CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 986, 28 January 1909, Page 18

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

My Christchurch correspondent writes: —

The Bland Hoit season at the T.R. continues to attract enormous audiences. The popular Bland appears to have recovered from the effects of his recent motor-car ride over the footlights the other night (in ‘‘The White Heather”), and is himself again. On Monday a piece new to Christchurch audiences, but which has made a great hit on ‘‘the other side,” “ The BreakBreaking of the Drought,” goes up.

The Scarlet Troubadours are having a successful time at His Majesty’s. Mr. Percival Mackenzie, a lightning sketch artist, is a decided acquisition to the company. The season has only two more nights to run. ‘‘The Kilties” are doing well at the Opera House. The giant drummajor is to be seen most days parading the streets in all the glory of his Highland rig-out, and is a splendid advertisement for the show. It is reported that he will shortly go to England to become a member of the King’s Household staff. The fascinating wide-world pictures are as poular as ever, and so is the clever manager, Harry Liston. The huge Coliseum (the home of the pictures) is crammed nightly with delighted patrons. Mr. Charles Berkeley, representing J. C. Williamson’s musical comedy company, has just arrived in town to make the necessary preparations for the opening of the company here.

Meynell and Gunn’s dramatic company, at present appearing in Ballarat, Vic., may justly claim the title of “ the much travelled.” It has done many thousands of miles in all parts of Australasia, and will cover many more before its travels are over. The company has done big business in Bendigo and Ballarat, and sOon moves on to other big cities, on the way to Sydney, where it opens on February 13, prior to commencing another tour of the Dominion, where it will produce for the first time Walter Howarde’s great nautical drama, “ Two Litt’.e Sailor Boys,” and Jo Smith’s Australian play, “ A Miner’s Trust.” which, by the way, is to be staged in England and America. The company is a strong one, including Conway Wingfield, J. B.

Atholwood, C. R. Stanford, Beatrice Holloway, Loo Chateau, and others.

William Cromwell, the clever comedian, whose creation of the Baron de Debtington is one of the most notable features of Meynell and Gunn’s “ Cinderella ” pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, does not spare himself when the requirements of makeup necessitate self-sacrifice. He once had occasion to have a number of his front teeth drawn, so that they might be replaced by others of great length and grotesque appearance.

Mr. Clyde Meynell is on his way out from England, and should have something interesting to say on his arrival regarding the extension of his firm’s enterprises throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand.

Miss Nellie Stewart is at present in London. She has been spending the greater part of her time since she came over at Lausanne, where her daughter is at school. She expects to return to Melbourne about Easter.

“ Australian audiences,” says Miss Meredith Meredro, Meynell and Gunn’s principal boy at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, ‘‘are the most intelligent, the kindliest, and the most critical of any before whom I have appeared in any part of the world.”

Mr. John J. Coady, manager and partner of Perry’s Biorama. informs us (says the “ Grey River Argus”) that he has relinquished his interest and partnership in the above concern, and is now busily engaged on the managerial staff of the Kilties Band for their West Coast tour, at the termination of which he proceeds direct to Sydney to organise a musical and variety to tour New Zealand. As Mr. Coady is well conected with all the leading theatrical managers and prominent artists throughout Australasia, he should have little difficulty in securing suitable performers for his contemplated tour, and will spare no expense in organising an exceptionally talented combination, recognising from past experience the New Zealand public are prepared to pay for genuine

entertainment. He has retained the services of Mr. Harry Collins, the well-known coon impersonator and late stage manager of the Biorama. Mr. Coady carries with him our best wishes for his future enterprise, and we trust at an early date to receive notification of his company’s arrival in New Zealand.

It is said that Jerome K. Jerome’s income from his plays alone is something like £4OO per week, though at first he had many struggles. J. M. Barrie is another playwright who has achieved immense success, and has probably made a fortune already, for three of his later works for a long time realised him £5OO per week this apart from other pieces that he is author of, and all successes. Hall Caine for some time now has netted £6OO per week. Pinero cleared £60,000 each out of ‘‘Sweet Lavender” and ” The Second Mrs. Tanqueray.” “ Charley’s Aunt,” after being hawked about for some time, netted its author (Penley) over £30,000 within a few weeks of its introduction, and has made fortunes since for others. A recent revival of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas netted Gilbert nearly £40,000.

Messrs. Meynell and Gunn have secured the Australian rights of Jerome K. Jerome’s comedy drama, “ The Passing of the Third Floor Back,” produced at the St. James’s Theatre, London, with a cast including Forbes Robertson, Gertrude Elliott, Kate Bishop, Alice Crawford, and Edward Sass. It is the story of a Bloomsbury boarding-house, of semi-genteel poverty, with vivid character types. The piece, which has achieved an enormous success, will be produced in Melbourne by the firm’s new comedy company.

“ Pinkie and the Fairies,” for which Miss Lohr was engaged at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, is said to be one of the best things that Frederic Norton, the composer, has yet achieved. The libretto is by Graham Robertson.

The following dates have been booked for Mr. J. C. Williamson’s dramatic combination: —Gisborne, January 27-29; Auckland, February 1-20; New Plymouth, February 22; Stratford, February 23; Hawera, February 24; Christchurch February 27 to March 16; Timaru, March 17-18; Oamaru, March 19; Dunedin, March 20-31; Invercargill, April 1-3.

The latest enterprise of William Anderson is the engagement of two of the most popular Austra ian artists — Waker Baker and Miss Frances Ross, who for many years proved the backbone of Bland Holt’s celebrated organisation. They made their reappearance at the King’s Theatre, Sydney, on Saturday, January 23, in a new and original drama, cabled “ Sailor Jack,” written by Walter Baker himself. The principals were supported by a strong company, including: — Messrs. Edwin Campbe.l, Bert Bailey, Vivian Edwards, Hill ard Vox, Edmund Duggan, Edwin Lester, and the Misses Fanny Erns, Kate Gair. Maggie Knight, and others.

Miss Alaggie Moore and Mr. H. R. Roberts have engaged a strong company to support them on their forthcoming tour, which begins at Hobart on January 23. Included n the company are Misses Laura Roberts, Madge Herrick, Ethel Bashford, Terry, and Messrs. John Forde, J. Montgomery, Sid Everett, Fred Francis'. Herbert and Katford, while Beryl Yates and Little Vera Hugged; play their original parts of the two children in “ The Prince Chap.” Chas. W. Tay.or has charge of the orchestra, and James Moore is business manager. The Hobart season commenced with a double bill—“ The Prince Chap” and ’ The Chinese Question.” Subsequent productions will be “ Struck Oil,” “ The Case of Rebel.ious Susan,” and several pieces new to Australia, the rights of which have been purchased by Mr. Roberts.

Miss Ros na Buckman, the New Zealand soprano, who distinguished herself with the National Opera Company in Melbourne and Sydney, has been engaged by Mr::' F, Shipman to go on tour with Mr. Philip Newbury.

The Steele-Payne bell-ringers return co Melbourne on January 3, after a most successful tour of South-Africa, After taking a rest at their home in Ballarat (Vic) they purpose re-organ-ising for the Austral an states and return to South Africa later with new novelties.

$ $ * * Miss Eileen Castles, the youngest of the Castles Sisters, has joined George Edwardes’ Company in England. She is said to have a “ beautiful soprano voice of almost dramatic quality.”

Mr. Harold Carr, late of the J. C. Williamson Co., has secured the sole rights tor tour in Africa of the John-son-Burns fight pictures by arrangement with Mr. H. D. Mclntosh.