AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 69

AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

(From Ottb Owh Cohbispowdixt.) February 2. The Willoughby-Ward Company concluded another veiy successful se?scn at the Criterion Theatre last evening. "The Talk of the Town" was the attraction for the last &ix nights. To-night a six nights' season will be inaugurated at Newcastle. The Harry Macdona Company nas concluded its season at the Palace. "Revenge," Bland Holt's new drama, is drawing large crowds at the Royal. Bovis Bros.' Vaudeville Company is resting till next Saturday, when the National Amphitheatre will be reopened. Graceful Gracie Graname, the Gibson Girls, Chanti, Selbo, Rhoda Deudron, and Cassie Walmer are tbe stars at the Tivoli, where a splendid programme is on tap. "Parsifal" is still drawing large crowd?. "Alice in Wonderland" has been withdrawn. Priscilla Verne and' Tommy Armstrong returned from America last week. Miss Verne will endeavour to make arrangements to toitr Australasia with "Tne Land of Nod," a successful American extravagana, failing wiiich. she will return to the States at once. Rhoda Dendron, the barefooted dancer at the Tivoli, is a sister of Miss Nellie Kil-

Charles Albert and Lily Cole, just back from Manila, open at Brisbane Theatre Royal with Ted Holland's "No. 1 company. At Melbourne Theatre Royal " When London Sleeps" is the pieaent attraction. It is to be followed by an Australian drama by "Albert Edmunds" (otherwise Bert Bailey and Ned Duggan), entitled "The Squatter's Daughter."' Andrew Mack. the Irish singing comedian, opens at Wellington (X Z.) at, Ea«ter. At Adelaide Hippodrome the Staepooles, Hagan and Frasgr, Mac-Marlow and Will Rollo. At ihe Criterion Theatre this evening Mr Harry Rickards will introduce to Australia the Sidney Howard English Drama Company in "Home. Sweet Home." A Melbourne weekly, commenting on the strike in the London music halls, suggests that an Actors' Union should be formed in

Australia. Messrs Tait's latest and- most successful venture, "The Kellv Gang" (by biograph), will commence a Sydney season at the Palace

Theatre on Saturday evening next. Mr Fred Woods, a comedian, and J>n exWitness contributor, died recently m Victoria. Harry Crawford, the well-known dancer and high-kicker, died in Brisbane last K\eek.