CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 4 May 1911, Page 19

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

My Christchurch dramatic correspondent writes: —Hugh Ward and Co. iinished up their farewell season in this village last night, when ‘ rhe Fencing Master’ was put on, with "The Scarecrow’’ as a. curtain-raiser. This was the first time the former piece had been produced in Christ church, although it is not new. It went very well indeed, exhibiting the star in quite a new light. The company will appear in Timaru for one night only on its way to Dunedin. By-tae-bye, have you heard that Timaru is to have a new Theatre Royal? It is expected that the latter will be ready o open on Boxing Night. It is to seat ±lOO, and is to be modelled on your own most up-to-date play-house. Timaru, a solid little town, is making desperate efforts to become a place of some Importance. . . • Barnold’s Animal actors have been providing the star turn of late at Fuller’s Opera House. These four-footed artists are so intelligent that it would hardly corne as a surprise to find them turning up the papers to read their “notices.” . . . Bland Holt and wife are in Paris. ... The street hoardings here, just now, are covered with huge coloured posters, bearing the words “Why Men Love Women.” This, as you know, is the title oi the melodrama with which the AllanHamilton Co opened their Christchurch season on May 1. Miss Frances Ross, the leading lady, is an old Christchurch favourite, and as Mr Hamilton never brings us anything second-rate, and we are as partial to melodrama as the average small boy is to peppermint-drops, crowded houses are likely to be the order of the night. Two young lady members of the combination. Misses Keogh and Bundahi, wear rhe harem skirt in this production. The company’s repertoire includes “East Lynne,” in which Miss Ross plays the weepful Lady Isabel. . . . Fancy Dunedin Amateur Operatic Society netting nearly £2OO as the result of staging “The Gondoliers. ’ Fact. The Society is now talking of putting on “The Yeoman of the Guard.” . . . Marlow Dramatic Co. due here May 6th to 20th. Clark and Meynell will probably follow, and in June J. C. Williamson Co. will be along.

A handsome presentation was made to Mr Tom Pollard, at Greymouth the other night, in recognition of his fifty-third birthday. Eloquent praise was accorded him for his generosity in assisting many good causes by giving benefit performances.