STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 129, 1 June 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

The Josepliine Stanton Opera Company, which opened at the Opera House last Tuesday, will hold the boards for another fortnight The opening production "Wang" was replaced last night by "The Fencing Master," which will be repeated this evening. Amongst other pieces in the Company's repertoire are "Said Pasha" (to be produced on Tuesday evening), "Dorcas" (a musical comedy by Harry and Edward Paulton), and old favourites such as "Maritana,"' "Girofle," and "La Mascotte."

Older theatregoers who knerw the old Prince of Wales Theatre in Queenstreet will doubtless remember the visit of Miss Alice May's Opera Company. They will be interested to know that the young tenor of that Company is now appearing at the Opera House in the person of Mr Henry Hallam, who has brought the Josephine Stanton Opera Company across from America. Although Mr* Hallam has been in the States for the last fourteen years, he is well-known in the colonies, and is looking forward to renewing •acquaintance with many old friends in Australia.

Mr P. R. Dix is now sole proprietor of the Princess Theatre, Dunedin, having completed negotiations for the purchase of the theatre and the adjoining hotel, for a large sum- ,Mr Dix will spend a considerable amount in improving the theatre. He leaves for Wellington on June 13th to be present at the first anniversary of his Gaiety Company in that city. Mr Dix has completed arrangements with the N.Z. Shipping Co. to bring artists from England direct to this colony, and after a sj_x months' season return them home without playing Australia. Dainty Irene Franklin, who will make her first appearance in this colony at the City Hall on Monday, is acknowledged as being quite at the top of the tree in her own line. As a singer of coon songs she is said to be without an equal. She possesses a sympathetic voice, a petite figure, and has numerous quaint tricks of gesture. Another artist whose name is familiar to most playgoers is 'Little Alma Gray, who wiiralso be seen for the first time on Monday night. This charming young serio and dancer made a big- hit in Australia some five years ago. She was then taken Home to England, where she was such a success that she played four halls nightly in London for several months.

Miss Elsie Rosser, said to be the possessor of a magnificent contralto voice, will also make her first appearance in this colony on Monday. To show how managers have to look ahead for talent, it is sufficient to learn that Mr Dix has engaged "The Haytors," who have made such a hit in the South, for a return visit, commencing- in Auckland on Boxing Night, 1903. These artists, by the way. are due at the City Hall in four weeks' time, together with Frank Yorke, who has been absent for nine months. It is understood that there will be pretty keen competition for the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, when it is submitted for sale next month. Rumour has it (says the Christchuroh "Press") that Mr J. C. Williamson will be a likely bidder on the occasion, as he intends organising a regular NewZealand circuit, in order to keep the companies he will send out fully engaged. ■ The phenomenal success of 'Florodora" in Sydney continues unabated. J. C. Williamson, before leaving \merica, secured the option of Australian rights in all plays, present and future, produced by Frohman in America. Among Frohman's recent^ suc•cesses axe "L'Aiglon," "Zaza," "Sherlock Holmes," "Under Two Flags," and "Madame Butterfly," the latter, a short play with some remarkable effects, being a big "go" in London. All these are likely to be staged by J.C.W. anon. Mr Nat C. Goodwin, on being recently asked by the editor of a New York paper to furnish an answer to the question "What would you consider to be of most interest to the public?*' replied as follows:—"Next to light, heat, health, clothing, and food, of most interest to the public is the theatre. We are all actors, from the time we, in short dresses, strive to attract the attention of our elders, to the last gasp. There is no human being over five yours of age who is not, consciously or unconsciously, an actor. No one is wholly natural. No one dare be. It woiild mean ruin. Ergo, if one i,s not natural, one must be acting a ,part. Then, what we all are doing, lalL'the JjUrae, on the stage and off, in public and in, private, we _ naturally ar§ most interested in—acting1." The matinee performance of "Cinderella" in Sydirsy, promoted by Miss Nellie Stew'art for the benefit of the poor children o f the city, turned out a great success in spite of unfortunate weather. Mr Thomas P. Hudson, who was honorary manager of the matinee, was able to telegraph to Mr George Musgrove that a total sum of £206 had been realised, of which £42 was netted by the p,ale of photographs, flowers, and sweets."

An ainusinp par from a 'Frisco paper :"The Sires sent Edmund Gerson over to Paris not long ago to secure Yvette Guilbert for the New York Theatre. Yvette said she would be delighted to again visit our hospitable shores, and only wanted $25,----000 a month for singing here. She will remain in Paris."

J. Zangwiltfs latest comedy, "The Revolted Daughter," produced in London, is described in cable despatches as "a commercial impossibility." The chief defect found in the play by the critics is that it has no love interest.

A sensible rule has just been established in the London music and vaudeville houses prohibiting any performer on the stage from addressing the leader of the orchestra or any individual musician in an effort to be funny. No longer will the monologist be permitted to say, "Spin me a few, professor," to the violinist, or "Doctor, will you kindly turn on the gas?" to the leader when about to dance a jig. This innovation may well be introduced in the local vaudeville and burlesque houses.

Some time ago (writes our London correspondent) I gave you some particulars of the comic opera "Fantasio," the musi^ of which is from the pen of Mr G-eorge Clutsam, and then said that Mr E. C. Hedmondt was likely to produce it at no distant date. The "Westminster Gazette" thus refers to "Fantasio" this week:—"Mr E. C. Hedmondt, who has been touring with the Moody-Manners Company as principal tenor, and who took a conspicuous part in the recent Wagner week in Manchester, has in his possession a "new romantic opera which he is eager to produce whenever the opportunity

offers. Tt is founded on Alfred de Musset's 'Fantasio,' a poetic comedy which ought to lend itself admirably to musical setting. Both the libretto and the music are by men who have not yet won their spurs in enterprises of the kind, but Mr Hedmondt has great faith in the piece, and says: 'Wait till I "produce it. Then you shall see.' 'Fantasio' is, of course, one of the most whimsical of De Musset's comedies, and operatically ought to be very diverting. 'Fantasio,' the reckless, dandified young Bohemian, was really a very good portrait of the gay French author himself, and his wildest pranks were no wilder than many of De Musset's own adventures. Indeed, in the performance of his comedies it was a common thing for Delaunay, the actor, in such parts to make up as an exact portrait of the author, and Mr Hedmondt contemplates following that example. 'I have always enjoyed Be Musset's comedies,' says Mr Hedmondt, 'and hoped one day to figure as that blithe young spirit 'who wrote himself into 'Fantasio.' "

On Thursday next, June 6th, Mr and Mrs Hamilton Hodges' winter series of popular concerts will be resumed in the Choral Hall. Mr Rupert Mantel , an eminent baritone, has just arrived, and will assist Mr and Mrs Hodgesi in these concerts. Mrs Queree, who has established a very high reputation as a pianist, will also take part. Mr Robert Brough terminated his Eastern tour at Hong Kong on May 9th, and is now on his way to Sydney with Mrs Brough, Mr Alex. Hamilton and all the Australian members of his company. According to the "Sydney Morning Herald,' Mr Brough reports that this his second eastern tour was so eminently satisfactory that he is planning a third for the near future. On arriving in Sydney Mr and Mrs Brough will take a short holiday, during which time their company will be reorganised, and several new artists will arrive' from London. Moreover, there will be a great deal to do in preparing for the new pieces secured by cable negotiations in London during the tour. In this way Mr Brough will open his next Australian season at the Sydney Theatre Royal on July 6-^an event which will again place theatre-goers in touch with the latest phases of modern comedy and society drama. The actor-manager will have another iron in the fire this year. It appears that Mr Charles Bertram, "the Royal and Imperial Court magician," a conjurer who has appeared before King Edward VII. (when Prince of Wales) upon 23 different occasions, will tour Australia under Mr Brough's direction. Mr Bertram opens in Melbourne June. 8, and at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, June 24.

Mr H. E. Roberts (Mr Roberts was last here with Miss Maggie Moore), one of the best of colonial players, is returning to Australia with a company collected in America, of which Miss Madge Tullet is the leading lady. Amongst the pieces to be played is "Quo Vadis," evidently a version dramatised by Mr Roberta himself.

Mrs John Sandes, one of the loveliest of Australian women, has joined J. C. Williamson's forces, says Melbourne "Punch." and will play the parts formerly sustained by Miss Elliott Page with the dramatic company. Mrs Sandes was Miss Clare Berry, and always a notable figure in Melbourne society.

After an absence of nine years Mme. Van der Veer Green, has returned on a short visit to Sydney. Mme. Van der Veer Creen has already made her rentree in Melbourne, where she sang1 at the Mayoral reception before the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. The Melbourne press was high in praise of the visitor.

In consequence of the death of his son Paderewski has resolved to abandon his tour through Spain, and not to play the piano in public for twelve moqrths. This will also interfere with the production of the famous pianist's new opera. It is easy to understand that the death of this son should be a severe shock, seeing- that he was the only child of M. Paderewski's first marriage, and that his wife, who had been his faithful companion in his early days, died just at the time when success was crowning* his efforts.

After the performance of "Paul Jones" at His Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, the "front of the house" staff assembled and presented Mr W. O'Sullivan, manager and treasurer of Pollard's OpAra Company, with a chaste silver matchbox and silver mounted pipe, both suitably engraved, as tokens of esteem. Mr L. H. Spiro made the presentation on behalf of his confreres, and in a short speech remarked on the esteem in which the recipient was held by the "front of the house." He also expressed the hope that the northern tour of the company would prove successful in every way. Mr O'Sullivan, who is respected by all who know him, or had had dealings with him, replied briefly and to the point. He hoped to have many an enjoyable smoke out of the pipe, and said he trusted he would often see the faces of the donors in the rings of circling smoke ascending therefrom. Or words to that effect.

The European mail brings particulars of the Williamson Italian Opera Company which arrived in Melbourne this week. The principals will include Madame De Vere Sapio, who will be very pleasurably remembered as the vocalist of Madame Camilla Urso's concert company of 1894. The dramatic soprano is Signora Lena de Benedetto, and the first tenor Sig-nori Commendatove Vincenzo Larizza. Among the others are Signora Edwige Faccari (soprano leggiero), Signora Fernando Cattadori, Ignasdo Bozzoli (baritone), Evandro Cannonieri (tenor), Olinto Lombardi and Baldo Travaglini (bassi) All of these will be heard in the opening performance of Verdi's "Aida." The orchestra will consist of 4l" performers, the first violin, ' cello, viols, double bass, oboe, harp, two French horns, bassoon, and flute coming out with the vocalists. The leaders of the chorus will also be selected in Italy. Eighteen operas will be produced, including "Verdi," "Ernnni," "Rigcw letto," "Otello," "Aida," "Traviata," and "Un Ballo," Donizetti's "Lucia" and "La Favorita," Rossini's "Barbiere," Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet" and Meyerbeer's "Huguenots." The greatest novelties will be Giordani's "Fedora," Puccini's "La Boheme." Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana," Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci," Ponchie'lli's "La Giaconda," and Boito's "Mefistofele." The Melbourne season will open on Ist June.