OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 150, 8 June 1893, Page 2

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.)

May 18th. The state of the theatrical poll in Melbourne at present is thus : - - Theatre Royal—closed Alexandra Theatre—closed Bijou Theatre —closed St. George’s Hall —closing

Victoria Hall—closed A pretty state of affairs isn’t it ? The Princess Theatre, Opera House, and Gaiety Music Hall are, however, open. Of the last, the less said about it the better; they are not doing a too prosperous season. The Princess is doing well, and the Opera House isn’t. J. J. Miller, the well-known theatrical printer, is hard at work on something big, the nature of which when known is likely to come in the light of a godsend to the whole of the musical, dramatic, circus and variety professions. At present the thing is only in embryo, but as I happen to know all about it, you may rest assured the Sporting Review will be the first New Zealand paper to get the full strength of the business. Johnnie O’Neill, the Irish comedian, is, I see, doing great things with the Dobson Company in ‘ The Shaughraun,’ &c. When you see John you’ll own up with me that he far outshines all other Irish comedians in this part of the world.

The Steens have had crowded houses in Melbourne. Travers Vale has worked hard with this show, and as I have maintained in your columns that they would not become millionaires on their Melbourne season, in justice to myself let me

state that, big as the houses have been, I have it on the authority of Travers Vale himself that the business has not been of such an overwhelming nature, notwithstanding the fact that they had ‘ crowded houses ’ every evening. Talking of mind readers, I yesterday received a long letter from Professor S. S. Baldwin (at present in Liverpool), and he tells me that next year will see him in Australia once again. George Lee writes me from Toole’s Theatre, London. Lee, you will remember, met John in Australia, and then accompanied him home as manager. There is a good deal of curiosity awakened in Melbourne about the forthcoming production of ‘ A King of Shadows and Dreams.’ This, be it known, is the only Australian dramatisation of ‘ Mark Twain’s ‘ Prince and the Pauper.’ In the event of it becoming anything like a presentable production there should be money in it in the Australian capitals and New Zealand. The cast includes such capable artists as Misses Isabel Vernon. Douglass, Nellie Greenlees, Mabel Russell, Dot Carey, Julia Nelson, and Messrs Cathcart, E. B. Russell. W. G. and Geo. P. Carey, Hesford, Boothman, Marschall, Appleton and others, there being about thirty characters in the piece.