THE DRAMA IN MELBOURNE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8144, 15 April 1887, Page 3

THE DRAMA IN MELBOURNE.

(JPEOM OTTB OWN COEEEBPONDENT.j " Nemo me impune lacessit.” Melbouene, March 30.

The Tempest having proved a most unmistakable failure at the Royal, from a financial point of view only, was on Saturday evening last withdrawn in favour of a revival of Colied Back, with Mr George Eignoldand Miss Kate Bishop (Mrs Jj. J. Lohr) in their original parts of Paoii Macari and Pauline. Mr Kignold’s Macari is a masterpiece of acting, and deservedly ranks next to his Henry the Fifth. Ibis piece will be played up to Easter, when Mr Bland Holt —alive, well, and hearty—will present the Drury Lane novelty A Bun of Luck. Most extensive preparations are being made for its production. Miss Minnie Palmer {Mrs John E. Rogers) has it all her own way at the Bijou Theatre. She is indeed the " Pet of the Public.” On Saturday night last she appeared in a new play, written by an American author, Mr Fred Maraden, entitled, “Pert and her Stepmother ln the character of Mabel (Peit), Miss Palmer excelled herself. la My Sweetheart she was a frolicsome hoyden, in Pert she displays more than ordinary ability. Prom smiles to tears: she excites the sympathy of her audience as she expresses regret at the fearful life her father and herself have to suffer at the hands of her step-' mother. Miss Palmer is indeed a great, actress. 1 Mr John E. Rogers (Miss Palmer’s husband and manager) wishes me to express his regret that Miss Palmer will not at present be able to visit New Zealand. He has given me a memo of future arrangements. "We shall,” he tells me, "finish our Australian tour in Sydney on July 12, and on the following day we leave for San Francisco, and will make a tour through. America until April, 1888 k :, We shall then return to Australia, Francisco. Shall open, if opportunity offers, in Aack-i land, and will then work down south U 6 Invercargill, en route to Melbourne/’ t The burlesque of The Forty Thieves aijid the comedy of Vice Versa is now the bilV of the Opera House. Miss Eobina (Mna F. Stanislaus) having recovered from her severe indisposition, is again the Xife and soul of the performance. On Saturday next the bulk of the Company ;will leave for Adelaide, for the Easter seas On. The Harbour Lights at the Princess Theatre has proved a most palpable hit. The Theatre is crowded nightly. It is bound for one of the longest runs we have had in Melbourne. / The at this house for the benefit of the widortr and child of the late Mr Hoskins, jiids fair to be a most successful undertaking. So great is the demand for seats that the Committee wiH probably make the stalls reserved seatfS at dress circle prices. St George's Hals is gradually falling off in popularity, although the entertainment given by Mr AYf. Lawton and a real good company is dm excellent one. People object to going up so many stairs before they reach the hall.

Victoria; Hall is doing tolerably well, and the artiste engaged are nightly encored for their soiigs and dances. • This hall, being on the ground floor, is much more popular than tfhat of St George. The Alexandra Theatre was reopened on Saturday evening last for a series of concerts by the Misses Joran, who some few months back made a very favourable impression on the musical public of Melbourne. On the present occasion their entertainment was most enjoyable. Mr T. Y. Twinning is the manager. The Alexandra Theatre has already landed one lessee in the Insolvent Court, namely Captain De Burgh. The owner of the theatre, M. Jules Joubert, is also in grief over the affair. The “ Argus ”of Saturday has the following paragraph:— “ The contractors for the erection of the Alexandra Theatre, Messrs James Smith and Upton, sued M. Jules Joubert yesterday in the Supreme Court for the sum of £6869 13s 2d, balance due on contract for building the theatre. The original amount of the contract was .£17,599 15s 6d. All had been paid except the amount sued for. There being no appearance of the defendant, judgment was given for the amount claimed, with costs. The latest issue of " Table Talk,” one of our Melbourne “Society” journals, has the following :—" We hear, on excellent authority, that the Alexandra Theatre has been let on a lease for three years, and that Mr L J. Lohr, business manager for Mr George Eignold, will be the new lessee.” If this arrangement should eventuate, the stars will no doubt he Miss Kate Bishop (Mrs L. J. Lohr) and Mr George Rignold. The matter of the safety of the Opera House, Melbourne, has again come before the Central Board of Health, and on Friday last the Board adopted the report of the Committee appointed to consider the course to be taken with respect to the building. The Committee recommended various preparations to be made and precautions taken. If these be carried out, the Board, the Committee considered, would he justified in recommending the renewal of the theatrical license to the Opera House to tho end of the Company’s lease, but no longer. W.H.W.