ABSTRACT
Toward the end of the New Zealand tour, Allen had hinted to newspaper reporters that he was thinking of taking his company to the United States. It is hard to know whether this was a genuine ambition or a publicity gambit. Whichever the case, his goals soon changed. By the end of the 1875 Adelaide season he had set his sights on a return to England. His decision was partly practical. The longer he stayed in Australasia, the harder it would be to reestablish his musical career in Britain, where colonial experience counted for very little. His main consideration, however, seems to have been his conviction that Alice’s abilities were worthy of a bigger stage. She had captivated theatregoers in Australasia; perhaps she could be just as successful elsewhere. Allen obviously felt there was nothing to lose by putting her to the test. After all, they could both count on being welcomed back to the colonies if things did not work out as he hoped.
