AMUSEMENTS

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 55, 1 October 1881, Page 37

AMUSEMENTS

— The D' Ortellc Tourists have been playing in " Ticket-oMeave lira" in Wairarapn. — Arthur Sketchley has been playing " Falstnff" in London. — Mi* Leake, the American actor, opens hero on the 3rd of October. —The Pollards took £-150 in six nights at Napier. j " — An autograph letter of Mozart was sold in Paris the other day for LBO. — Grounort's new oratorio is to be performed for the first time in Birmingham. —Sam Emery, well known in Australia in " The Creole" and other characters, died in London last July. — The Lyon's Tourists have been no great " lions" in Auckland. — J. E. Steele is playing " Othello " for Dewlmxst at the Queen's Theatre, Melbourne. The critics remark a lack of dignity in his conception. — Mr Boucicaulfc sustained a severe accident at the Crystal Palace while " taking the leap" as Myles-na-Coppaleeu. — The meagre attendance at the Theatre Royal, Wellington, is said to be caused by the clingy and dilapidated appearance of the interior. — Charley Weight-man, who has been in clover since he joined Cary's Opera Company, is now kno wn as the " Advance Pirate." — The working expenses of the Lyceum Theatre, London, are Ll4O a night, and during the past season tlie receipts were never less than L 230. — First Player : " I dreamt last, night that I was playing Hamlet." Second Player : "I am thankful to say that I did not dream I was one of your audience." — Mr Dampier has acquired from Mr Reside the right to produce in Australia " It is Never too Late to Mend" and "Joan." — Mrs Sothern, widow of " Lord Dundreary" was very ill last July, and removed to JEew for change of air. — The clever author and composer of " Billie Taylor" has written another comic opera. It is called •' Claude Duval" or "Love and Larceny." — Lyons' Tourists brought a poor season to a close on Wednesday evening. They are scarcely strong enough, for Auckland. — On Monday next Mv W. H. Leake will open at the Theatre Royal supported by DeLias's Australian Speciality Company. Mr Leake will make his first appearance in Campbell's domestic play, " My Partner." — G-rattan Biggs played to first-class business in. Brisbane up to the arrival of the Princes, when the attendance fell off, everyones attention being concentrated on Royalty. — On the last Friday of his stay in Napier, Marshall was so ill that a postponement of "Quilp*. was thought of. By a great effort, however, he went through the part. — Miss Adellc was so ill when the De Lias company reached Napier that she had to be carried ashore. This operation was successfully performed by Captain Moloney, one of the officers saved at the wreck of the Tararua. — On Saturday the Grand International Panorama, now open at the Albert Hall, and which has been largely patronised, will hold a matinee for children, every child receiving a present. The entertainment is very good, and well worth a visit. — Marshall's season in Napier was not a success, the houses barely averaging £30 a night. Considering the Pollard children drew overflowing audiences the preceding week, this lukewormness must have been most aggravating to DeLias. But such is life. — Sarah Bernhardt's extravagance is notorious. She was attracted by a costume in a London shop window, entered, inspected fifteen different dresses, and unable to decide, exclaimed to the astonished shopwoman Jeles ■prendrai toutes, and the lot were sent home. — During the run of the " Corsican Brothers," at the Lyceum Theatre, London, no fewer than 90 carpenters, 30 gas men, and 15 property men were permanently employed in the mere task of arranging and conducting the scenes. The handsome tableau curtain, made for this occasion, and containing 1000 yards of crimson silk velvet, cost L 740. — Sothern's estate was sworn under £1600, and lie leaves his children £400 a-pieee. He often made £600 a week, but was very extravagant. When he was making money fast, he simply sprinkled it about like water. His 3iou.se in Harley-street, his rooms at the St. Pancras Hotel, his carriage, horses, hunters at Market Harboro,* all were simply perfect, and this class of establishment makes a hole even in £20,000 a year. — Evans' Music Hall, for over a hundred years one of the most popular midnight supper cellars in London, has, like Cremorne, the Argyle Rooms, the Holborn Casino and other resorts of gentlemen engaged in " sowing their wild oats" been swept away. Colonists who, when at home, have partaken of the grandly grilled chops, the porterhouse steaks, and the potatoes in their jackets, for which Evans' was famed, will hear this news with regret. Tempora mutantur, &c, — The Great Macdermott ("We don't want to fight, but by Jingo if we do, etc.") tho other day entertained three friends at luncheon at his private residence in London, and hired a pianist to play during the entertainment. About the middle of the feed, Mac, who is yery considerate, called his man-servant, and addressing him in a tone of dignified authority, said, " See that the gentlemen of the band have all they require." Some of the guests nearly had a fit.

— "Puck" telegraphs the following very latest items from Dunedin .—Miss Pomeroy had good houses to finish, except when " Retribution," a wishy-washy American play, was put up. Her benefit on Friday attracted one ,0! the largest audiences ever seen in the Theatre, and standing room in all parts of the house was at a premium. It is stated that the takings were a a little over £140. Season concluded with a very even perfoiinance last night of " Macbeth." The Princess' was tenanted by Mrs Cluban, who, aided by her children and a few friends, gave a concert. One of the boys created a favourable impression as pianist, but the others are described as phenomenal. The tenor receives a regular dressing down from the papers, who tell him lie must stay at home for some time yet. Twinning's concerts were a fiasco financially. Bent's Minstrels opened at the Queen's to a good house.