NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1095, 24 February 1893, Page 27

NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

Things theatrical in the colony are very dull just now. Tho only first class company I can hear of as coming to New Zealand is Myra Kemble’s, which, however, isn’t duo here for some months to come, Referring to the miserable company which the Dampicrs recently brought to New Zealand, the facetious Bulletin remarks : 1 The company that supported Alfred Dampier most of his time in Mnoriland exercised a fatai influence on the receipts. A full house to welcome the Dampiers upon their opening night in a town would bo followed by a wild desire to avoid the rest of the company for ever.’ There’s a heap of solid truth in what the Bulletin says. Frank Lincoln, the clever American monologue entortainer whom Jack Lohr piloted round New Zealand a few yenrs back, is doing well in London, giving half hour allows at fashionable ‘ at homes.’ When Lincoln was in this colony ho gave his best entertainment off, not on the stage. After the public show was over he would amuse the ‘ boys ’ with a selection of really funny stories, not ‘ chestnuts,’ some of which, however, were hardly suitable for a drawingroom. Lohr ran him wonderfully well and did well out of him. It is said that tho much«advertised Melba is not the same draw she used to be in London, and that her star is sinking fast. The operagoing public are beginning to find out that she is not a second Patti. Florence Saville, Simonsen’s clever daughter, on the other hand, is rapidly gaining in popularity, and had an emormous succ. ss at Brussols lately. I look upon Mr Milner Stephen, the' Faith Healor,’ as aolever showman, nothing more nothing less, and I therefore ohronicle his movements in this column. He is now in Dunedin with his magnetic healing—humbug. There has been a good deal of correspon. dence in the Dunedin papers over the Stein Smith show, of course all a capital idea for the Yankee and his entertainment, which, I must say, is one of the boat of the kind I have overseen. If Steen could do tho ‘patter’ better and liven up the show it would go much better. It drags too muoh. The Holloway Dramatic Company opened in ‘ My Jack ’ at Dunedin on Monday last. There was an excellent house, and the pieoe was very well received. Emerson and Woods’ Minstrels, who will be here about Easter, also begin their Dunedin season this week. Billy Emerson, of course, will be romembored by old playgoers in this city, as he appeared here with great sucooss about nine years ago, and it is asserted that he has lost none of his brilliant versatility. Mr Geo. Woods, although a stranger to New Zealand, has won golden opinions for his cleverness in almost every country in the world. These two eminent comedians will be ably supported by a strong and efficient company, including suoh names as Franks and Lyndon, Cullen and Harvey, Gerrard, Lear, and Howard, and the Misses Ethel Clifford, Alice Devonport, May Clinton, and Maud Reynolds. The company also includes amongst its numbers ‘Lillian,’ who is claimed to be the champion female rifle shot in the world. An Australian correspondent writes'The two pantomime performances at the Princess and Royal in Melbourne continue to attract large audieuces, and Fillis’ Circus is being well patronised. In Sydney ' London Day by Day ’ has replaced the pantomime at Her Majesty’s. At the Theatre Royal the comedy company, beaded by Mr Tom Cannain, have made their debut in ‘ Uncles and Aunts ’: and Hudson’s Surprise Party are appearing at the Garrick after an absence from Sydney of eleven years. 1 Much Ado About Nothing ’ and the pantomime of ‘ Little Red Riding Hood ’ are still attracting good audiences at the Criterion and the Lyceum. Our old friend Charles Arnold is still successfully touring the English provinces with the evergreen ‘ Hans tho Boatman.’ The London Sporting Times says :—At the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, the other night, a large bouquet was handed over the footlights to Mr Charles Arnold’s little girl, who is playing with him in ‘ Hans the Boatman,’ accompanied by the folio ing

note:—‘This Bokio I have Presented your daughter, hopeing every success To you. If you Wish to see me I ham in the Corner by tho Drum Man. I suppose you do not want a boy to mind your dog. If you do, I would like to Travel with you if you Want one. Your Struly, A. E. Mitokedl.’ ‘ Would you send Answer by a boy Around ?’

Mr Richard Mansfield, tho well-known American actor, says a London paper, has ordered his manager to discontinue the use of posters and window cards, and to confine all Ihe advertisements of his company to newspapers. Mr Mansfield is not alone in his views, Mr John Hollingshead has said he never willingly stuck on a wall as muoh paper as would make a halfpenny stamp, and Sir Augustus Harris tells the following good story about himself .’—After some years of covering London with ‘ Mr Augustus Harris’ Drama’ and ‘Another Drury Lone Success,’ he went to Edinburgh and was introduced !o a gentleman, who evidently did not catch hia name. To put him at his ease, the Drurv Lane manager said : ‘laui Mr Harris.’ He still looked embarrassed, and so Mr Harris explained lie was ‘Mr Augustus Harris.’ The only answer he got was tho query, ‘ In trade, Mr Harris?’ The reply was, ‘No, I am Augustus Harris, of Drury Lane Theatre.’ ‘Do they pay you well?' was the noxt remark. ‘ I am the manager 1’ ‘ Then you don't act ?' ‘Yes, I do—have you never been to Drury Lane ?’ ‘ I can’t remember that I have!’ ‘But you have often driven about London ?’ ‘ Frequently.’ ‘ Well, have you not noticed tho 36 sheet posters with, “ Augustus Harris’ latest success ?” ’ * No, I cannot say I have.’ Mr Harris sighed and said, ‘ And it is to attain this I spend £IOO,OOO a year !’ It was after this ho diminished his posters, and he has certainly not suffered thereby.

On the occasion of tho 300th performance at Toole’s of Mr J. M. Barrie’s ‘ Walker, London,’ on December 12, each member of the audience was presented with a sonvonir of the occasion in the shape of a book, with an introduction by ‘G.A.S.,’ containing engravings of photographs of Mr J. L. Toole in some of his popular characters, and some biographical extracts from the‘Reminiscences of J. L. Toole.’

The Pall Mall Gazette understands that a marriage will take plnoe in the spring between Mr George Bancroft and Miss Hare, thus uniting two names with English players will always rememb r with gratitude and pride.

The London Stage understands that Mias Patlie Biown, tho favourite Australian actrese, makes her first appearance in Loudon in a forthcoming comedy by Pinero.

The Exchange Hall was crowded to the doors on Saturday evening, when Messrs Magee and Leslie placed the best programme of their season before the public. Messrs Cremer, Phillips, Leslie and Oowan were the end men in the half-circle, and the last-named, after repeating his very funny song no less than three times, was obliged to ask the audience to forego another encore. Miss Winniard gave an excellent rendering of that charming ballad 1 Eileen Alannah,’ which was greatly enj >yed. The trapeze act by members of the Roselle Surprise Party was a feature of the entertainment. The orchestra, consisting of five instrumentalists, performed two selections, one of which, 1 The March of the Democrats,' by Mr H. Talbot, of this city, is a bold and stirring composition, which reflects great credit on the composer. The entertainment concluded with the farce ‘A Five Cent Shave,’ which caused much laughter.