STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 38, 13 February 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

It is a strange confession io make that I liatl never before seen "Two Little Vagabonds." Truth to tell, the piece Is too often misrepresented by those -who won't take the trouble to distinguish between differing examples of the same kind. Consequently I was rather pleased to have avoided it —till I saw it under the most favourable circumstances on Saturday night, and came away with the impression that it was one of the finest productions of the less ambitious kind it had ever been my lot to witness. Miss Holloway's little waif Dick is an exquisite conception, which, on its own lines, could hardly be beaten anywhere. The rest of the serious people were more than good, and the comedians were almost astounding in the novelty and freshness of their work, which was here essential and not, as with the melodrama, accidental, or a mere makeweight. The Sanford Company dropped a good several degrees in the quality of their work on reaching "The Struggle of Life," but the production was not below the average of ordinary melodrama. The season on the whole has been so far both a distinct financial and artistic success. Miss Minnie Terry, of Williamson's Dramatic Company, now in Wellington, is a niece of the famous actress, JViiss Ellen Terry, for so many years associated with Sir Henry Irving. Miss Terry was a "star" as a child actress, having made a huge success in "Bootle's Baby" and in other plays. Mr F. Wynne-Jones, who spent eighteen years in Wellington, and is at present musical director for the Wil-loughby-Geach Comedy Company, has accepted an offer to produce some of his musical works in America. He leaves Australia for the United States at the end of the year. Miss Gertie Campion, who is with the Royal Australian Comic Opera Company in South Africa, is slowly recovering from a serious attack of pneumonia, contracted at Johannesburg. Mdlle. Antonio Dolores is touring Europe. The gifted vocalist is at present in Germany, with Austria, Holland, and Poland to follow. Mr Williamson has cabled Mr Vincent from London that he has engaged an English comedy company for an Australian tour. No further particulars were given. Mr Williamson is at present on his way to America, en route to Australia. It is a moot point whether women should be taken to a theatre at all at a young and impressionable age (says the "Ladies' Field"), seeing in what a totally unreal light the. modern young man is presented by the average dramatist. Behind the footlights the handsome, clean-shaven fellow has principles as unimpeachable as his dress-clothes, a soul as speckless as his dazzling waistcoat. It is within three years of half a century since Miss Ellen Terry mode her first appearance as an actress. She played the part of Mamillius in "A Winter's Tale," with Kean as hero, and Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and the Princess Royal as spectators. "I was a tiny little mite of eight," she says in an exchange, "dressed in a short, very short, white and red coat and silk stockings, and it was part of my duty to trundle a small go-cart on the stage. Oh! that terrible cart! 1 got along quite beautifully until in a careless moment I tripped and fell full length on the stage, to the laughter of the entire house. That trip cost mc many bitter tears, and of course I thought my career as an actress was at an end. But you see it isn't even yet." The "American Musical Review" speaks flatteringly of Wallace Brownlow, who has been appearing at the San Francisco Orpheum. Mr William Winter, a well-known American critic, writes as follows to a friend in Boston (s;iys the '"Era"): — "On November 22 I came to Philadelphia and remained there over Monday night to see Irving. I saw again his marvellous acting in 'Waterloo' and 'The Bells.' He is a wonder, and the more I see of his acting (which 1 have followed and studied for 2G years) the more I am convinced that, in the poetic interpretation of human nature and the imaginative ideal, through the medium of dramatic art, he has nover hnd an rqusil. You will soon sec him. and 1 in-cl jii>: counsel you to attend every perln.mance thai he gives. Tin-iv is nw!■■■«]_% else on t!io stage who eomps wi'hin :> thousand miles of him! I was ;;bsent ! recently five flays, which is quite a respite for mo. The work this season has been very hard —or else 1 am conscious of Anno Domini. But the example of I Irving has given mc new courage, and I that is what it is to be a real leader of men." Playwrights at their wits' ends for new themes and novel titles will doubtless be interested to learn (says the "Pelican") that a drama entitled "Emile Zola" has just been produced with wreat success in Valencia. This opens up an entirely new world, and if the. idea patches on at all we may yet live to see a "Marie C'orelli" tragedy, a "William Shakespeare" melodrama, a '"George R. Sims" comedy, or a "Dan Leno" farce. Judging by latest files t there is no doubt but that theatrical business in America shows a marked decline (says the "Sydney Referee"). Mr Charles Frohman closes the company headed by Mtss Jessie Milward, who were to have toured in "A Clean Slate." Its reception did not justify its continuance, mid it was announced to close at the Madison Square Theatre in New York. "The Christian" has been taken off tour at Seattle. Messrs. Klaw and Erlanger have curtailed the run of their superb production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," with Mr Nat. Goodwin as a star, and various other closings throughout of the country are announced. Mr J- L. Toole, the famous comedian, whose stage career dates back as far as 1852, is still pleasantly remembered in Australia and New Zealand. Although now a confirmed invalid, the veteran is still able to get about, and last month he paid a visit to the New Theatre to see the revival of an old piece in which he used to play. "Alice Through the Looking-glass." Po delighted was Mr Toole with little Maidie Andrew's performance as Alice that he sent for her to his box and complimented her. On the fall of the curtain the crowded house readily recognised the veteran comedian, and in response to their enthusiastic applause, Mr F. JArton (Mr Tcole's nephew), speaking from the box. expressed, on Mr Toole's behalf, his delight at the reception accorded him. THE DEADHEAD.