THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 36

THEATRICAL & MUSICAL NOTES.

Contributions from the Profession chronicling their movements md doings ire invited. AU communications to bo addreaaod la "Ptsquin," Otago Witness Office.

Mr Edward Sass, whose methods during his season in Dunedin as leading gentleman in Miss Myra Kemble's company have commended him to the theatre-going public as a thoroughly sound actor, had a loDg and varied experience on the London and provincial stage before he came to the colonies fome four years ago. lor three years he toured with Mr T. W Robertson's company, playing such parts as Hawtree in "Catte"an i 3 Hugh Chalcot in "Our?," after which he returned to the rnttropolK He was included in the original cast of " Pleasure" at Drury Lane in Soptemb- r 1887, and he next appeared in the romantic play, "TheJMonk's Room," at the Pi i nee of Wales Theatre in December of the same 3 ear. After playing in an unsuccessful piece, "The Loadstone," prcduoed by Mr W. H. Verne n a colonial,favourite, at the Lye urn 'I hcatre, Mr Sas3 joined Mr Rutland B.irrington, of Savoy fame, when that actor, iv October 1888, produced Gtundy's cjnical play "The Dean's Daughter," and achieved groat success in the character part. He then supported Mr and Mrs Kendal in their farewell tour before their departure for the United States, and during that engagement played in the orig nil cast of "A White Lie," G uady's coniLdy which Miss Myra Kemble is now introducing to New Zealand Having before him the choice cf accompanying the Ktnrlals to America or of visiting Australia, he adopted the latter cour.se, and came out with his wife, who is profi ssioually known as Miss Emma Gwynne. Since his arrival in the colonies he has been constantly engaged as leading man with Messrs Williamson and Musgrove. Mr Sass, who claims kinship with the Marquis of Ripon, has one great hobby — ferugathe i r g — and he is alto au enttiuLi'ticp'iotcgraphtr. With other members of Miss KombWs company r.o v vi iting this colony for the first time he is charmed wi'li the scenery.

It is not every actor who has the luck on hi 3 side when p'aymg a practical joke usually m.t vi h b_, J. L. Toil", as tome tuemb r* cf tho Gourlij -Walton Company found last week. The party had been up to the Nicholl's Creek Waterfall, but when they reached the roadline

on their return journey they found to their dismay that the waggonette in which they came had left them in the lurch, having secured another fare. A three-mile walk on a dus y road stared them in the fa'-e before they could reach the King street tramline, and tt is entailed a late dinner and a consequent ru=ih in their endeavour to bs up to time for the night's performance. Dismay was pictured on their visagse, when a gleam of hope appeared in the portly form of Dunedin's Daniel Lambert— which his name is Houlihan, however— driving in his own little jauuthjg car. Both horse and car seemed to have pretty well load enough in their portly owner, but the latter was too goodnatured to allow the theatrical party to follow in his wake on shanks' pony, and after some little adoo everyone waa squeezed in, and a start was made tramwarcis. The genial Houlihan — you have only to look at his face to see good nature ceziug out at every pare— kept his companions in roars of laughter, as he related anecdote after .anecdote, and skilfully parried the occasionally somewhat pointed chaff of bis new-made friends, fairly equalling the efforts of Gourlay and Walton themselves, in his endeavours to amuse his companions, and so delighted were they that the tram was givui the goby and the party drove into the city in style in the portly brewer's trap. Over a stirrup cup a spirit of mischief entered the heads of one or two of the party, and an order was quickly written cub for the admission of their newly-found friend, bis wife, and family to the dress circle on Saturday night, although that evtning was still 48 hours off. While brushing up his dress suit for the occasion it suddenly struck out good-natured friend to consult the advertisement in the D lily Timi s as to the nature of the pUy for the evening, when the cat was out of the big. "Skipped, by the Light of tie Moon" wis announced for that night only, and in large capitals, repeated for half-a-dozen timep, was the announcement of the song of " The Hooligans ! " The representative of that ancient clan smiltd a smile as broad as daylight, laid bis drrss coat carefully back in the drawer, yolked up his faithful steed, and was in town in time to gn c the passes to a family who were not in danger ot havir g all eyes turned on them durivg the singing of the policeman's song. Though cheated of his night's amusement he had the satisfaction cf having outwitted his quandain theatrical friends.

A ease of booking ahead with a vengeance is reported from Christchurch, it being abated that Mr Bland Holt has secured the Theatre Royal for show week two years hence It is also me ntioned that Mr Walter Howe intends fo'minpr a company of his own including Miss Edith Blande, and that the new venture will commencs a New Zealand tour about Easter next.

Tiie San Frane'sco steamer had among it? passengers the Misses Albu and Mr George Darrell. the latter en route for Chicago ou the look-out for novelties for the colonies.

It i? mentioned by Melbourne Punch as a coincidence worthy of nofc'ce that the night Mr Richard Stewart, sen , returned to the stage in Melbourne, his youngest daughter (Miss Nellie Stewart) made "her return to the Australian stage" in Sydney,

Mr T. W. Twinning is not allowing his present congenial occupation to entirely eclipse his first love — music. He sends me all the way from Egypt a very pretty and dreamy waltz dedicated apparently to a love of a more substantial nature if we can judge from the initials on the title page — V. O'C.

The Cogill Minstrels commenced their Christchurch season on Thureelay night to a good house. They are well spoken of by the Christchurch dailies.

The Gourlay-Walton Company did very well in Invercargill. They left the Bluff in Friday's boat for Hobart.

Mr Walter Robarts drops me a line from Wellington to say that the complimentary concert tendered to him on the 28th ult. was a decided success both musically and financially. " I had recovered sufficiently from my illness," says my correspondent, " to be able to sing, but my voice was, and ip, still ve*y weak, and I have been advised by my doctor to leave Wellington for tbe north. I intend going to Napier this week, where I hope to thoroughly regain my health anel voice once again. Should the change prove beneficial I shall remain in Napier for pome time, proceeding thence to Auckland, after which I will return south and leave for England by way of Melbourne. Shall let you know result of the change in a few weeks."

Melba has signed for an Australian tour. Date uncertain, probably about the middle of '94.

Mr Aithur Salvini has been compelled by the siress of circumstances to join the majority. The following written statement was produced by de-btor (in bis proper name of Arthur Alexender Burrows) :—"I: — "I have been teaching singing in Dunedin for the pas!; eight month*. My average number of pupils has been about 12, varying from six to 18, at a fee of 3gs a quarter. During the preceding four months I was engaged in managing concerts in Dacedin, Invercargill, Oamaru, Timaru, and Wellington. Except in Dunedin theee concerts resulted in a loss, that in Wellington being particularly heavy. My business expenses in teaching amounted to about £13 10s a month, made up as follows :—: — Hire of furniture, £3 ; rent of room, £3 ; hire of piano, £1 ; the like at Port Chalmers, £1 10s; adverti-ing, £5. The last item was rm duced, and finally stopped. Tae mpeting was adjourned f < r a week, in order that the bankrupt shou'd furnish an account of the monej s he had received md paid away durng the last eiglit months

The boy who performed the sensational dive in connection with Fiilis's Circus ncently fractu-ed his thigh in Sydney, having alighted on his feet instead of his back. William Bdardon, his father, has been committed for trial for this. The boy in his evidence stated that he took the dive voluntarily, and was not afraid to do so. The accident was due to his own carelessness. He thought he was in the net when he w-is only haU-way down, and he turned over and fell on hit) fett. His fi.tb.er was not ci-uel to him, though he sometimes smacked him when he misbehaved himself.

Miss Fanny Horton, a popular actress some 40 years ago, while acting one night (soon after she had entered the profession) was loudly hissed. Calmly sbe walked to the footlights. "Which do you obj-ct to," she asked the audience — "my face or my playing ?" "Your playing — your playing," was the unanimous answer. "I am glad it is not my face," the actress replied. "My playing I can improve ; my face it is impossible to alter." This selfpossesbion under the most trying circumstances thatacter or actress can be subjected to was the first step towards that popularity which she afterwards enjoyed.

The late Edwin Booth had no standing oil' j the stage — no social position such as the foie- . most English actors have. One who knew him well roraarkd that ho was a great ac'jor, but nothing more than an actor. He was not educated, nor divl he try to educate himself. He originated nothing, and he has left no school of acting. He cared and did nothing whatever fcr i he American dram*. Instead of b^iug a priuce of players, like Irving, he knew nothing of the social side of art, and, until his last jears, wheu he gave a club- house to the playeis, he

extended no hosijitalities to bis admirers. His conversation was limited to theatrical affairs He had learned his parts by rote, and could not quote tbe most familiar passages from them unless sc mebody gave him the cue. In the technique of his art he was perfect — perhaps the most perfect of all actors— but his perfection was mechanical. He never thought of educating other ac ors. Rehearsals, in which true artists delight, because they can then communicate their ideas to their associates and carry out their ideals, were bis abhorrence. He always entrusted his share of them to hi 3 dresser.