THE BROUGH COMEDY COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11840, 18 December 1901, Page 6

THE BROUGH COMEDY COMPANY.

A FAREWELL TOUR. It will bo heard with regret by all conditions of playgoers throughout New Zealand that the forthcoming tour of "The Broughs" (as Mr. and Mrs. Brougli are familiarly termed) will most positively be their last appearances in this colony. Mr. Allan Hamilton, Mr. Brough's manager, in conversation with a representative of this paper, said: "It is quite true that after the present tour Mr. and Mrs. Lrough will no longer lie seen on the Australian stage. After playing in tho principal cities of New Zealand and Australia, we leave for India and China, and thereafter the Brough Comedy Company will bo disbanded, and Mr. and Airs. Brougli will return to London. Their future plans are not yet settled, but you can positively '^2to that they will not again appear in this country or Australia. That is absolutely certain. With reference tci"our forthcoming Auckland season, which coniuionr.es at the Opera House on Boxing night, Mr. Brough will submit to you an ' iusually strong repertoire of plays, viz.:—'The Second in Command,' ' Mr-;J Dane's Defence,' 'Lady Huntworth's Experiment,' 'Sweet and Twenty,' 'The Tyranny of Tears,' 'The Amazons,' 'The Magistrate, 'The Liars,' and 'Sowing the Wind.' You will thus see that out ol the nine plays to be produced, five will bo done in Auckland for ho first time in Nov/ Zealand. The opening attraction will be 'The Second in Command,' a military comedy l.y Captain Robert Marshall. It was originally done at (ho market Theatre, London, by Mr. Cyril Maude, and it is still running in that theatre. Tho reception accorded it in Australia was most gratifying, and Mr. Brough looks upon 'The Second in Command' as one of the most attractive plays lie ever purchased for Australia. Not only is it a powerfully-written piece, but it gives scope for elaborate mounting and drosses, all of which, I may tell you. have been imported from London, and. indeed, are an exact replica of those u-"d in the Haymarket production, being sp< daily. made by Messrs-. L. and IT. Nathan far Mr. Brough. A large number of auxiliaries appear in the play, which employs over 50 people in its representation. Our Auckland season being limited to 18 nights, a rapid change of programme will be Mr. Brough's policy. Since we last played in Auckland we have travelled many thousands of miles, including a second visit to India and China, which proved even more prosperous than the preceding one. The company has undergone several changes in its personnel since last appearing before you, several now importations having been made from London. All leave Sydney on Wednesday (to-day) by the Zealandia, and although 'The Second in Command' is an unusually heavy production, several days will elapse between the day of their arrival and the opening night, so that everything will bo in ship-shape order. Altogether, I venture to say that Mr. Brongh has never visited Auckland with such a varied programme of plays, and I hope your public will be 0 tho same opinion when the season is over. As I have said before, Mr. and Mrs. Brough will never again appear in Auckland."