AROUND THE WORLD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 47

AROUND THE WORLD.

(From Otago Witness Specials.)

S.S. Rotoiti, May 14,

Dear Bis, — I am writing this somewhere between Nelson and New Plymouth. We have at last left the West Coast (5.1.), after being delayed so many times by the weather. We were billed to appear in Nelson Saturday night, but failed to get there till Sunday, 2 p.m. We were also to give a sacied concert on Sunday evening. At 5 o'clock the firebells rang out the relief (reported) of Mafeking, bringing the people into town and giving us the laigest house ever seen in Nelson. The concert opened by the whole audience (even to two Chinamen) rising and singmg " God save the Queen." When the picture of Lord Roberts landing at the Cape was thrown on che screen the people cheered themselves hoarse (one of the aforementioned Chinamen going '' off his locker "). In fact, it was hard to believe it was the Sabbath eve.

The Valdares Vaudeville Comx>any arrived just in time to witness the above performance, with which they expressed themselves highly pleased. They report big business at Blenheim and Picton, and I am sure""they will do the same all through the West Coast,- for everything is booming there.

Yet another " kiney " sbcnv hns burst out. I don't know where from, but I think it must be Brunnerlon. The title of the show is Bell's Kiiiematograph and Myiiorama of the Transvaal War The ' star ' turn is a recital of " The absent-minded beggar," with scenic effects which, as the daybills say, are " truly marvellous." I think the West Coaster is jvist a little bit tired Qi it by this tima.

The proprietor, Bates, and the performers eof nected with the moto-photoscope which tra* veiled nearly through the Coast with tlieii' heavy — very heavy — 3000 ft of film aic resting here, waiting for more films. .bvir'ently the;?, mean to " film up " before they finish. We open in New Plymouth on Wednesday next, and work down the line for our race datea — May 23 and 24 — at Wanganui, where I am loowing forward to a successful season, as I have not appeared there for two years. I met the much-travelled Harry P. Lyon?i (ValdaTes' agent). He was looking Al, and wished to be remembered to the " only Bis, '■ and " the Old Reliable, along with, — Yours truly, __ HARRY BAXTER, Xinematograph Company. Eketahuna, May 13. Dear Bis,— l could not forget the " only one/ 1^ so here are a few lines to show that whera there's a will there's a deed. Things have tteen splendid with us, " Charley's Aunt " drawing big. .Cannot send you much news, as we ara . at present doing the '" smalls." and you know what they mean. Sorry I did not see you before we left. Mr Andrew Hodge (" The Dago ") and I called up at " Bohemia, " just before departing, but " the lady slavey " (by jove, what a pretty girl!) told us that Bis was "in town." with the--" Queen of Brilliants.-"- At any ratey we hope to see you on our way through in, July. The ca3t of " CHARLEY'S AUNT." Jack CheFney Robert Henry Col. Sir Frederick Chesney .... Andrew Hoc"l"'c Mr Spettigue w. J. Coulter Charles Wyckhain Georee Harmir Brassett Lou Humphries Donna Lucia D'Alvadores Louie Hartley Miss Delahay r Laura Keene Amy Spettigue Miss P. Haygarth Kitty Verdun Biilie Howards /" Babs/' E. D. Haygarth [ Mr E. D. Haygarth has been specially engaged for this production of the funniest comedy of the age. I was originally cast for Colonel Chesney, but have changed with Mr Hodge for Wyckham. Will send all the news from Auckland. — Yours truly, | GEORGE HARPUR. Henry Dramatic Company. : -— - i* Commercial Hotel, Zeehan, Tasmania, April 30. Dear Bis,— At last I have found half an hour to drop you a line. We had a, splendid sis nights' season at the Theatie Royal, Hobart, tho opening night, Monday, turning money, away. Wc-had a Saturday afternoon matinee, when the house held 700 at Is and 6d. and the kiddies thoioughiy enjoyed the show, which consisted o' the illusion, " The Convict's Escape," and the biograph pictures. Out of the week's season we cleared over £200, so all rejoice at our success. We opened here (Zeehan) on Saturday to just over the century, and as we have another five nights to play, and our exes, for the -trip only amount to about £'70. the season should pan out equally as well aa Hobart. We open at Queenstown Saturday, May 5, which is a pay day of £7000, so we expect big business there. M'Adoo's Jubilee Singers opened at Temperance Haii. Hobart, a few days befoie its and finished on our opening night. They had a, very bad time of it, and lost money. I believe they had success in Launceaton, whereat I gm pleased. They open heic and Queenslown after us There are several tin-yoi shows knocking about this country and doing no good. So tinny are they that I blush to send you sheets of their printing. Fred Dawson, who is with the Jubilee Singers, is ill at Launceston. .One of the coons has goae ahead. I have nothing further to add. You can glean fritlier news from 'grams and bills posted and clippings enclosed. With best wishes to the " only Bis " and the " Old Reliable,"— Yours truly,. GEORGE CALLENDER, ("The Midget Globe Trotter' s ), Heller's Mahatma Company. Greymouth May 14. Dear Bis, — Being on odmirer of the " only Bis," and a regular reader of your " Round the World" letteis, I thought that a line from this corner of the earth might be interesting. But now, when I come to look for news, I find I have none, so, like "yours smilingly," Harry Abbott, having nothing to say I ,say it. By, the way, speaking of Harry Abbott's perpetual smile, I have never seen his phis: without one. I am often puzzled whether it is that I look at Harry's smiling, or ihat Harry smiles at my looking. The last company we had here of any note, (with the exception of Nor&cote's Abbott of course!) was the Heniy Dramatic Company, who gave us '' Soldiers of the Queen " (which has previously besn hawked through this colony as " The Victoria Cross," " Called to Aims," etc., etc., etc.) and " Outlaw Kelly." Fancy clever Lancelot Booth allowing his name to go to such trash as " Outlaw Kelly"! We also had d visit from the Christchurcli Kinematograph Syndicate's latest 1900 Edison Kii: ematograpli and Vaudeville Compauj'. Their war pictures were all right, but as far as the singing went, well, the least said aboiit it the better. This does not include the "I'm next "' comedian, Mi Harry Baxter, who, in the writer's opinion, was the only performer of merit. (But perhaps lam rather partial to the name of Harry). The companj- weie barfßuncl for a week here, and the last night of tlieiii local season had a very poor house. I don't think they took much Greymouth money with them, for they must have had to pay a pretty, heavy hotel bill, that is, if they had any left' after paying for hoai dings Ja tall figure for this spot). Miss Belle Solomon, who was here with the Colos3ophone Company, is getting a chance with Harry Rickards's Tivoli Company at Melbourne Bijou Another at the same hall is Blanche Wilmot, who visited the Cosst with Percy St. John (" Call me Sinjin "), whose right name was probably a very common one — Smith, possibly. I notice in this week's Otago Witness (May, 17) an interesting account of Olga Nethersole's career. By the way, the dancer who appeared in the Nethersole production of " Sappho " as Annabelle is said to be the Annabelle Moore of Seeley dinnei notoriety. Nat Goodwin and " the missus " (Maxine Elliott) gained praise in New York recently in a successful production of Henry V. Esmond's play, " When we Were Twenty-one. ' (That's a long time sinee 1 ) My sister, whose husband is manager of a playhouse in 'Frisco, where I was in the profession, sends me a chatty letter monthly, ancl 1 make you a few extracts therefrom. David Warfield, now being starred under David Bellasco's supervision, was an usher in. the Bush street Theatre, San Francisco, 12 years ago. (From this you will see I'm more than seven) I remember his first New York engagement, when he impersonated one of the chosen people, at a salary of Bdol. When the last mail left Cissy Loftu3 was going to show American theatregoeis not only, how she acts Shakespeare, but also intended' to appear in comic opera — as Bettina in " La. Mascotte." Just got news of the relief ofi Maf ekingj so the rest must wait — Yours sin^ cerely, NELL GWYNNE. [Bis thanks Nell Gwyune for her interestingletter, and trusts that it is only tha forerunner, ol many otkeu^