CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1060, 30 June 1910, Page 19

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

My Christchurch dramatic correspondent writes: —The George Marlow Dramatic Co., which has been having a good, time at the Theatre Royal since my last, “ farewelled” on 22nd June, when “ East Lynne,” the weepful, formed the bill-of-fare, and was served up with the usual trimmings. The preliminary announcements in the papers promised “an original treatment” of the famous old piece but the originality was not marked, and a full house (chiefly composed of ladies) sobbed the usual sobs, and dropped the customary pearly tears when little Willie departed in the orthodox manner for the golden shore. Theatrical managers ought to raise a statue to the memory of Mrs. Henry Wood. . . No sooner had the Marlow Co. vacated the Royal than the Allan Hamilton-Max Maxwell people took possession. This company has secured the rights of a series of Bland Holt melodrama, and opened (with “ Woman and Wine.” Bland, as everybody knows, has made a fortune, thanks to his policy of producing all the Drury Lane successes in Australia, and his lead may safely be followed. Several former members of the B.H. Co. are with Hamilton and Maxweil- The next production will be “In London Town. • . . The

Marlow Co. play Oamaru and Timaru after leaving Christchurch, and then visit the wild, wet West Coast, where the gold comes from. . . Thursday ma inees are now the order of the day at the Colosseum, and as our 'weekly half-day “ off” falls on Thursday the new departure will doubtless prove a gilt-edged success. . . A Christchurch photographer talks of installing the necessary plant for the production of biograph films. He ought to do well, considering that we have three picture theatres all coining money, here. . . July 4 will witness the opening at the Royal of the Hugh J. Ward Co. The season will extend to July 12, and on the following night the Williamson Grand Opera Co- opens at the same house for a ten-night season- It is rumoured that our fashionable modistes are already busied in preparing war paint for the use of the ladies during the stay of the combination in this city. . . The Opera House continues to do immense business. What a gold mine ! . . I hope to have a bit of special news for you next week.