MELBOURNE THEATRICAL LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3016, 3 January 1912, Page 69

MELBOURNE THEATRICAL LETTER.

MELBOURNE, December 15.

Since my last notes the Grand Opera Company has concluded its local season. The takings for the last week here were £BSOO. On “Melba” nights the takings often reached £I9OO. “Our Miss Gibbs” succeeded the Opera Company for six nights, and now makes way for the pantomime, which goes up on Saturday next. In addition to several popular and tried favourites, many speciallyimported people will bo seen in this year s production —notably, the Sleedes, 0. E. Lennon, Drew and Alders, and Pip Powell. Amongst the other, principals will bo Florence Imeson, Noll Finnis, Celia Ghiloni, Frank Lincoln, and Wm. Hassan.

At the Princess Theatre the George Marlow Company, just returned from a successful Adelaide season, is filling the roomy theatre nightly with a very creditable production of “Under Two Flags.” Miss Ethel Buckley plays Cigarette admirably.

At the Opera House vaudeville is the attraction. The headlines are Willie Gardner, Hanvarr and Lee. Ike and Will Scott. Irene Millar, Johnson and Dean, and the Finneys. Others in the bill are Jos. Mullaney, Irving Say lee, Fred Bluett, Eileen Lyons, and Les Warton.

The Brennan bill at the Gaiety is a strong one, and includes Smite and Smote, the Howard Brothers, Ernest Petchor, Marcella Grey, Dclwyn and Tye, Ina Laragy, King and 'Millard, and Nellie Kolle. Tiny Town opened its gates at Wirt’h’s Park last Saturday, and has since been most liberally patronised by the novelty-loving public.' The little people seem quite at home, and give a circus and vaudeville entertainment every evening. Miss Ethel Irving concluded her season at the Royal this week, and moves on to Sydney. To-night “Everywoman” will be

produced for the first time by a company neaded by Hilda Spong, and including Arthur Styan, Eardley Turner, A. J. Patrick, Herbert Leigh-, Emma Temple, and Florence Quin. At the King’s Theatre Mr William Anderson has revived ‘‘The Female Swindler,” with Miss Eugenie Duggan as Lu Valroy, for a short season. On Saturday evening next “England’s Hope,” a successful English drama, will bo presented for the first time. During the holiday season the theatre will be occupied in the afternoons only by the Juvenile Pantomime Company, producing “Little Red Riding Hood.”' ' , The various moving picture shows report good business, though three in tbe_ metropolitan area have closed down during the past month. Those located in the suburbs catch the cream of the patronage. Kinemaoolor, at the Glacia-rium, continues to phenomenal houses. Mr George Marlow will send two companies to New Zealand during 1912. That headed by Mr Allen Doone, the famous Irish-American player, has had a most successful and lengthy run at the Adelphi Theatre, Sydney, which will only be curtailed because of the arrangements Previously made for the production of His Majesty’s Guests” by the J. C. Williamson company on Boxing Night. Mr Doone goes to Brisbane for Christinas, and at the conelusion of a short provincial tour will proceed direct to New Zealand. s No. 1 Dramatic Company, with “A Girls Temptation” as the leadmo- attraction, follows later. This company, in charge of Mr Duncan Ncvon, played “A Girl’s Temptation” at the Princess Theatre here for four weeks to wonderfully good houses, and has Just returned after a successful Adelaide season. The well-known Black Family, after successfully running picture shows for a long time, has definitely retired.