STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 205, 27 August 1904, Page 10

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Throughout. New Zealand at the present time there is a dearth of amusement. Outside tbe Williamson Comedy (Company, which opens in Wellington to-night, the Woods-Williamson Company share the patronage of the New Zealand public with Fuller's and Dixs companies and a few minor organisations. There is a sort of lull after the storm, for it was only a couple of months back that companies in endless variety were lo be met with from one end of the colony to the other, '.there will be greater briskness in theatrical catering again towards the end of the year. Lovers of music will think more of the advent next week of lgnace Paderewski than of any theatrical event preceding or to follow it. Tbe pale-feed long-haired Polish pianist has a reputation that has been established in the musical centres of the Old World, and he comes to us in his prime, and not when his powers are waning. More it were impossible lo say, and within tho limitations of his in.-uu-ment we may accept without question i'aderevvski's ability to accomplish anything that is humanly possible. So much that is mere balderdash, however, has been written in Australia about the inspired genius of the great pianist that I nm seriously afraid that if it is accepted without reserve we will run tbe risk of hearing of disappointed audiences. Critics have been guilty of perpetrating in print as great rot about this artist as the anonymous correspondent.who, claiming to be a "musician, forwards mc the following absurdity: "I dreamed that 1, with some friends, was in a beautiful building, where the raised seats were quite near Lo the stage. There were not many people about us. so I suppose it must have been t sort of private recital. The stage, at the side, had a scries of archways, and behind them a corridor, and steps led from the raised seats to the stage. Suddenly Paderewski appeared before us, and amid perfect silence began to play. And then a wonderful scene took place, for performer and instrument became hidden, md only the sound of the music remained, but was being visibly embodied by a most beautiful spirit of music that perfectly presented in indescribably marvellous dress and motion every form of passion or emotion that the ear was listening to. Both dress and motion were constantly dissolving from one attitude and colour into another, and every change illustrated some one or other of the strong emotions and impulses of our human life, such as "love,' 'joy,' 'sorrow,' 'hate,' scorn,' 'beseeching,' 'contempt' —the last being 'fear.' I saw myself, irresistibly Irawn by the wonder and beauty of it. iown on the stage, pacing the corridor behind the arches, watching and listening llmost breathless with delight. Then the music and the Visible Form passed from hearing and sight, and with the vision of lhe 'fear' trembling before mc I stole oacU to my place, nnd we saw Pauorcv-ki lying pale and still —all passion, all emotion dulled and gone—upon a silkeniraped pallet. It showed to us the "Close it Life' —in silence we bowed our heads, md rose —and I woke quivering with the »xceeding beauty of what I bad seen and leard; which I have tried but have found almost impossible to convey in words, so delicately elusive was the scene." The benefit to the late Clement Scott.i which was given prior to the famous critic's death, realised £1250. Frank Thornton, who made 'The Prival c Secretary" famou.. is touring the English provinces with "Facing the Music.'' Among the Australian favourites <_i«= engaged in London when the mail left were Kate Bishop. Ada Ferrar, Maud Milton. Beatrice Selwyn, Henrietta Wat son, Pollie Finery. Mrs Stanislaus Calhaem. Cecil Ward. Austin Melford, Lionel Rignold and Hareourt Beatty. T.cmpriere Pringle. who recently tour ed New Zealand with Musgrove's "Fortune Teller" Company, is reported to have, inherited a small fortune by the death of his stepfather in Tasmania. FitzGeralds' Circus is doing a short Brisbane season.

Mr Williamson's Comic. Opera. Com>any opened in Melbourne last Saturday with "Tapu." 'T have always had a horror of growing old on the stage," Mme*. Bernhardt once said, "and I don't mean to do it."' Long ago she made up her mind that she would not die on the stage. She is 30. 1 wonder what the divine Sarah would consider growing old? Mr Kyrle Bcllew writes apropos th the '"dearth of plays" question: "A false sense of politeness often induces managers to pay compliments to on returning their manuscripts —as a kind of salve to their feelings for the rejection of their works. Such insincere civility is not only wrong, but also cruel." 1 have made it a rule, from which I never depart, to receive manuscripts for consideration only ou the condition that I offer no opinion ou their merits or demerits unless I accept them for production. If one has to offer an opinion, let it at least be a true one." '•Sherlock Holmes" has proved a gold mine to Mr Charles Frohman. the American manager. His No. 1 "Sherlock Holmes" company commenced a fortyfive weeks' tour last month at the Pier Pavilion. Southend. The title part is in the hands of H. A. Saintsbury. who has already played it over 600 times. Mr Hareourt Beatty will be Miss Nellie Stewart's leading man in her forthcoming Australasian tour. It seems probable that there is something in the report of Mr Williamson reorganising his Musical Comedy Company. Mr Ernest Pitts is said to be leaving Rkkards to join the combination. Sandfords were to put "P "pcle Tom's Cabin"' with unusual lavishness at lhe Sydney Lyceum last Saturday. No less than 100 supers, including. Us said, 40 negroes—not the burnt cork variety—had been engaged. Jn Adelaide the Knight-.leffries' Company did such excellent business wit :i their last week revivals of "A Royal Divorce" and "'The Sign of the Cross that the season was extended one night by fretting the time of departure of the West-bound steamer by which the company were booked postponed. Wirths are in the Broken Hill distrirt Show week, which is hxed for next month, will see them in Adela.dc. The "Sydney Referees" Melbourne correspondent, speaks of the chaste and charming comedy-drama • being thoroughly enjoyed on its first M< I by all present, . one aught judge from the hearty applause, tuft wis frequently heard .nd friendly demonstrations made in favour o? "lis; TitU.ll Brune, Mr Cuyler Hastings Mr Gwenn and others when the performances were specially meritonous. _, ~ .. . Anderson's latest is '"The Sailor, Sweetheart," which was the other night in Melbourne, with Eugenic Duffgan as heroine. MUs \nnie Russell is expected in Aus-i * .for a sixteen weeks' season r arv nx. year. There is.no better known actress on the American stage. It i< slated that Leoncavallo's new operaf-Koland of Berlin." which^iasoeupied the composer ™" "jjf*? " 4x years, ami will be. produced in the erman coital in the autumn, is planned in four acts. The work boa,., a Symphonic Prelude, and the coniposer has incorporated in the. score somoU Prussian traditional tunes and niarcke_ o f the sixteenth century. According to the "New York Turir* pianos in America are doomed, lhe business of teaching children and >oung persons to play declines rap,dl> and Lnateur work is discouraged by the multiplication of mechanical devices for rendering difficult compositions. Mascagni's new opera gives promise of something which will rival the Ca - alleria Rusticana" in popular favour. It is to b" a one-act tragedy in tnree scenes, and will last about an hour and a half. "Arnica" is the name ot the opera, and is that of a young girl, the heroine. The scene is in the mountains, near Savoy. The personages are five only, tbe action being quick and pafsionate. Over the signatures of Messrs Charles Burnham, Daniel Frohman, and Henr- B. Harris, a general call has been'made to all the theatrical managers in the United States and t an ad a to meet in convention this month. Tho objects of the meeting are. to discuss matters generally in connection with the ActoTs' Fund of America, and particularly the ten cent tax proposition recently broached, and the ways and means'for the betterment of t,hc_-tr__al business interests in the United States. The visit of the present London Gaiety Company to Australia has given rise to reminiscences of the visit, of earlier companies of the same class. Appropos of gaiety companies (says one writerl, the first in 1888 was the most brilliant of all, for it. was headed by Nellie Farren and Fred Leslie, and included Fred Storey. Charles Danby, Marion Hood, Lett.y Lind, and Sylvia Grey. It played only one piece, "Fviiy Bias," through the Australian and American tours" and for nearly two years after on its return to London. Almost the same company returned to Australia in 1801, when Miss Farren was stricken with the illness which closed her career. In 1802 E. J. Lonnen, Robert Courtno idge. Bert Haslcm, Marion Hood, Adlie ".'Olivers, Alice Lethbridge, Alice i.eamir,' and Katie Barry were the orineipals. Up to this time the oomorinies had pbvyed burlesque and been remarkable for their line dancers. The • 'ourth company in 1395 brought out I "musical comedy"—"A Gaiety Girl," j "in Town." "A Shop Giri." It was no-; table for the beauty of the ladies, who, deluded Maud Hohran. Blanohe Mas-j se v. Deeima Moore, f.raee Palotta. Flor enVe Lloyd, Claire Leigh ton. Ethel Selwyn, .-nd Madge Rossell (principal danger I. The -ten included Louis Bradfield. Charles Riley. Fred Kaye, Harry Monkhous.?, Leedham Bantock, Fritz Rimma, etc. In the "Year Bonk of the German Shake.pe_.-e Society."' just issued, some interesting particulars are given of the number of representations of Shakespeare's plays that, have been given in Gfrmany during the year 1903. In all. 977 representations were divided amonpst 173 theatrical companies. Twenty-five different plays were given, the most frequently acted one being "The Taming of The Shrew,"' which was ulayed 127 times and acted by fifty-six i-mpanies. Then follow "Othello," with 125 representations by seventy--,1-ven companies; ''The Merchant o' Venice." performed 111 times amon? fifty-nine companies; '"Romeo and Juliet," ninety-nine timer by sixty-nine -ompanies; "Hamlet." of which nineiy•rix representations were given by sixty-one companies; and "A Midsummer Night's Dream."' with eighty-eight performances by thirty-three eompanTME DEADHEAD.