AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 61

AUSTRALIAN STAGE GOSSIP.

(Fxoic Ovs Own Couut3?o2n>nrr.)

! - SYDNEY, February 9. Mr Harry Riekards's\ latest venture — the Sydney Howard! English Drama Company — made its Australasian bow to a packed house at the local Criterion Theatre last Saturday iright, when "Home, Sweet Home" was produced for the -irrst time in Australia. As a play, it is far above the- ordinary run of melodramas, is -well acted, and beautifully mounted, Mr Alfred Clint's scenery being siiperb. Mr Sidney Howard and Miss Lillian Hallowes, the principals, are sure to become favourites in. these parts. The amusement place- known for so many mci/ths a3 the Athenaeum has changed its title, and is under new management. It is now known as the Oxford Theatre, the new pioprietors being, it is authoritatively stated, a well-known entrepreneur until recently conducting theatres in New Zealand, and an equally well-known theatrical scribe of this city. The new company, billed as "The World's Picturseope Company and World's Entertainers." took possession last Saturday night, and fair business has baen done this Tho Bondi Concessions Syndicate, in conjunction with William Anderson, has declared a, dividend of 30 per cent, for the months of December and January. i Present Tivoli programme is one of 'he best. * Chanti, Selbo. Gracie Grahame, Csssie Waimer, Geo. Beau, Irving Sayles. Fanny Powers, Fred Curran, and numerous ethers appearing. At to-day's matinee Fred Russell and Coster Joe will reappear. Spencer's Theatreseope is still drawing i crowded houses at the Lyceum. It is a good show. At the Queen's- Hall things are hummin<*." The fight films are good, and a great draw— in addition, Jack Johnson, the coloured heavyweight, sparring- with such, favourites as Larry Fo.ey, Bill Thompson, Mick Dunn, and Peter Kling. The National Amphitheatre will positively reopen next Saturday. Tom Hedley, the "moke," will make his first appearance in Sydrey on this occasion. Mr Brennan has had gang 3of men -working night and day to effect alterations, and iias had two shops removed to make more room. The lasr, week of "Parsifal" will be entered upen this evening. . Much interest is being manifested in tne latest living picture sensation, The Jielly Gang," which will be shown for the lust time here «t tho Palace to-night. A Ao. 2 comnany is exhibiting the film in Brisbane, under the: guidance- of T. E. Foster Charles Moody and Nina Gonza.es are the latest additions to Harry Clay's company. Master "Gus" Bluett, a son of the popular Fred is appealing with Leonard Nelson at Biokeu Hill. Ex-Maonlander Bert Rasche is now conductor of local Tivoli orchestra. Albs-rt Lucas is a member of William Anderson's West Australian Dramatic Company. J. C. Bryant's Entertainers are touiing Queensland. „ , _ , Madame Flaro, in a sensational fire act, is +he latest attraction at Bondi Wonderland and Agnes, Olive Lenton. Walker and Hughes, Two Kranks, Elsie Brown, Kaleigh and^Mav, Geo. Bentley, Nellie Kilburn. Malvoena Moore, Two Colliers, Tom Da-wson and Bnnn were «t latest with the Rickards s I shows in West Australia. L , . -, 1 Miss Olive Lenton was recently tendered a fartwell by a few of her friends. Miss Lenton goes to England to try her fortune. It iB stated on good authority that Sidney Cook's No. 1 Biograph Company cleared £300 during a vecent season of eight nights in Charters Towers (Q.). Applications have been made to the responsible body for a l«ase of land at ( Coogee Bay, in order to run a "Dreamland. } Mr John Fuller, jun., accompanied by Mrs Fuller and the little 'un, arrived by the Mokoia yesterday. Mr Fuller will stay abmi!. 10 days here, thence to Melbourne, endeavouring m each city to secure the best vaudeville "turns" for the New Zealand circuit. Charles Leonard Fletcher, character actor. applied for an order before the judge m Chambers lo set aside a writ of ca. re, issued at the instance of Josephine Andrews, actress. •From Miss Andrews's statement it would appear that Fletcher engaged her in Eng'and to come to Australia and appear in sketches v-i'h him. She w-as to receive £3 10s per week from the tune of tbe agreement till ! arrival in Sydney, thence £7 per week for I 19 w<»ks from December 8 last. On January 18 th-8 last week in Australia and fareweil ! o? F etcher was announced, and the lady, in I tbe belief the* defendant was about to leave the State with no intention of returning, cau^d a writ -A ca re to be issued, undtr which defendant was arrested and detained until a bail bond was forthcoming. Defendant filed an affidavit denying having entered into the contract alleged. He would be in Sydney again at the conclusion of his Mel- | bourne season, and would appear at the Tivoli till March 29. The matter wap ordered to stand over to enable an affidavit to be fil-ea by Mr Harry Hjckords, defendanf rs employer, in support of the defendant's affidavit as to his future movements in Auetialia. Tbe hearing of the application for an ir junction by George Herron against Harry Rickards to restrain the latter from producing a diania known as "Home, Sweet Home" was concluded on Monday. An affidavit by Mr Rickards showed that he had pnrchayed the sole right* from tho author, Mr Frank Lindo, to produce the dr&ma in Australasia, for £200. Plaintiff had endeavoured to secure a position in the company formed to produce the play here. Affidavit's were put in from Messrs Bland Holt, J. C Williamson, and Gecrge Rignold, Mr Rignold j =tating that he had no recollection of plain- ■ <iff having submitted a play to him, though I he might have been playing minor parts with his (Rignold's) company. Plaintiff stated thai his play was a four-act drama, copyrighted in Sydney in 1835. Mr Williamson's I'ffidav.t showed that "Home, Sweet Homo,'' a four-act drama, was produced at tbe Olympic Theatre, London, on June 39, 187(5 The application was refused. The judgp said he was not satisfied that the tit!e of "Home, Sweet Home" in any way indicated to the play-going public that the dn ma. of which thfe defendant had tbe Australian rights was the plaintiff's play. The quc-t.cu of costwas reserved.