STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 47

STAGE GOSSIP.

{Specially Compiled for the Otago

Witness.)

Dear Pasquin, — Mr George Ernest Jones, the clever young musician, " the youngest orchestral conductor in the colonies," who leads the band with Conjurer Dante, was born at Gaston, near Liverpool, England, April 3, ,1874, but may be justly called a New Zealander, seeing that he arrived in Auckland at the age of four. His father, Thomas Henry Jones, was a well-known vocalist at Ruthan, North Wales, in connection with choirs and choral ainging. George E. is the sixth son of a family of 11, and strange but true, only one other member of the family is at all musical — a 12-year-old tister who bids fair to become a clever violiniste. When George was a little boy — this is not the slory of George Washington, but another (fact) story — ho one day seized on an accordion, out" of ' which he knocked "Annie Lauiie." His father hearing his 10-year-old playing, said, " That boy's going to be a musician." Pere Jones came in and asked Georpe who was playing that accordion. G-eorge replied, " Father, I cannot tell a fib : it was I." So pa wpnt out and bought George, not a hatchet, but an organ and a violin, but knowing it was wrong to- put a. beginner at the organ, he concluded to let him start with s piano Master Jones's first piano tutor was Professor Swallow, of Auckland. Going over to Melbourne he studied under Mrs Levould. and afterwards the piano, organ, violin, and viola under W. A. Layer ther of cricketer Frank). Perhaps no one is better known to leading Victorian musicians than George Ernest Jones, for in Melbourne he has conducted for the Liedertafel, Marshall Hall's Orchestra and other leading musical societies. His first appearance was at Prahan, where at 13" he played a piano solo. He was organist and choir master at St. Joseph's, Melbourne, for a considerable time, which position he had to throw up on account of ill health. He then (1881-82) joined the Lynch Family of Bellringers, with whom he remained for five years touring the whole of Australia. At that time the Bellringers included Percy Brown (a baritone singer u.t one time with the Firm), Sonny Parlatto, Scotch tenor Millar Fraser (well known in Duaedin), Johnny Collins, Teddy Forde (the clever facial artist, who went to S' Africa with James Beli and Ada Delroy), Harry Ritter, and C. Bentley. George E. Jones next signed on as conductor with John Goiirlay's " Skipped by the Light of the Moon " Company, through Tasmania in May, 1895. Returning to Melbourne, he conducted at the Gaiety for Fred Fordham. Older players than the clever young Aucklander didn't like it, and co banded together and prevented Mr Jones securing musicians for his orchestra. Notwithstanding this, George E. Jones got together one of the finest theatre bands in Melbourne. He was next sent for by Mt Harry Rickards to conduct the Orchestra at the Op^ra House. George E. Jones is the composer of the Dante March, published by Paling and Co. (dedicated to the smart conjurer Dante the Great), " Since Gold Came in Between," a very pretty motto ballad; the drawing-room song " No More," and "the ballad " Highway of Life," besides numerous pianoforte solos and dance music. George Jones, "the small and insignificant," although a decidedly original and clever musician, does not suffer from swelled head, and although born in the laod of the Maori, is a white man, and for that reason is made " One of the Jays." At one of the Malvern musical contests, at the age of 15, he secured a silver medal for his violin playing, beating a dozen others.

"Lord and Lady Algy" will probably open the Moaland tour of the Broughs.

Miss Jennie Nye has just been led to the altar at Sydney by our old friend Ned Holloway.

Mr Gerard Coventry (stage manager from the Casino Theatre, New York, and Shaftesbury Theatre, London) is acting in a similar capacity with the Firm's " Belle of New York " Company on the other side.

James Hendy is treasurer for Charles Holloway at Sydney Lyceum, where Misses Maud Gwynne, Amy Gourlay. Messrs Frank Harcourt, Robert Inman, Harry Douglas, George Chalmers, William Gonrlay, J. P. O'Neill, J. W. Sweeney, George Melville, and Charles Holloway are playing in " Man's Enemy."

Newcastle, N.S.W., 6/5/99.

Dear Bis, — Just a line. Finished six nights' season here to "' the same sweet story." Will therefore play a return season on my way back. My very warmest sentiments to all Moaland friends.— Yours truly, GEO. W. HELLER (Heller's Mahatma Company). Miss Dora De Winton and John D. Saunders made their Australian debut in the first colonial production of " A Soldier and a Man " at Sydney Lyceum, under Charles Holloway' a management, on May 20.

A mishap occurred at the Melbourne Alexandra Theatre the other week to that veteran comedian, Mr Gratfcan Riggs. Just as he was stepping through the doorway of " The Pig and Boots " in " Shin Fane," the stage carpenters rapidly hauled up the mimic hotel to the flies above. Mr Rigg had no time to escape, and with nothing to hold on by but the plank on which he was sitting astride — which formed the threshold of the door — was hoisted to a perilous height. The actor was lowered in safety, but hi 3 hands were cut upon the woodwork, and though he continued playing after a few minutes' rest he suffered considerably from the fchock. So did the audience, who momentarily expected the frail beam to give way, with probably fatal results to the comedian.

Dear Bis, — I notice the name of " Signor Gardini, the famous violin soloist," on the bills of the Elsie Hall Concert Company, now in the south. Is this John Gardner, of Gardner Bros., who came to Moaland with Bob Inman, and afterwards ran the " Gardner Bros. 1 Concert Company," and who left the Pollard Opera Company in Christchurch to take in pupils for the violin? His brother was a cornet player. — Yours, AH G.

Many thanks to Mr Adam Cowan (Dante Company) for a budget of bills and 'grams. Cinquevalli is drawing packed nouses at Melbourne Bijou.

''Dante the Great" still doing well at Melbourne, the receipts being ahead of Sydney business.

Grattan Riggs is playing the evergreen " Irish Detective " at Melbourne Alexandra.

Walter (Begg) Bentley recited " The Passion Play " at Melbourne Town Hall on May 13.

Messrs Spicer and Drummond, through this colony with the Blind Students last year, are thinking of bringing a party of mutes through BEortly.

George E. Jones, the clever young musician, who leads the band with " Dante the Great," is a bit of a diver. When touring Victoria some years ago, at Ballarat he just caught the train By doing a sensational header through a carriage window as the train moved off. Not knowing their leader was on board, the members of the company set about inquiring " What Happened to Jones?" It wasn't till their arrival at Melbourne that they knew what was very nearly happening, as the authorities were only with difficulty persuaded to forego laying a charge of entering a train while in motion (to the danger of the paTty he landed on). Mr Jones has been offered a big salary to do his sensational dive in melodrama, but is not taking any encores, thank you.

Auckland, 14/5/99.

]3ear Bis, — A few items: The members of the Australian (x Shadow of the Cross) Dramatic Company recently had to sell theatre admission tickets around Stratford to raise their fares. Am staying here at Mick Lynches. Fanning — the only Charles — and Miss Georgie Devoe are also at the same " old actor's house." The Gaiety Company are doing well at the Opera House. Fanning, Walter Rivers, and Daisy Chard are the favourites. Miss Daisy Chard made her last appearance last night till the Fall. Walter Rivers has caught on here, and has to sing " Sons of the Sea " nightly. His imitations of popular actors are very good. Amongst his best may be mentioned Bland Holt as Jaikes in " Tlie Silver King " and Moss Jewel in " The World " ; George Rignold as Harold Armytage in "The Lights of London" (with references to the limelight man, and " stop-that-damn-row-up-there" to the boarders) ; Fax and Morrison in " Trilby " ; and, which is perhaps his best, Ned Holloway as Ben Marston in " Robbery Under Arms " (" there will be trouble to-night at George Storefield's "). Walter is doing very well here as a teacher of elocution, and has opened a " School of Elocution and Dramatic Art," and is prepared to receive pupils in elementary and advanced studies. (N.B. — This advt. is not paid for.) Miss Ada Woodhill and a number of the MooreHoberts Company have retired to Australia. The Ernest Toy Concert Company have done a terrible freeze here. How the Elsie Hall Company will " scrape " through I do not know. One of the most interesting managerial yarn-spinners I've met in Moariland is Charley Voss, of Wanganui. Henry's Dramatic Company open a farewell season of seven nights at Auckland Opera House, May 20, " prior to their departure for A.ustralia." The "Bill of the Play" for the week runs as follows: — "Shamrock and Thistle," 20th and 22nd; "Under Two Flags," 23rd; "Blind Justice 1 ' (first time in Auckland), 24th and 25th; " True," 26th and 27th. After seeing the opening here I leave for the Thames, where we olay a. short season, afterwards sailing direct for Sydney. Am posting you herewith parcel of 'grams. — Yours, •" a humble mummer," ' ANDREW S. HODGE (" One of the Jays ")•

Mr Alfrud Mculton conducts the -band with the Firm's " Belle of New York " Company at Sydney Her Majesty's.

Old Jimmy West haa organised a company in Sydney, and they reopened the Royal Standard on May 18 v with "The Lancashire Lass." E. F, Ga.llaugb.er is managing.

Many thanks to " Goody " for a very interesting collection of theatrical pictures, including a nicely-framed enlarged photo of Miss Marie de Grey, " the beautiful tall woman with a slight lisp " who toured Maoriland in 1884-85. As " a few lines concerning the clever Marie's career would bo interesting," " Bis " gives them with pleasure. Marie de Grey (a norn de theatre) was in private life Ellen Washington Preston, wife of G. B. Preston, late Queen's Bays. She received her dramatic education from Mrs Hermann Vezin (formerly Mrs Charles Young, who gained a reputation as an actress in the " legitimate " drama in Australia previous to her London debut as Julia in "The Hunchback" at Sadler's Wells Theatre, September 15, 1857). Marie de Grey's career was one long triumph. She appeared at the leading London theatres throughout the provinces, India, America, and Australia and New Zealand. India was the country where Marie de Grey first appeared in public about 3875, and on her return there nine or ten years later she was everywhere greeted with enthusiasm. Her visit to the colonies was due to a most severe attack of rheumatism. Being advised to try a warmer climate, and not wishing to relinquish her profession, Miss de Grey organised a company for India and Australasia. Few who enjoyed her many admirable performances in the colonies ever dreamt of the physical pain Miss de Grey was undergoing while delighting her audiences by her clever acting. So engrossed was she in her art that "at times she became totally unconscious of bodily suffering in delineating the -mental struggles of her famous impersonations of Lady Teazle and other characters. With regard to her world-praised rendering of Lady Teazle, Miss de Grey remarked in a chat with '" Bis " many years ago (at that time at the zenith of her career) that she considered the role " aB only a second-rate one for impersonation. Horace Walpole found fault with the staginess of the character in his day, and Dion Boucicault also drew attention to the artificialness of Sheridan's characters." Miss de Grey considered the period at which the " School for Scandal "•''was written a period when " English society, as Sheridan knew it, was a heavy imitation of Parisian courtiership. The stage was occupied by such exponents as Mrs Abingdon, '20 when she came, and 20 when she left the footlights,' having meanwhile played before two generations. Under such circumstances an author would resort entirely to brilliant dialogue for effect. Strongly delineated character — in fact, naturalness of any sort — was considered vul.-jar, and therefore ignored." Emotional comedy drama was Marie de Grey's forte, and in such plays as " The Ironmaster," " Fedora," and '' Woman Against Woman," and the like, she scored decided triumphs. On her Maoriland tour of 1885, amongst other parts Marie de Grey played — Lady Teazle . . in " School for Scandal " Kate Hardcastle .. „ " She Stoops to Con-

quer " Louise Perrot .. „ "Woman Against Wonian " Adrienne .. „ „ "Adrienne Lecouv- „ reur " Rosalind , "As You Like It" Peggy - . „ " The Country Girl " Returning to England in 1886 Miss de Grey toured the provinces with her own company, playing a round of characters, including Juliet, Lady Macbeth, Rosalind, Beatrice, etc., and made her farewell appearance on the stage as the adventuress in " The Monk's Room " in London some 11 years ago, when she retired into private life. So quiet was her retirement that when the papers announced in October, 1897, the death of " Ellen Washington Preston, wife of Captain G. B. Preston," few people found any point of recognition ; but when it was noted that Mrs Preston was once Miss Marie de Grey, many a playgoer recalled to mind the beautiful woman with a slight lisp who figured largely not only on the mimic stage, but also in English social life, where her always open purse will be much missed. Tl * conclusion I mieht say that " Goody's "

picture has a leading place in my portrait gal* lery, and if there are any more — well, " let 'ent all come." — Yours truly, . BIS