STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 22, 26 January 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

The Crane-rower Company commenced a season at the Opera House on Monday with "The King's Musketeer." which has proved their strongest draw throughout their tour. "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" was produced for the first time in -Auckland on Friday evening.

Donald McDonald is lecturing at Perth, whence he proceeds to Fremantle and the West Australian goldfields.

Mdlle. Trebelli, or as she now styles herself, Mdlle. Dolores, will commence another Australian tour about the first week in April.

Snazelle, the well-known entertainer, is appearing at the Melbourne Athenaeum, after an absence from the colonies for several years. The first performance in Australia of Wagner's "Tannhauser" took place at the Sydney Theatre Royal on the 14th inst, the opera being staged by Musgrove's Grand Opera Company. Says a Sydney paper: "An immense success was achieved, the audience being captivated by the beautiful and melodious music, the enchanting stage tableaux, and the gorgeous mounting and setting." Mr Wilson Barrett is a great believer in The moral influence of the drama. Quite lately (according to a London paper) he received a letter from a girl who had been to see his revised version of •"Man and His Makers," saying that, being very unhappy at home, she had fully determined to commit suicide, but that the Hope in the piece had infused hope into her own heart, and that she had turned from the coward's death to face her life and its difficulties again. This is the latest from a London paper concerning Henrik Ibsen: — "Upon his writing table a visitor saw a small tray containing a number of grotesque figures, including a tiny devil. Ibsen said: 'I never write a single line of any of my dramas without having that tray and its occupants before me on the table.' -Now we know the source of the little wildhaired gentleman's, inspiration." Ferry, the Human Frog, has proved an immense draw at the City Hall this week. He is undoubtedly a marvellous man; his contortions alone are really wonderful, and his act altogether is certainly the best of its kind that we have seen here. Fuller's Bijou Company continues to present its patrons wit'll attractive, programmes. Among the most popular artists appearing this week are Miss Lottie Lome, Miss Lena Young, and Messrs Will Watkins, and Fisko. Mr J. C. Bain's Company^ opened at Huntly on Monday night to a crowded house, the takings amounting to £32. His tour has had an auspicious commencement. "The Babes in the Wood,' 1 Mr Dixs pantomime, closed a season of nineteen nights and four matinees at the Theatre Royal, Wellington, on the 17th inst. Over 23,000 persona witnessed the performances, and the season was a great success. The pantomime opened at the Princess Theatre, Dunedin, ou Tuesday last to a crowded house. Amongst coming attractions at the City Hall are the Patterson Bros., the great American comedy bar performers, Irene Franklin, Prof. Almond (champion skater), and. the Lingard Sisters. Mr 11. Stewart, business manager for the Crane-Power Dramatic Company, was last round with the "Trip to Chinatown" Company. The present New Zealand tour is the nineteenth he has made through this col* lony. Mr Stewart is a brother of the well-known comic opera star Miss Nellie Stewart. The Calcutta, press is unanimous in the cordial praise given to the Brocigh Comedy Company, who, when the last nrail left, had appeared there in "The Liars" and "The Gay Lord Quex." In the first piece Mr Mario Majeroni now plays the part of the gTuff. husband, Crilbert Nepean, taken "in Melbourne by Mr Came. Otherwise the cast in both plays is quite unchanged. It is estimated that 4C20 people witnessed Mr Dixs shows in the four cities of New Zealand on Boxinolught. Auckland alone accounted for ISOO and Wellington 1200. A singular scene recently took place in the Helsingfors Theatre. According to a London paper, a prima donna Mdme. Alma Fohstrom, had so won the public ear that the house was filled at each performance, though the prices were tripled. A local journali ist had written in deprecatory terrasof the artist. One night when"the latter was about to sing she publicly expressed her objection to his presence, and asked for his withdrawal. A tumult ensued, one part of the audience siding with the singer and the other with the journalist. The critic! however, smilingly withdrew, and the performance proceeded. In referring- to her trnrellin^- exI penses Sarah Bernhartlt told an interviewer she was quite unable to manage with the £40 a week allowed by ;M. Gran, for when travelling she invariably spends £20 a day. particularly in America, where everything is dear, and her apartments a'lon^ "cost £<> per day. Sarah Bernhart has taken with her a special retinue of five persons.