumes as to the attractive nature of the performances. Mr De Castro’s benefit was, as I predicted, a bumper, the capacity of the theatre being tried to the utmost to accommodate the crowds seeking admission, and even then money had to be refused in numberless in-

stances, which I feel certain must have been very trying to Mr Kirby, the urbane and efficient agent, who sits at the receipt of custom nightly. I rejoice to have to record this success for the De Castro Family, as they are, without any exception, the cleverest in their line ever seen here; added to which, one and all, from Mr and Mrs De Castro to the latest addition to the troupe in the shape of a Lilliputian gymnast of some two summers, always seem to me to try their utmost to please their audiences. The bill provided was an excellent one, and all engaged did their best to make the performance go off with eclat; and the result was a thorough success. Mrs De Castro made her debut as a vocalist on the occasion, and sang a serio-comic song capitally without any affectation, and i.n such a modest unassuming manner as completely to disarm criticism. Mr De Castro’s comic lecture on mesmerism was capital, his Ulus trations haying point and pungency from the fact that a very celebrated professor of the science was in front, and seemed to enjoy the fun mightily. The children went through their various feats in their usual clever and graceful style, and Mr Vose and his old friends were warmly welcomed.

Mr Smith, with that generosity which is one of his characteristics, placed the services of his troupe at the disposal of the fund now being raised for the widow and orphans of the late Captain Hart, and though his kindness in this respect was scarcely so well reciprocated by the playgoing public as I expected to have seen, he will I believe hand over to the fund close upon £4O, which is a very sensible addition to the fund. I notice that he takes his benefit on Tuesday, when I hope he will have a, good house. He is fully entitled to claim this at the hands of the Christchurch public, for they are indebted to his spirit and enterprise for any amount of amusements of various kinds, and it is to be hoped his claim will be duly honored on Tuesday night. The clever troupe of which he is at present director close their performances here on Wednesday, when the theatre will be occupied by the Californian Minstrels. The Combination troupe, after a short suburban tour, proceed to Dunedin, where a successful season may be anticipated for them.

The Californian Minstrels are announced to open on Thursday evening at the theatre, and if all I hear of them be true, they should do well here. The troupe includes some very good artistes in the “ burnt cork ” line, and their burlesques, which have the merit of being new, are favorably spoken of elsewhere. This is a class of entertainment which is exceedingly popular in Christchurch, and if the exponents possess the talent they are credited with, business ought to be good. Messrs Steele and Keogh have decided, and wisely too I think, not to run in opposition to the Minstrels; they will, I suppose, play in Dunedin for a time until the theatre is ready for them. At the date of latest advices they were playing a drama written by a well known member of the Fourth Estate - Mr J. J. Utting—called “ The Great World of London,” of which the local papers speak in fairly commendatory terms, though by the way, Mr Steele and one or two of the performers, get notices, the reverse of complimentary. Mr Beda, who will be recollected here, has joined the company, and his performances on the trapeze receive praise from the Dunedin press. From Wellington I hear of the disbanding of the Grif Company, at least so far as the lesser lights are concerned. I believe Miss Rosa, with Messrs Towers, Burford, and Hydes, has proceeded on an up-country tour, and that arrangements have been made to give her a benefit on her riturn. The New Zealand, Times of a recent date, I notice contains a gushing notice of Miss Jessie Raymond, which I am at a loss to account for. Either we here must be very obtuse in the matter of distinguishing talent, or our neighbours must possess extra magnifying powers. One is told that we often entertain angels unawares, but here we have, according to the writer, a Mrs Siddons and Helen Faucit combined, and we failed to recognise and do honor to such rare ability. Alas, ye Christchurch critics ; hide your diminished heads ; read the Nem Zealand, Times , and amend your ways. I notice that Mr Chapman and Miss Ida Bonifou, of anti-spiritualistic and secondsight notoriety intend paying ns a visit. Of the abilities of the lady in the latter portion of the business, I think there can be no question, as Mr Chapman himself has found to his dismay. A cute bailiff, despairing of serving the magician with an invitation to Mr Bathgate’s levee in the ordinary way, availed himself of the request of Mr Chapman to pass up any document folded, for recognition by the lady, and sent up the ominous blue paper. Clear and precise fell from the lady’s lips the reply to the question, “What is this?” “A summons from the Otago Daily Times for your advertisingaccount.” The feelings of the presdigitator —I think that’s right—may be imagined.

The Opera Company have found the reduction of prices so beneficial that they have played an extra week to good houses in Auckland, postponing their visit to the Thames. They have been repeating the most popular of the operas, and appear to have been very successful. They are now announced for the Thames, to open to-night, and at Napier on the 24 th; but I expect these dates will be subject to necessary alterations.

Miss Clara Stephenson, with a troupe comprising several names well known to Christchurch theatre-goers, has been located in Wanganui for some time, but has now, I believe, opened a short season at Blenheim. “ Ixion ” appears to have been the trump card, and the local journals seem never tired of lauding its gorgeous scenery and affects.

Your readers will recollect some short time since the announcement that Captain Tuttle would deliver a lecture on the whale, especially with regard to the swallowing of Jonah. I confess to a lively curiosity on the subject, and attended duly, but was disappointed ; and the lecture remains undelivered to this day. As will be seen by the following which I clip from a Wellington paper of late date, the same fatality appears to attend the gallant captain there. Perhaps he’s like the wedding guest in the *' Ancient Mariner,” with a story to relate, but lacks the mesmeric or attractive power of th*t weird individual. The paragraph referred to, says :—“ The lecture on “ Whales, their habits, their food, and their young,” which was announced to be delivered by Captain Tuttle, a whaling captain of many years experience, at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Saturday night, from some unexplained cause did not take place;

At the appointed time the hall was in utter darkness, while outside were collected a few persons waiting patiently, and dismally chaunting ‘ Massa’s in the cold, cold ground. A facetious minded individual on passing, slightly parodied it by remarking that ‘he was in the cold, cold whale, looking for Jonah,’ No doubt Captain Tuttle will take another opportunity o£ delivering his promised lecture.” But he didn’t so far as I can find out ; and so my curiosity on the subject of whales is still unslaked. I went to the printers concert on Saturday, and was wofully disappointed. It seemed somehow as if a wet blanket had been thrown over the lot, and vocalists whose sweet voices I have heard many a time and oft, and enjoyed them, wers altogether out of form. They manage things better in Dunedin. I notice they have a capital Press Dramatic Club there. Why not in Christchurch ? In the words of a celebrated orator, I pause for a reply. Having finished the notes of our own shores, just a few items as to old friends who have sought fresh fields and pastures new. That veteran showman Barlow is still flourishing ; at last advices he was performing at the School of irts in Sydney, with Adelaide Stoneham and a good crowd. Eickards was at the Queen s theatre in the same city doing well, and the Italians, including Dondi, Eosnati, Coy, Signora Coy, Zenoni-Gamboa, and others, were at the Victoria. Signor Biscaccainti, who was here with Mdlle Claus, acting as musical director. Mr Fairclough has commenced another season in Adelaide, where he apears to be appreciated. A late Australasian says “Madame Cora, accompanied by Mr Martin Forde, is doing an up-country tour. Mr Forde’s comic songs are spoken highly of, and Madame Cora’s magic is said to be greatly improved .” The italics are mine, and those who had the pleasure (?) of seeing performances here, will agree with me that there was plenty of room for improvement. The admirers of that clever conjuror Eobert Heller—and they are many—will be glad to learn that the report of his death is untrue. The Australasian says;—“ It may be as well to point that the Mr Eobert Heller ' here referred to has never been in Mexico, and that he is now performing successfully in the English provinces with Miss Haidee Heller. The. curious part of the business is that the same report got into circulation here about two years ago, but Mr Heller’s amusing letter from India, contradicting the rumour, appears to have escaped the recollection of our contemporaries.” Props.