"j^*i 'THE^f-. r -.-V

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1023, 6 August 1898, Page 16

"j^*i 'THE^f-. r -.-V

By Pendennis.

It is such a long time now aince a decent Aow ceme our way, that the arrival of Heller's White Mahatma Company, which bas been making a very successful tour of the South, ought to be hailed with pleasure. Mr Callender, the manager, is now making arrangements, and the season will open in the Opera House. The entertainment is described aa at once intereating, myatifying and amuaing. Mr Heller and hia talented wife visited Auckland four years and a half ago, and their clever performancea will still be remembered with pleasure. Onr contemporaries speak in laudatory terms of the novelties the company now bring. One is the biograph, which is said to be an improvement on the cinematograph, bringing ont the pictures much larger, with clearer definition, and without the vibration which was wont to make the spectator feel aa if his liver were very much enlarged. A butterfly or aun dance by Miss Vera Havelock ia also highly spoken of, the evolutions of the lady being considered extremely graceful. Mias Hilda Talma, a young soprano vocalist, has a good reputation for her vocal contributions. These and other illusions and delusions make up a good evening's amusement.

Allen Hamilton, business manager , has gone to London.

The Fredo Family are at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunedin.

Florence Young is said to be get ting £40 a week in South Africa.

John Sheiidan and Gracie White ford last heard of at Cardiff, Wales.

Constance Hardy leaves Sydney for a New Zealand tour shortly with her dramatic company.

Miss Kate Bishop (Mrs L. J. Lohr) iB to play a part at the Royalty, London, in ' My Innocent Boy.'

Harry Kickards is arranging a New Zealand tour for one of hia companies. Harry ia 62 years of age.

Mr Harry Power, the Australian comedian, was, on latest advices, an inmate of the Central London Throat Hospital.

Miss Catherine Hardy has, says the Canterbury Times, retired from the stage, and ia about to be married to a resident of Auckland.

The Cowan dramatic season in Wellington having ended, the company is proceeding to Palmerston North, with the West Coast, South Island, to follow.

Bland Holt has engaged the Christchurch Theatre Royal for October-Novem-ber* 1899, and February, 1900 . Mr B rough has secured it for August, 1899.

The Bulletin says that Miss Francis Rosa* of the Bland Holt Company, ia ' about the most graceful and the best -dressed actress in Australia. Think so ?

Henry Francis Towle, chemist, of Brisbane, has filed an application for a divorce from his wife, Agneß Kelton, of comic opera fame, naming George Hall, musical and theatrical conductor, aa corespondent.

Mr Bobert Hemjy, of the Standard Theatre, Sydney, ia arranaing a New Zealand tour with Mias Kate Howarde «nd Mr H. N. Douglaa at the head of his com; pany. Mr Henry haa kept the busineas alive at the Standard for some time,

Mr and Mrs Brough will open thoir return dramatic season at the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, on 29th October next. Mr Brough has secured the Australian righta, of Carr's ' Madame Sana Gene,Jonea's ' The Liars,' and Carton's threeact comedy, ' Lord and Lady Algy.

The Firm will send one of their companies on a tour of New Zealand about the beginning of December to take up the Holloway dates. Probably it will be the Knight-Ferrar Dramatic Company, who will produce, among other novelties, Wilson Barrefct'a dramatiaation of Hall Caine's novel, 'The Chrißtian,* and 'Under the Red Robe.'