CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1001, 13 May 1909, Page 17

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

My Christchurch dramatic correspondent writes: —Much regret was expressed here when the news of Mr. G. P. Carey’s death was made public. He was last in Christchurch towards the close of 1908, and was then a member of Meynell and Gunn’s Dramatic Co. He married a daughter of our old friend Mrs. Walter Hll, who survives him. . . Eddy Geach’s Dramatic Co. opened at the Opera House a night or two ago in the thrillsome melodrama “ The Woman Pays.” The title is alluring, but the piece is of a familiar type. The scenery and mounting, however, are superb

The Colosseum Picture Show continues to attract immense crowds nightly. Some of the kudos for this desirable state of things undoubtedly belongs to Mr. Rud Paterson, the popular manager of the show. ■ . . The Pathe Pictures at the Theatre

Royal (the new season opened on Saturday) are wonderfully good of their kind, and a feature of the bill is the beauty competition. Quite a lot of our girls are competing (per the biograph) for the proud distinction of being considered the “ best-looking” in the Cathedral City. The audience votes on the question nightly, and so far "No. 8” has a strong lead. She is (judging by her picture) - certainly a very pretty girl. . . West’s Pictures are at His Majesty’s—and going strong. Fancy three picture shows all a-blowing and a-growing at the same time ! —and each making money, if the attendance of the public is any criterion. "The Red Hand” is the main feature of the bill. This is a melodrama of the goriest description —without words ! . . .

You lucky Aucklanders will see Meynell and Gunn’s pantomime “ Cinderella” long before we shall. The season starts here July 26. But people are talking about it already. . . .

Tom Pollard has booked His Majesty’s for the return season of his opera company from August 7 to 28. Christchurch is sure to give Thomas and Co. a warm welcome. . . Miss Ada Ward, “actress-evangelist,” has been lecturing here to large audiences this week at the Salvation Army Barracks. One of her lectures, delivered on Tuesday night, was entitled: “ Can an Actress be a Christian?” Miss Ward thinks not —if the actress remains on the boards. Present writer, who has seen a good deal of the-

atricals, fancies that, taking them all round, they are not very much worse than other people. But they do not measure their corn by other folks’ bushel. That is, they have a moral code of their own, and although they laugh at Mrs- Grundy and all her works, they are probably none the worse for that. Of course, the stage is no place for a girl or a woman who is naturally “ fast” and inclined to kick over the traces. But neither is the hotel bar, the shop, the office, the factory, or the kitchen. That show people are larger-hearted, more generous, more loyal and helpful to each other, and freer from cant and humbug than the members of most professions or callings, those who know them best (and are capable of speaking without bias) can testify.