STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 52, 2 March 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

The Charles Arnold Company continues to draw large audiences at the Opera House, "Why Smith Left Home" proving almost as strong an attraction as "What Happened to Jones." The second change of programme will be made on Tuesday next, when J. M. Barries "Professor's Love Story " will be produced for the first time in Auckland. The season closes on the follow-ing-Tuesday, "Captain Fritz" being announced for the last two nights.

After returning to Sydney the Charles Arnold Company will make a lengthy tour of Australia and Tasmania," returning to New Zealand with a new repertoire in about ten months' time.

During their tour of the world the Wirth Brothers played an unbroken season of 13 months in Southport. England, and had the honour of appearing before 11.P.1T. the Prince of Wales, who took a keen interest in this Australian circus. His Royal Highness complimented the Wirths on the excellence of the show, and an illuminated address was presented to them by the people of Southport on the termination of their long season in that town. Mr Philip Wirth has chosen Freeman's Bay as being the most convenient and suitable site for their mammoth circus, which will give its initial performance to-night. A large staff of workmen have been busily engaged making the necessary arrangements for the occasion. Good reports of the circus are received from all parts, and the return of this popular organisation is certain to attract large crowds during its limited Auckland season.

Miss Alice Hollander, a young Sydney vocalist, opens at the Opera. House on' .March 14th.

At the Agricultural Hall Mr John Fuller will bring his long season temporarily to a close this evening. Mr Fuller having taken over the Empire Theatre in Sydney, his Bijou Company will not appear in Auckland for a few weeks. He rjromises however to return with an entirely new company.

Miss Maud Howard, of Auckland, who is studying singing in Melbourne, gained second prize for sopranos in the Australian Natives' National Musical Competition, held in Melbourne this month. She was only one point behind the winner of the first prize. Of her singing the "Melbourne. Herald" said: "Maud Howard showed an unusually line voice, which amounts almost to a valuable discovery. The slight harshness of the top notes can be cured by careful and well-guided practice. This lady was about the only singer of the whole evening- who displayed Signs Of that magnetic 'thrill' in the voice and that spirited feeling which form an indispensable equipment for an artist."

While Wirth's Circus was in course of erection at Pahiatua, a child named Gilford went near the leopard's cage, when the animal caught hold of him through the bars and bit and scratched the child severely (says the "Poverty Bay Herald"). As a result seveu stitches had to be put in the child's face and head. A claim has been put in for £50 damages, but as the circus was not open to the public when the accident happened the proprietors do not consider themselves liable, having warned persons to keep away.

The net result . of Mr Musgrove's opera venture financially has been so good that he has already made important engagements by cable, including a star soprano, a tenor, and a basso.

The proprietor of the new hall at Waihi has offered the Clias. Arnold Co. £500 for a four nights' season at Waihi, and as the offer has been accepted residents of the mining township will have an opportunity of finding out what happened to the now famous "Jones." f

Dixs Gaiety Company will complete two years' continuous occupancy of the City Hall on March 31st, and the occasion will be celebrated by a special anniversary programme. A good deal of the "Babes in the Wood" scenery is being sent up from the South, including the fine transformation scene, and will be put on at the City Hall on Anniversary Night.

The famous singers, the Brothers de Reszke, have signed an agreement with George Musgrove to appear at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, some time during this year.

A young Australian juggler named Arnold Jarvis has been engaged by Mr P. R. Dix, and is expected to open at the City Hall next Monday night. He is called "the Australian Cinquevalli," and it is claimed that he can do most of the feats of the famous juggler from whom he takes his soubriquet.

Musgrove's Comic Opera Company are playing "The Scarlet Feather" in Sydney, with Miss Nellie Stewart and Mr Joseph Tapley in the leading roles.

The health of Edward Greig, the celebrated Norwegian composer, is causing his friends much anxiety. He has suffered for years from a weak chest, but lately he has developed an internal complaint.

Mr Rudyard Kipling has dramatised "The Jungle Book," and the play will be produced in London befor/e the end of the year, under the title of "The Jungle Play."

The "Sydney Referee" states that Mr Ben Fuller has taken a lengthy lease of the Royal Standard Theatre, Sydney, which will be re-opened in about a month's time under the name of the Empire Theatre.

Mr Alex. Anderson has been engaged by Mr W. F. Hawtrey to pilot "A Message from Mars" through Australasia. The company will open in Townsville on March 28, with Charters Towers, Rockhampton, and Brisbane to follow.

"Bis/ of the "Otago Witness," states that Charles Arnold's present Australasian tour had returned a profit of £ 12,700 up to the end of the 42nd week.

The death is announced of George a well known English variety artist, author of that once famous ditty, "Git Yer 'Air Cut," the tune of which was borrowed from an American plantation hymn. This was his first real success on the variety stage. Other songs in which Beauchamp made a hit were "How-de-do-dee" and "They're Coming on Again." He visited Australia recently tinder engagement to Mr Harry Richards.,