SONG, STAGE, AND STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 101, 30 April 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

SONG, STAGE, AND STORY.

Pollard's Opera Company. still hold the boards at the Opera House.' This week In Town' was played for three nights to good houses, and 'Boccaccio' was also successfully revived. An old. favourite is promised for to-night in 'Paur Jones;' one of the best things in the Company's repertoire. The season has yet a,nbther week to run.

Fitzgerald's Circus left for the goldfields last Sunday. After visiting the Thames, Paeroa, and Te Aroha ■ the Circus will proceed to the Waikato, returning to Auckland on May 16th for a farewell season. V

On Friday May 20th tho^ Aucldand Liedertafel are to give the first concert of the season. The Society have in active rehearsal some new music just imported from London, which has not been heard in Auckland. The Society is increasing in membership and . a very successful season is predicted. Miss; Gladys Leigh, who toured the colony recently. . with 'The New; Woman,' is now in Wellington organising a company. . She has,engaged the Wellington Opera House provisionally for four nights from the 27th. inst. with the view of producing some popular pieces.

'Mi' Frank Thornton's Wellington season closed on the 23rd inst. He is due here on May 9th.

The 'Canterbury Times' says that it is rumoured that Miss Fanny -Wentworth was so disappointed with the lack of patronage accorded her in the Southern towns that she has decided not to tour the North Island and will leave for Sydney "direct at the close of her Wellington season. Nat G. Goodwin and Maxine Elliott were married on February 20th, at Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs Goodwin, it is understood, will be a joint star with her husband next season in 'Nathan Hale,' and in Madame Eyley's 'Richard Savage.'

Mr Charles Cartwright's English Company are appearing at the Sydney Criterion in 'The Tree of Knowledge.' Mr Wilson Barrett gave a revival of 'Hamlet' at Her Majesty's last Saturday night. The Bland Holt Company are sLill appearing in 'The Cotton King' at the Royai. A i report, to which several newspapers gave publicity, that Miss Elliot Page and Mr Julius Knight were about to get married has been contradicted.

'The Babes in the Wood' is spoken of as the finest theatrical spectacle seen in Melbourne. It is proving a remarkable success there. The New-bury-Spada Company commence this evening a series of four Saturday night weekly popular concerts, at the Melbourne Town Hall.

It appears that Mr Wilson Barrett's visit to this country cannot be extended beyond he limits originally fixed for it. There was some talk" of his returning to Melbourne for a short farewell season, but the actors engagements at the 'other end' forbid of his prolonging his stay at this. After the conclusion of his Sydney season he will play for a fortnight in Adelaide, whence he will sail for England with his company fcby the Orova.

A complimentary benefit was tendered to .Mr. Lachlan McGowan, the veteran actpr, in Sydney last week. The programme was unique for its variety and its excellence. Mr Cartwright and his company played 'Dream Faces'; Mr Austin lludd sang 'Gallery.and Boxes'; Mr Bland Holt and his company gave an episode from 'In Sight of St. Paul's'; Mr Wilson Barrett produced for the first and only time in Sydney, 'Chatterton,' by the authors. of 'The Silver King-; the Messrs MacMahon's company performed the first act of 'Phantoms'; and members of Mr. Rickards' Tivoli company and of Harmston's Circus made specially interesting- contributions.

Professor Norton B. Smith, 'Emperor of all Horse Educators,' has returned to London from a tour round Hie world. Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Ceylon were amongst the countries visited, and in all a brilliant success was scored (remarks a London journal). At Johannesburg a six weeks' season drew record houses, and it was only the rumours of trouble that closed it then. Zebrau here were plentiful, and throughout Africa 'these tigers of the horse tribe' were frequent visitors to Hie Professor. The welcomes received in Australasia were most nattering, and the Professor has returned with a huge opinion of 'Greater England.' The English tour opens very shortly. Charles Arnold is producing- 'Hans the Boatman' at the Glasgow Royal Princess. A local paper states that he is as delightful as ever in the title role, and that he receives good support from Miss Dot Frederic as Jeffie.

An incident occurred in the lion and elephant act at the Fitzgerald's Bros.' Circus recently at Marton which (says the 'Hangitikei Advocate') sent a thrill of alarm through the whole of the spectators. The elephant was carrying the lion around the large circular cage in which this performance takes place, when it fell over on its side, and the iii>n,,with a growl of anger, was suddenly compelled to look> out foT Itself. It landed on its feet and everyone, expected it would attack one of the two attendants or the elephant. It is certainly a very quiet beast, however, and the firmness and presence of mind, displayed by the trainer were instrumental in soon causing it to resume the exhibition as though nothing had happened. For a few moments, however, one could see by the rush of officials to the cage that the matter had its alarming features.

Mr Ivyrle Bellew and Mrs BrownPotter at the termination of their season,at the Adelphi, on March 17, were to proceed to Glasgow on the following Sunday, where they were to commence a long tour under the management of Mr Abnd. Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham were down on the visitinglist* of the company. The next oversea tour of Mr Bellew and Mrs Potter is, to be in the direction of South Africa. -