THE GHOST WALK

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 61

THE GHOST WALK

(By Pasquix, Jun.)

Walter Rivers, late of Dixs, joins Ben Fullei's Empire show. It is stated that Mr Dix has spent over £2000 in improving his theatres during the year. "Message from Mars" opens its A T ew Zealand tour at Invercargill to-night, i Ben Fuller intends putting on pantomime at the Empire of Christmas stocking. ! Madame Do'.ore3 Trebelli, or Madame Tre belli Dolores, contemplates a descent on New Zealand. | "San Toy," with Florrie Young as the star, is to be the attraction at Her Majesty's, Melbourne,, for Christmas. ' Valdare's departed north on Saturday to join Dixs Wellington show* They will be i^ie boss j attraction in that city. i Late members of Dixs now with the Fuller i Empire — Walter Rivers, Ida Rosslyn, Albert M'Kisson, and Jack Kearns. | The Dan Berry Company are now making a Victorian provincial tour. They have bsen appearing at Belfast in "A Gilded Sin." The Comic Opera Company are now engaged with^ the rehearsals for "San Toy," to be produced at Her Majesty's in Melbourne at Christmas. N"ewbury-Spada Company. — Philip Newbury and Madame Spada, with a strong combination, appear at the Agiicultnral Hall on Monday next. James Ware, an employee of Fitzgerald Bros.' Circus, was recently crushed by an elephant; blood-poisoning set in, and he died a few days ago. Andy Hodge, late of Henry's Dramatic Company, and later of the Adelphi, is stage-man-aging the 20-mmute dramas for Ben Fuller at Sydney Empire. Mrs Henry Bracy is being tendered a benefit concert at Melbourne Princess to-night (Tuesday, December 3). , She is about to leave Australia for England. Miss Edie Wright and Mr Sid Doodey, song and dance -artists, who were round New Zealand some time ago, are now in America, and reported fo be doing well. Josephine Stanton Company, with Miss Stauton as the young Prince Regent of Si am in spotless white ducks in "Wang," is a lefreshing incident in Sydney theatricals. The return season of the Italian Opera Company in Melbourne has hit the residents of that city more decidedly than during first visit — said first visit being financial failure. Mr Dix has completed all arrangements for his new theatre in Auckland. It is to cost JE30,000, and will be Dhe most up-to-date theatre in the colonies. It will be opened on Boxing Night, 1902. Miss Maud Gwynne, while playing Eliza Harris in "(Jncle Tom's Cabin" at Dunedin Princess on Saturday night, met with an accident which will necessitate her laying up for a few days. Mr Williamson has purchased the Australian rights of "The Toreador," which has been one of the most successful pieces yet produced at the Gaiety. "The Torea-dor" will be added to tiie repertoiy of Mr Williamson's Comic Opeia Company.

At Melbourne Theatre Royal, Mr Bland Holt's -company is enjoying a veiy successful run with " Hearts are Trumps," in which a startling representation is given of a theatie within a theatre, and another of the Swiss Alps. Mr Williamson is getting his company together for the production of "Ben Hur/ Alleady Mr Williamson has engaged Austin Melford, Conway Tearle (a populpr juvenile le?d), Hamilton Stuart, Miss Ruch Mackey, Miss May Chevalier, and Miss Mabel Lane.

Mr H. H. Vincent, Mr Williamson's new associate manager, is now examining the performance of "Ben Hut" at Chicago. He will sail from San Francisco on December 5, and on his arrival here the preparations for the February production of "Ben Hur" will be rapidly advanced. A resurrected par in last week's Spectator •-- "Playgoers will regiet to hear that Miss Rochester, of ' Sign of the Cross' and Stantou Comic Opera, is in Dunedin Hospital."— [Misd Nma Rochester has been out of the Dunedin institution many months, and is now in Sydney. — Pasqxtin.]

Madame Amy Sherwin is announced by recent English papers to sing the part of Diana Vernon in "Kob Koy" m London, and afterwards in Scotland. Mr Durward Lely and his wife are also to appear as Francis Osbaldistone and Helen M'Gregor. Mr Walter Bentley is to play Eob Roy. Mr Wilson Barrett's season in Sydney will last until December 21, and will be occupied with revivals of favourite pieces— "The Sign of the Cross," "The Manxman," "The Silver King, "Harnelt," "Othello and Vidimus. ' He then sails foi New Zealand, leaving so as to fill dates in South Africa after next Easter. Marie Lloyd, recently starring with Harry Rickards's companies, is reported to tap one London music hall for £200 per week. Cabled that her husband is suing for divorce, co-re-spondent being Alec Hurley, also out in Australia l-ecently .under Ri.ckards's Australian banner. A divorce from £200 a week seems somewhat foolish.

Madame Adelma Patti says that walking, and possibly billiard-plsymg, on account of the exercise it involves, are the best recreations for a singer. Madame Patti also declares that no one who wishes to retain aLI the freshness, sweetness, and power of her voice should sing m opera more than twice, or, at" the most, three times a week.

"If the public will have me," said Mrs T. P. O'Connor to a Westminster Gazette representative the other day, "I am going to remain on the stage. It is the career for which I have longed since, as a gmall child, I escaped from my negro nurse in Texas, and was found by the pursuing household enjoying myself t^t a travelling circus."

Several new players, under engagement to Mr Williamson will airive in Melbourne by the Orizaba. In addition to Miss Florence Young and Mis o Claude Bantock, who are to take part in "San Toy," Miss Lillian Digges, Mr Edmund Gwen. and MiEdwin Troode, who are to appear in "Alice *n Wonderland," are also passengers by th? steamer.

The death is announced of Signora Rebottaro, the mother of the well-known operatic singers of the. same family name. Signora Rebottaro came to Austiaha with Mr Martin Simonsen's Italian Opera Company, of which her daughter was a member, and has resided with her husband and family for many years past in Melbourne. She died at Hawthorn, at the age of 63.

A spacial honour has bean paid by the King to Miss Amy Castles, the young Victorian singer, who made ber first public appearance on the concert platform in England at St. James's Hall on the 19th ult. His Majesty lias written to Sir Andrew Clarke, the Agentgeneral for Victoria, expressing his interest in Mis? Cast!es's debut. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of T\ ales have also Dccorded their pationage to Miss Castles'^ concert.

Mt Phil May is going on the stage, a career that has had attraction for him since his boyhood. A company has been formed, financed chiefly with the object of giving him aa opportunity, and it will open in one oif the London theatres. The first play will be "Romeo and Juliet" ; the leading- characters Phil May will leave to others. He will make his debut as the Apothecary. This is evidently a joke. Phil May would look the character of the starving apothecary without any make-up.