OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 157, 27 July 1893, Page 1

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

July 15. Bland Holt is up to his old pranks again, drawing large houses with ‘ A Million of Money.’ The company, an excellent one, is now playing at the Princess Theatre prior to going on a lengthened trip through New Zealand. You will be pleased to hear that Miss Myra Kemble is with the company. Edward Terry, the' celebrated English comedian, has arrived in Melbourne after a very successful season in Sydney. Terry opens here at the Princess on the 26th of July. The ‘ eminent ’ Lonnen and company are touring the Victorian provinces. On the 20th of this month a performance in aid of the funds of the Australian Dramatic and Musical Association will be given. The programme is a phenomenal one, commencing as it does with Bland Holt’s Company with ‘ A Million of Money ’ ; the Seraphina Co., operatic selections, pieces of ‘ The Pirates of Penzance, * The Vicar of Bray’ ; Cecil Forrester’s ancientisms, recitals, etc., etc. The Greenwood Family have opened up at the Bijou Theatre to somewhat slim attendances. On the whole, the company is a woefully weak one, including the three Greenwood girls, Temple Harrison, Edwin Palmer, and J. A. Patterson. There is some talk of ‘ A King of Shadows and Dreams ’ going up at the Bijou by way of a farewell complimentary entertainment to Miss Dot Carey, the talented little twelve-year-older being about to leave for India with W. G. Carey, under engagement to Harry Stanley. Further it is rumoured that the medical and university students intend in a measure making amends for their 4th of July * flare-up ’ by presenting Miss Dot with a gold bracelet, bangle, or the like. The company at the Victoria Hall are ‘ doing a perish,’ and Manager Johnny

Wallace is about to shortly receive a big ben. —he deserves it.

The Melbourne Royal remains closed, excepting on Sunday nights. By the way, the Sunday night racket is all the go. You know there is no charge for admission, but you are, ahem !— ‘ expected ’ to put a ‘ silver coin ’ on the (ahem! once again please) collection plate. Snazelle lets out his seats as ‘ pews.’ Frank Clark keeps the Opera House open, and Speed the Gaiety. St. George’s is closed. Taken all round, things theatrical are bad in Melbourne, and the outlook a dim one. Some of the places are not paying salaries. The Alexandra, such a gay and festive scene on the 4th of July last with Finn’s successful * King of Shadows and Dreams,’ is also closed. Gentle pressure was brought to bear on Finn with a view of his playing ‘ A King of Shadows ’ right on for a week or two, but in view of the fearful opposition, to wit, the dull times, he wisely steered clear. Cycloramas, waxworks, and smaller — shows must have pretty ticklish times, notwithstanding the glowing reports. The latest dance novelty, coming out to take the place of ‘ the serpentine,’ is that in which the lady, not content with her own, has a couple of artificial legs, thus giving us a four-legged fling. How this will catch on remains to be seen. I wonder! Charlie Taylor, Ella Carrington, and company are coming down your way shortly. They are immense favourites in the Victorian provinces. We have a now show, the Garden of Eden, a small room really, which (by a clever arrangement of mirrors) on entering, though there is actually only yourself present, there appears to be a couple of thousand people more or less. The Flat. _