SIZE OF FRAMES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7587, 22 December 1902, Page 1

SIZE OF FRAMES.

♦ Tli* new Star cycles are supplied in tnree size frames, 23in, 24in, and 26in. For heavy riders collision bars are fitted to the 24in and 26in, for special orders only. All Standard machines are supplied with single frames and without collision bars. Call and inspect. Easy terms arranged to suit customers. Adams Star Cycle Company, 70, Manchester Street, and 198, Colombo Street, near Cathedral, Christchurch.- s 11

out here.' He said : ' Not a b bit,' and they don't. The place is full' of money, and they spend it. Fancy, we are playing to nearly £300 (not dollars) for seven, shows a week— over £2000. I don't know any other town in the world -where it could be done. I look back with great regret to my jolly time in New Zealand. I should like to get out again, but I fancy the time has not quite come. I nearly had it arranged for next Easter, but at tie last moment the money was not forthcoming. It's so difficult, to persuade people that it is a certainty at a place so faraway and that they know so little of, but I haven't given up yet. I have already three plays that, will suit me. I wish I ihad enough to do it on my own, and I am certain of the success of a bright comedy company through Australia and New Zealand. Miss Hilda Spong is also doing well here. With all their vaunted smartness, the American theatres are ' far worse managed than ours. The whole thing is syndicate work, and: they force people into star positions by sheer weight of advertisement and gold." Early in November a benefit on behalf of William Rignold, now completely and hopelessly blind, was to be. given in London. Born in. 1836, and coming of a theatrical family, his- stag© ; life e extended over half a century. , He „wais; afc. first in> .the ■ orchestra, BuVih* | success that Attended his performance of Rashleigh, in "Rob (Roy," when;ths "heavy gentleman" had lost his train, le<J to his transferring his activities to the other side of the footlights. He was for many years a sound and resonant actor of robust parts, having, too, a gift of tenderness, amd will be remembered most distinctly as dividing the honours with Henry Neville in "The Two Orphans," and with' Charles Warner in "Drink." Incapacitated for some years past, he has been at last compelled to seek from others the means that shall secure him th© little house . at Hornsey, about which he knows his way as he can- never hope to know it about any o^her. The programme) was to comprise selections from " H.M.S. Pinafore "• and " The Critic," which play has not been seen so often of late at benefit matinees as it used to be. The cast ia such a remarkable one that it deserves to be reproduced in full. It is as follows:— Sir Fretful Plagiary, -Mr W. S. Penley ; P-uff, Charles Wyndham ; Dangle, Air Forbes Eobertson ; Sneer,' Mr Cyril Maud ; Und«r-Prompter, Mr George Giddens; Mrs Dangle, Miss Irene Vaabrugh ; Lord Burleigh, Mr Tree ; Governor of Tilbury, Mr Harry Nicholls ; Earl of Leicester, Mr Arthur Bourchier; Sir Walter Raleigh, Mr Lionel Brcagh ; Sir Christopher Hatton, Mr Arthur Williams; Master, of the Horse, Mr Fernandez ; Don Ferelo. Whiskerandos, Mr H Kemble ; Beefeater, Mr Alfred Bishop ; Sentinel, Mr H. V. Esmond ; Sentinel, Mr Seymour Hicks ; Servant, SMr-H. B, Irving-; Tilburnia, Miss Lottie Venne; Confidant, Miss Ellaline Terriss; First Niece, Miss Mary Moore ; Second Ndece, Miss Gertrude Elliott. Other attractive items in the programme are "Box and Cox," to be played by Messrs Hayden Coffin, Richard Temple and Rutland Barrington, and " Trial by Jury," to be given by. a star cast. With one minor exception (writes the 'New York " Clipper's " London correspondent,, under date Oct.' 1) there is not a single new production to report upon this week, and no special developments regarding old productions to note. Hence, as all the papers in London have been doing this week, I must fall back on what iis now known as the "M'Kee Rankin. Affair" for my piece de resistence. I think I stated the simple facts in the case of the eudden closing of Nance O'Neil at the Adelphi, but day by day the papers are enlarging on the unfortunate affair, until it has reached tha dimensions of a sensation. The woes of the unpaid supers and members of the company are painted in vivid colours, and the intelligent foreigner would imagine that for the first time in the annals of the British stage a manager failed for wajjt of a long purse. The intelligent foreigner, however, can - ibe assured that it happens almost as frequently as it does in America, aai that is saying a good deal. According to "M.A.P.," "A Chinese Honeymoon " is likely to run quite a twelve month longer in London. All this is an introduction *o the lucky author of the popular success. Mr George Dance must be somewhere between forty and fiftynearer the former than the latter — a prompt, pleasant, well-groomed, shrewd, courteous and unaffected man, of middle height, with diark hair and l closely-cut beard, turning grey. He comes from Nottingham, and his first "piece was produced years ago by Mr Willie Edouin at the Novelty 1 ' Theatre. Beginning as a -writer of music-hall songs, chiefly for Miss Vesta Tilley, Herbert Campbell and the late Macdermott, Mr Dance gradually worked his way into public favour. His "Nautch Girl," with music by Ed-ward Solomon, was produced at the Savoy, and later on 'his "Gay Parisienne" ran, as everybody knows f for a yea.r in London. Mr Dance is managing seven companies on tour, two playing his own pieces, and five in conjunction with Mr George Edlwardes. . \He lives at Weybridge. His offices are in 1 Shaftesbury Avenue, and there is hardly a place in London where artistes, of all "sorts tuid descriptions, are more inclined to "live on the door mat!" Indeed, Mr Dance has so many- applications . for engagements — as

everybody knows that he writes, produces and 1 "manages — and! is obliged to refuse so often, that no-w he i-3 called "the Bastille" — for it is almost impossible to get at him at all. His latest piece, " Th© West End," was produced' at Norwich a week or two ago, and a copyright performance of the musical comedy which is to succeed — some day — " A Chinese Honeymoon " has already been given. The music is by Mr Ivan Caryll, and its ultimate name has not yet been settled 1 .