OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 139, 23 March 1893, Page 3

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) ’/ r in ;o un Melbourne, March 4. Williamson and Musgrove’s Comic Opera Company are drawing strongly at

the Princess Theatre, where a change of programme is put up every Saturday night. George Darrell, the Australian authoractor, is to re-open at the old Royal on Saturday night next in the ‘ Double Event,’ one of his latest. He has gathered around him a very good company, and as this is the only house devoted to the drama, George should come out a trifle ahead of affairs. The Alhambra (late Opera House) opens to-night with Frank M. Clark as ‘ director.’ A big display of legs is looked forward to. Speaking to Clark to-day he tells me that he is confident that he has a good thing on hand, properly worked. When I pointed out to him the fact that things were not nearly so prosperous in Melbourne as they were a conple of years back (though you d think a reminder on this head unnecessary), he shook his head, and confidently replied, ‘ Yes ; well, wait and see.’ Fillis’ Circus have again postponed their departure for a week longer, which looks well, and as they are now playing to ’ a bob,’ even better and bigger business is looked forward to. The Bijou and the Alexandra are both closed. Johnny Sheridan writes me from America, where, by the way, he has not been a too huge success. Charlie MacMahon is with him, and both speak of an early return to Australia. Prior to Sheridan’s departure for the land of the star-spangled banner, I met him one day in Bourke Street, and I then prophesied an early return on the Widow’s part. I My dear boy,’ said Johnny, shaking my hand in a parting good bye, ‘ Australia has been very good to me, but honestlj' I think they’re getting tired.’ For all that we’ll have him back again soon. The Taylor Carrington Company have been ‘stuck up’ with the flood waters in Queensland, and were compelled to camp out for five days and nights. They are now working towards Melbourne, and are due in Geelong at Easter. Talking of Geelong, the local Evening News is showing considerable enterprise in the way of journalism. They are making a feature of their theatrical column, and, to tell the truth, in this particular line this paper leaves the journals of Melbourne hopelessly in the rear. They have engaged one of lhe dramatic writers, one of the best men in the city. Enterprise of this description cannot be too highly commended. The Charles Holloway Company contemplate visiting Auckland, and this I know, that you’ll find in Mr Holloway one of the cleverest all-round men in the business, and withal privately one of the nicest and most gentlemanly fellows you ever came across. His wife, Miss Alice Deorwyn, a dainty little lady, is a born actress, and Miss Linda Raymond is a young lady who will yet astonish the audiences of Australia and New Zealand. Mr Johnny O’Neill writes me from his home in Dunedin that he has been specially engaged to join the Collet — Dobson Company. O’Neill is a good man, a thorough comedian, and in the writer’s opinion has no superior in this part of the world, not excepting even the great Grattan Riggs himself. I’ll write again in a day or two after I see the Alhambra show, which commences to-night. The Flat.