THE MANAGEMENT OF THE WELLINGTON OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1057, 2 June 1892, Page 35

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE WELLINGTON OPERA HOUSE.

Sik, —As a thet-frical manager of no small experience, I much prefer bo indite long announcements of my ‘ unparalleled show —vide Artemus Wurd—for the advertising columns of the New Zealand Times than to crave your indulgence to be al'owed space for a small growl in that portion of your wherein correspondents disport themselves in print upon such varied subjects as ‘The PolhillUuliy Commission,’ ‘ A New Cure for Lungworm, ‘ The Gulcher Light Monopoly,' &c., &c. But, sir, I have a grievance—to my mind, a very just and proper grievance—and with your customary courtesy towards those who, John-Bull-like, grumble and like other folks to know the why and wherefore, you will, 1

feel sure, accord me a fair hearing. As a rule the most cheery of mortals, I have now a distinct growl to make against the directors of the Wellington Opera House Company. I represent in the Colony one of the leading theatrical impresarios in Australia, Mr Geo. Musgrove, for whom I have brought Mr Carl Hertz and the Empire Company to New Zealand. Mr Musgrove spends vast sums in bringing out to the Australian Colonies the very latest English and Continental novelt ; es. He runs a great risk, but treats the public with generosity and a spirit of reliance in that English common sense which prompts the colonial playgoer to recognise when he has got a ‘good thing,’ and to patronise it promptly and liberally. Without wishing to blow a Barnum-like trumpet about the Company now running at the Theatre Royal under my auspices, I would merely say that in Mr Hertz the colonial public see a gentleman whose English and Continental reputation is of the very first rank. The principal I represent secured his services at a very high figure (LIOO per week), and the expenses generally of our ‘ show ’ are very high. So much for a preamble. Now for the growl. The Wellington Opera House directors charge L6O a week rent for their theatre, which is L 25 a week more than Dunedin or Christchurch, and L2D more than is charged in Auckland, cities, the population of which is fully equal to, if not more than that of the Empire City. They have of course a right to charge what they like, and what they think they can get, but, sir, I appeal to you and to t he public of Wellington, are they acting fairly when they run the other house, the Theatre Royal, against the show they get such a big rent from for the Opera House. With one hand they hold you out the Opera House at LGO a week, and with the other they open the Theatre Royal with a tug-of-war, and thus try to reduce the receipts of the entertainment, from which they get that LGO per week. This is ‘ winking _ the other eye ’ with a vengeance, is’nt it ? When last year I wanted to negotiate for the Theatre, Royal for Miss Myra Kemble, the Opera House being otherwise engaged, the answer was,_ * Oh dear no, we must keep the Royal closed,'it would be unfair to the occupants of the Opera House !’ That was fair and honest—to the other parties.

Why then were the directors not consistent, and why did they not show me the same fairness and liberality ? And why do t.heynow let me have the Theatre Royal for two nights when another company is playing in Wellington ? It appears to me they wL-h to ‘ sweat ’ my principal, knowing him to be a man of capital and standing ; whereas if some third-rate company, fit only to peregrinate th-s back blocks comes to Wellington, they can get the Theatre on much better terms. The Opera House, so I am told, does not pay ! lam not in the least astonished at that being the case, when the directors treat genuine and really enterprising caterers so scurvily as to charge them an exorbitant rent for one house and then run an opposition show—under their own management—in annther house, which belongs to them. Theysuiely need not be surprised if tlie visits of really first-class companies to Wellington are like those of the proverbial angels—few and far between. Trusting that the directors may awake to the errors of their ways, that they may speedily recognise the fact that they are servants of the public, and that they may show less meanness and more liberality to those who embark very large sums in theatrical enterprise; thanking also the puh :; e Wellington for the very liberal supp .it h-". in.ve always given, and, finally, apologi.-h -; t > you, sir, for having trespassed so heavily on your valuable space,—l am, &c., L J. Lohr, Manager, Carl Hertz and the Empire Company. Theatre Royal, 23th May.