MR GOURLAY'S ENTERTAINMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2200, 23 February 1869, Page 3

MR GOURLAY'S ENTERTAINMENT.

To the Etlitor of the Otaoo Daily Times.

Slit—Your *' Theatrical Reporter's " letter in to-day's paper, «nnp<ls mo again to refer to a subject which might well have been dropped. I do not know what his experience with regard to Madame Anna Bishop's engagement of a band might havo been ; but, in conclusion, on my part, of all correspondence on tho subject, I may state tliat my previous opinion that an orchestral band was unnecessary for a musifcal entertainment iv this city, was thoroughly confirmed by tho opinion Madame Anna Bishop expressed before her engagement ceased. Bad that lady to give another concert here, sho would not desiro a better accompaniment than Mr Lascellca could afford upon & good pianoforte.—Yours, ko.,

Wm. Gociilay. Provincial Hotel, Feb. 22nd.

To Uie Etlitor of Uie Otaoo Daily Timih,

Sir—Tho following remarks of the Australasiin critic on a scries of performances recently given in Melbourne by tho Carandini family, aro so aptly in accord with your theatrical repoi ter's remarks ancnt tho Gourlay Family Entertainment, that I enclose them to you for insertion, if you think fit to uso them.—

" The Duko of Edinburgh Theatre during the week has been devoted to musio. 1 am sorry to sny with but bad success. The Carandinis and Mr Sherwin gave a scries of their agreeable and excellent concerts, but the houso was very t oorly fdlcd It appears to me that concerts ia a theatre aro always a mistake. Tho class of pleasure-ieekers (in Australia, at all events) who patronise theatres aro of different taato and temperament from thoso who patronise concerts. Many excellent and worthy people have a rooted aversion to a ' playhouse, which no amount ot argument or common sense can disturb. They would willingly go to ho»r Shakspcare read by a gentleman in evening dress, with the assistance of a glass of water and two wax candles, but they would thudder with horror at the notion of witness1"^ a perfect dramatic performance. Tho regular playgoers, on the other hand, go to sco a ' play,' and regard a concert or a reading as an anomalous dish, ' neither fish, flesh, fowl, nor good red barring.' This waa, I think, the reason why tho very charmiog entertainment of tho Carandini family was unsuccessful. Had they taken St Goorgo's Hall for a week, and repeated tho songs which were listened to by ao meagre an audience ai the Duko of Edinburgh Theatre, thoy would havo achieved success instead of failure.''—l am, &c. A Playookr.