AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 849, 8 June 1888, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

Information from members of the theatrical profession respecting their professional doings in this and the neighboring colonies is invited. Communications to be addressed to the Editor of this column, j The Theatre. Mr E. W. Royce, the well-known comedian of the Brough aud Buucicaulfc company, who played Blueskin in “Little Jack Sheppard,” has been taken ill in Dunedin, and on the opening night a change bad to be made in the play, Mr Brough taking Blueskin aud Mr O. Brown Jonathan Wild. Little Jack Foley, well known as tho colonial Macoabe. who has been playing down South with his “ Facetious Festivities,” under, took at a few hours’ notice to play the part of Mendez.

The Mohawlc Minstrels, who have just completed a successful season on the West Coast, where they have played nightly to crowded houses, will appear at the Theatre Royal in this city to-morrow. It will be remembered that this company played for nearly four months in Auckland—the longest season on record.

It is expected that a strong dramatic company from Australia will shortly visit this Colony, playiug Charles Arnold’s latest sensation, “ Haus, the Boatman.” The company hope to open in Invercargill on the sth of next mouth. The Dunedin Orchestral Society at ,their last smoko concert issued their programme printed on common sugar-bag paper, headed as under Hard Times-It has come to this.”

It is said down South that the Brough and Boncicault Company will produce some of the latest comic operas in this Colony, commencing their season in July. THE RESTORATION Off THE OPERA HOUSE. Plans and specifications for the reconstruction of the Opera House were submitted by Mr W. C. Chatfield, architect, at a meeting of the Directors of the Opera House Company on Wednesday morning. The Directors expressed their approval of the plans, and it was decided to call for tenders at once. In many respects the new building will be superior to its predecessor. The risk of the structure being again destroyed by are will be greatly reduced, as it is intended that either brickwork or cement shall be principally used in the construction of the theatre. The staircases leading to the dress and family circles, both of which will he slighter lower than in the old building, will be composed of eoncroto and brickwork. Extra means of entrance and exit will be given by brick staircases leading from the dress-circle lauding to the upper circle, arid it is also intended to have doors placed on both sides of the dress circle connecting with the staircase which leads on to the stage. There will also be several means of exit from the family circle. It will thus be seen that the paean 3 of escape, should an outbreak of fire occur during a performance will be greatly increased. Although it has hot yet been definitely decided, there is a probability that a fireproof curtain on the automatic principle, similar to that in use in some of the London theatres, will be provided. The interior of the theatre will be handsomely decorated, though probably not in such a lavish manner as before. Very little alteration will be effected in the appearance of the social hall, but more commodious cloak and ante-rooms will be provided. A spacious and comfortable retiring room will be set apart for the use of his Excellency the Governor and suite. Provision will be made forextra seating accommodation in the dress-circle,which will accommodate 237 persons, which is 35 more than could, be seated in the old circle. Great attention will be paid to the important matter of ventilation. There will be large brick air shafts extending from the basement to the roof,and a Louvre ventilator 25ft in length by sft in height will be placed iu the roof. A condition of the'contract will be that the building shall be finished in Older that the Directors may have the opportunity of accepting the first good offer for the theatre during the Christmas holidays.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. A bird in the air has whispe od that the ever young aud popular Mr L. J. Jjnhr is looming iu the future, large and handsome, and with something big and new on hand. As they say in the ad.-*. ‘ watch this space !’ Brough and Boucieault’s Burlesquo Company have been doing immense business in the South, and were to finish at Dunedin on Saturday night. Miss Genevieve Ward has been playing ‘ Forget me not ’ in London recently. Frank Thornton, who was here with the ‘ Private Secretary,’ is said to bo tbiuk ng of another colonial tour. His principal pieces will be ‘Sweet Lavender’ (Pinero’s latest), and the ‘Private Secretary.' ' Miss Colbourne Baker, the New Zealand prirna donna, who has been for some time singing iu Melbourne, is about to give two or three coucefts in each of the principal towns of this colony, before going Home to buy her fortune on the Huropeau stage. The Mohawks, who have pluck if they have nothing olso (though let us not even whisper that they are anything but a grand aggregation of talent), are going to do another season in Wellington. They will attack the city on Saturday night. Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove’s. Opera Company will do another New Zealand season shortly. Really, the big firm don’t treat ns very kindly. It is almost entirely due to them that we hardly ever have a show nowadays, big combinations, h6avy scenery, and new having flightened the old

Jtime pro. off the stage. Yet their majesties only send ua a company once in a few 'j years ! ‘Dorothy’ aud ‘Siminie’ will be i the attractions this time. The critics seem to differ about MisS Amy Slierwin’s Opera Company. One thing is certain, however, and that is that the Company have done big business. They followed ‘Lucia de Lammermoor’ with ‘ Maritana.* James McMahon and Leitc.h have gone into partnership, and are going to do Queensland with ‘ Human Nature,’ ‘ Held by the I Enemy,’ ‘The Silver King ’ and other similar ; light pieces. '. Autolycus.