ABOUND THE WORLD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 55

ABOUND THE WORLD.

(From: Otago Witness Specials.) Lyceum Theatre, Sydney, November 10, 1900. - Dear Bis, — I hope soon, to renew your acquaintance, made when I toured New Zealand some two or three years ago with Miss Fanny Wentworth, as I am coming throughas business manager for Mr C. R. Stanford, 1 who has taken ov-er- the dates secured by Mr Charles Holloway. The tour begins at Dunedin on Boxing Night, December 26, and finishes at Auckland on April 27. Mr Stanford has got together an excellent company, mostly members of Mr Holloway' s company which appeared at the- Lyceum Theatre, Sydney, and he intends producing the most successful of Mr Holloway's plays such as "The Power and the Glory" — a big spectacular play, which ran eight weeks in Sydney and seven weeks in Melbourne ; "'A Soldier and a Man' — a military piece, dealing with theBoer war ; "When London Sleeps, ' "Shall We Forgive Her?' which appeals to the ladies, being a very fine domestic comedy-drama, and ''£1000 Reward, ' which has no reference to the Breelong Black outlaws, althoxigh that is the sum offered by the Government of New South Wales for their capture — dead or alive. I shall leave Sydney for Dunedin about the first week in December, the company following a week later, and hope to see yon when calling in at Wellington, en route for Dunedin. Our dates to Wellington are: — Dunedin, December 26 to January 12 : Oarnaru, January 14 and 15 ; Timaru, January 16, 17, and 18 ; Chrfstchurch, Januaiy 21 to February 1; Wellington, February 4 to 23. Kind regards to Edwin Geach. Accept same yourself, and believe me,— Yours truly, ERNEST BLACKSTONEr Dear Bis,— Dix's Gaiety Company are still a big draw at the Exchange Hall, and the latest addition, Miss Alice Layton, a soprano, is a great attraction. She has a rich, pure soprano voice, and is a very much better artist than usually appears at a music hall. By the waj-, Mr Dix informs me that he intends to re-open the Theatre Royal on Boxing Night with a, •Xmas Pantomime entitled "Babes in the Wood." The' scenery is to be specially painted by that clever artist Mr Claude Whaite, in whose capable hands it should be an artistic success. The cast includes some high-class English and Australian artists, in addition to the pick of his already strong combination. The theatre has been in the hands of decorators, etc., for -some time, and will be about the prettiest in New Zealand on its completion. Mr Dix has left nothing undone to ]Drovide for the safety of his patrons in case of fire. The fire escapes are on the most modern plan, and incandescent lights are solely used in the theatre. Such enterprise shoixld go a- veiy long way towards establishing Mr Dix as the "Rickards of Maoriland." Fuller's Bijou Company, at the Choral Hall, are still making a host of friends, and are drawing in the shekels to the treasury (Fuller's Earth). Miss Lottie Lome is" an artist of the first water, and with the assistance of Master Bain, a pocket edition, is a very warm favourite. The performance is well worth seeing, and goes with a dash from start to finish. Professor Anderson, Wizard of. the North, held the boards one night only at the Opera House. The presents! A handsome drawing room lamp, probable cost 2s 6d, was presented to the handsomest man in the hall — a sickly looking youth, with the faintest sign of a moustache (and waxed too). I might mention that he threw it down the stairs on the way out. It Was a very good performance, with the exception of the presents distribution. Some of the tricks were heartily appreciated, but others are old — so old that they could go out at night and not get molested. We are to have a. visit from the Biograph Company, and from press notices I have seen I anticipate a very successful season. Mr Frank Rewberry, chief advertising agent for Mt Dix, passed through Wellingi.on"to-day, en route for Auckland. He tells me that the company are doing big business in Christchurch, and that Master Claude Sullivan, a mite of five years old, is a conspicuous success. This baby sings with all the dash of the oldest performer, and he is spoken of as the most wonderful child in Australia. The Steele — Payne Bellringers and Musicians passed through here last week for the south. Mr .Ralph Steele was reported very ill, but is gradually recovering. The Lili Sharp Concert Company are not doing too well here, which goes to prove vaudeville holds the sway, at present at any rate. I heai the Fuller Company have been doing good bis at the Vast Coast, owing, doubtless, to the able piloting of the Only One. — Faithfully yours, ALBERT EDWARDS, Edge Hill, November 17. Edge Hill, November 24. Dear Bis, — Leo Brown is dead. He passed peacefully away at his mother's residence last week, after a short illness. Many people in this city will probably call to memory a performer of some six or seven years back (by name, Fred Thornhill) at the old Criterion, now Federal -Theatre, who made a big hit in the song "Noses," originally sung by T. E. Dunville. Another hit of Thornhill' s was the song '';In the Chair," wKich he was also the first to introduce to this city. In descriptive -v\oik he was also very successful, and his singing of "The Convict's Return" was a big favourite. "He was one of the Light Brigade " was another. Fred Thornhill was ever eager tc give his sei-vices for the cause that needs assistance, and was a friend to many another '.'pro," yet when he died not a single member of the profession attended his funeral. God rest his soul. The Federal Theatre, after a weary struggle for about three months, trying to find the ghost, finally gave up the attempt on -Saturday, November 17. Thus ended the second chapter in the history of this ill-fated house. Mr John J. Ritson, "I'm a Street ■• Comedian," before going in advance of Montgomery's Kinematograph Company, had three nights with the Federal Company, but cried enough. The theatre is now vacant, and is likely to remain so for a long time. Mr Smart once owned it, and it was previously a dancing hall, but seeing a good chance to open a theatre he altered the place and made a. very good start, but not for long. Being a small place, and in the heart of the city, several small

"shows" rented it, and tried to get' a living, but it was no use. After a time the place got * a bad name, and it was finally closed. After being used as a grain store" andi' an auction room and various other things it was again opened by the now defunct Federal' Company. The cost of fitting it up quite recently ran into about £500. Mr M. Nortlicote arrived here last week from an extended trip to England and Paris, and he tells me that his new Pepper's Ghost Company cost nearly Rather a costly show, bufc when it ran for from three to seven months in the principal towns in England it must be a money maker. This scribe wishes him and? his worthy manager every success. Mr John Fuller, jun., and his Bijou Com. pany returned from a trip to the West Coast last Sunday. He reports good business butvery rough weather for the last month. They intend, to tour the Taranaki and Wairarapa ■ districts ; next week, and should have a Yer&, good trip,^ffer 'their Vet West Coast tour.v '.- ; Baby^'Dehton is-'in town at 'present, and look-./ ing tha'pi6ture ,of health too. ,1, should, suggest*/, some walking or cycling exercise for hrhr. ' 3J $~ "> ~ -Mr Fred Duval, well and favourably known. throughout the colonies as representative ofthe •• Pollard Opera Company, is now a useful member of Dixs Gaiety Company.— Faithfully f yours, ■* CRITIC.