AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 946, 18 April 1890, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

The Theatre. En Route. —Mr Saint Maui’s Comedy Company, who have just concluded a season in Wellington, «ere passengers to Blenheim by the s.s. W.aihi on Sunday morning. Comic Opera.—A Christchurch correspondent telegraphs Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove’s Opera Company on Friday night substituted Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera “The Yeoman of the Guard” for “Dorothy,” which had a most unprecedentedly successful run of six nights to excellent houses. The scenery and mounting of this pretty opera are, if poasiblo, superior to those in “Dorothy,” while the music ia bright and distinctly Sullivan. The plot is highly interesting and affords full scope for a display of the talents of the members of the Company, who won golden opinions for the playing of their several parts. The theatre was packed in every part.” “ Little Lord Fauntlerox.”— An Auckland correspondent telegraphed on the 16th “ Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove gave a matinhe performance this afternoon of the charming play, ‘ Little Lord Fauntleroy.’ The crush was so great that the box office was rushed, even the Governor’s 1« not being spared. However, before the arrival of the Vice-regal party the man-igernent succeeded in restoring order. Trie police stopped the sale of tickets fully one hour before the representation commenced. Altogether the present season is the most successful

ever given hero, rivalling that of the same firm’s big opera company. The whole of the dress circle has been taken for to-night. The company leave by the Manapouri tomorrow for the South.” Mr Joe Brown, the advance agent of the company, arrived in Wellington last night to make the necessary preparations for the company's opening season.

THEATRICAL NOTES. The Wirbh circus has been doing a very big thing on the West Coast of the South Island. I see by the local papers that the circus was atlnangahua on the Bth inat. The Herald scribe gives up the task of describing the show, remarking that 4 to describe the pageant would require the pen of an enthusiast, and one specially qualified for the task.’ In consequence of these slight testimonials of esteem Alexander is going about the gold country with a ten-guinea smilo on his face. ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy Li? a big success in Auckland; Misses Olive Berkley,,and Grace Hopkins, the two little ladies who play the name part on alternate nights, were recently interviewed by the domestic reporter of the Star. Miss Berkley is nearly eleven years old, and when she was a giddy young thing of eight she gave public readings at the Avenue Theatre, London. In Australia Miss Berkley had a great reception, and at Adelaide the Governor and other guests gave her so many bouquets that a wagonette had to be engaged to take them to the hotel. Both the girls are Americana. Grace Hopkins is a native of Kansas. The Star reporter says that before the child could talk 4 she is said to have shown con-

siderable interest in the reading of others,’ and at five years old she could read and write. Gracie’s ma is with the company. 4 The Yeomen of the Guard' was produced at Christchurch by Williamson Garner and Musgrove’s Opera Company last Friday night. The Telegraph, in the course of a laudatory article on the pieoe and players, saya of the former:—‘The opera under notice differs entirely from any of those hitherto produced by the world* renowned collaborateurs, in that it has none of those peculiar features of topsy-turveydom which have up to this been the marked characteristic of their operas. Thus there is an absence of that bitter satire op an ephemeral craze suoh as iB noficeable in 4 Patience,’ or of that deeper political ridicule in 4 Pinafore.’ Instead of this, except in one point, the whole opera is what might be called historical, in that it brings before the mind of the spectator the romance of antiquity which clings to the grim old Tower of London. The dialogue, therefore, is shorn to a great extent of the piquancy and pungent wit which is so strongly marked in those operas which have been already referred to. But here and there—more particularly in the lines given to Jack Point, the jester—the old Gilbertian humour comes out strongly.

Mr Henry Irving is thinking of playing * The Bells’ for a season at Islington. The American Minstrels and Santley were struggling for supremacy in Dunedin last week. The Minstrels had been having a very good time, and Santley, under great pressure, aad at the invitation of all the local aristocracy—bai Jove!—had reluctantly consented to give just one more concert on Tuesday evening. In consequence thereof the enterprising Mrs Silk, of the Leviathan Hotel, advertises that persons who 4 intend embracing this last chance will find a most sumptuous tea at my house prior to going.’ Good man, Mrs Silk ! Another Dunedin show is Mr W. W. Collins, a lecturer. On Monday evening Mr Collins was to orate on the vividly interesting question 4 Does death end all ?’ All we have to say in reply to W. W. C. is that in reading the printed reqords of past centuries we have frequently remarked the very large number of great men who have been ended by Death. Cromwell, Milton, Shakespeare, Disraeli, King Alfred, Adam, and others of the same Bpecies—all dead, poor men. All gone up —or down. Mr George Darrell, who has another New Zealand tour in his mind’s eye, was playing at Sandhurst and Ballarat at Easter. General Mite, a pocket-edition dwarf, has been on view at Melbourne. On one fine afternoon recently a thousand persons paid a shilling apiece to see him—£so. We live in the age of intellectual progress ! Mr Grattan Riggs has been heard of at Adelaide, where he produced a new and original drama entitled ‘The Irish Detective.' He was to be followed by Mr Bland Holt with the ‘The Golden Ladder,’ and other plays. Mr J. W. D. Foley is at Napier, where he seemß to have taken up his quarters permanently. He is giving lessons in step dancing, &c. Mr Albert Brennir, who will be remembered as playing the Mikado when Williamson, Garner and Musgrove’s company produced the new opera of that name here a couple of years ago, died in Melbourne last month. Mr Frank Thornton began a farewell season at Sydney on Easter Monday night, assisted by Mr W. R. Harwood. Mr Thornton goes to England shortly. Hugo’s Minstrels, who are also in Sydney, appear to have been reorganised. The Leslie Brothers are with Smith's burlesque company, and Miss Tessie Cleveland is singing at the Alhambra Music Hall. Also in Sydney is Mr William Walsh, the tenor, where he took part in a recent saored concert. Recently Mr G. C. Miln (who is coming to this Colony for a Shakespearian season) had a petition from 600 members of the New South Wales department to introduce Mr Timothy Parker, of Redfern, (presumably a railway employe) to the stage. Accordingly Mr Miln put up 4 Macbeth ’ with the railway Roscins in the name part. The intro duction doesn’t seem to have been a gorgeous success, and the newspapers tell Tim to go on earning bread and butter and beer at his legitimate business, leaving 4 acting ’ alone. Mr Miln is said to have been a noble Macduff. Williamson, Garner and Musgrove gave the aforesaid Mr Miln a benefit a week or two ago, the programme being as follows :—• Darby and Joan, Mr William Calvert and

Misß Clara Cowper ; recitation, Mr J. H. Clyndes ; song, Mr Henry Bracy ; recitation, Mr Buoklaw ; song, Miss Frances oavillo ; specialties and lightning changes, Mr Charles Hugo and Miss Priscilla Verne; song, Mr W. J, Morgan ; recitation, Mr H. R. Jewett; forum scene, ‘Julius Caesar,’ by Mr Geo, Miln and company. Autolycus