STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 12, 14 January 1905, Page 10

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Mr John Fuller's Empire Company iosed down at the Opera House for a season on Saturday last, after a good run of some months. Mr Fuller has still another company running in Wellington; it opened its season a few weeks ago to very good bu<_iness, Mr Ben Fuller being in charge. Mr Fuller, sen., has gone to the islands for a holiday, and will be away for six weeks. Mr Geoirge Stepihesnsson's most reeenitpurcthase is a, favourably spoken of musical comedy by R. Baecbus and Osmond Oa-rr. entdtied "Miss Mischief." It will be first prodiw_d by the con-pany during the SycLu**y sea-son, w'hAch conii-Kaa-ces on April 15. Mr J. C. W-Umnssrm res__iß__y slanted that New Zealand had laitely become a big field for theatres, sand, -was well worth tbe attention of fihe best ______ agers. Mtr J. C. Wil'Jdsa_nso.n holds +.hait fihe thiesaAricatl ma-nager should study the eriti-cismis of his produetio-s. Speaking to an interviewer from tbe Melbourne "Argus," he said tlsat -he earefuily read presses notices from all parts of the world, and kept a e_tre-uj and svsbetmatdc record of them. "Do I know of any huinorons incidents connected with touring?" stttd Mr J. C. Williamson in a recent i-mterrview, "I Should rather think I do; bint- they're not always humorous to mc, though I enjoy some of tbem in retrospect. I haid a company flooded out at nuJ, New ZeaJ&nd, on on© occasion. They were wands-ring all tlhrough the streets knee-deep in water one ndght, and the ladies w-ere taken from the hotel dining-room in a gondola. The 'Are You a Mason' Company had am exciting time when travelling by tram once in New Zealand, hey enucsun.tered a land slide at Ma_iawa.tu Gorge. They bad to walk up to their knees in slush through a tunnel, carrying the scenery and erTect_= with them." After the Melbowrne season, wh-oh will be limited to the present repertoire, Mr J. C. Willisamsson's Draffnaiic C-OTOTiany visite New Zealand. During the tour it is expected '"Tho Second Mrs Ta-iqueray," "Letty," amd "Zaza" will be added to the list of works to be produced by the company. Mr Kyrle Bellew will appear in London- next September wibh 'l_ames.'' The piece was one of the few successes in New York last season. ITa-try R- Roberts, Tyrone Power, and Ks.Lbh Crane are mil euppsorting Mtb , Leslie Cante-r iv America. j Mr George Edwardes assured an interviewer lately thai the average musical piece costs £ 10,000 before the currtain is raised, and ho does not count on any of his pieces paying unless they have a run of a year. After the 50t.h week be. looks for profits. But then be generally has to redress bis pieces. Misa OJga Bea-tty-Kingston, Who was in New Zealand during the eevrly part of last year, left I_»__irm recently for New York with Mr G-eo-rge Edw-.urd-eR' "Duchess of Baiitzic" Oorapan.y. and witl play the part of EmproiK Josephine. Mr Edwardes went out with the <ion>pan\-, and the production 13 -to be. on -a ssoale of greu.t magnificence. The worn by the ladieß are pronottnijed to be superb. Mr Charles Arnoild, who de_tnitely docdued Ut doff the sack and bnskin. and wear tlie tivwds of a country sj-qu-re, r-; aching for the boards OTtee more. C'lndies is about to tour Africa professionally. Little Gnilivcr, wbo is needy _hree feet hiph, is back from Africa, and persistently smokes a Boer pipe with a capacity of hailf a pound of tobamco. The pipe lias been t-Jeen in the streets ot MeJbour-ve, pulling a pair of slogs af-tor it. There ore "several New Zoaiasnd f«-vov-rites 'in tbe Anderson paaitonriiime at the Melbourne Royal. Tlie (subject is tlie ra.-t.her thrreadbare one, "Smbad, the Sailor." Freddy tlrahsam ia Mrs Sinbasl, Waiter Rivers Hassan, Charles Albert Hafiz, Charles Bates the lorueJy tramp, and that most delightful of a-11 Maimie Clancey's, Tilly Woodlock. Zaidce, the new star " boy,"' Miss Ravensburg. oom-es in for uiriisitinited praise, and Mmc Alice Pollard would appeasr to bo as fascinating as ever as principa.l girl. The ''brighit pantieukur s.t_ur" at the Theatre. Royal a.t present is u-idmrbbed-ly Miss Lizzie Kirk, who fe nighitly deshvering a "waggon full" of new goods to the especial delight of the larrge audiences whicli tisssemhle at Mt P. R. Dixs populax playhouse (says "Lorgnette" in the "Mail"). Mr Frank Loon has also got a boxful of ''new stuff" which catches on "great." The dTanna>tiic company headed by Mr G-eorge Darrell, now playing on tbe West Ooasrt, includes MeKssrts I-rank Hawthorn, Oily Deeriug, Alf. 80-othmian, Henry Hudson, Missses Ada Lawrence, Hikta Meade, and May Ren-no. The repertoire cousisits exclusively of Mr Darrell's own plays and ad_.ptatio.ns. I went to hear Sarasate's second and last TecitaJ of the season at St. Jsam-es' Hall on Tuesday (writes my London carresporndent). Tbe famous Spanish ! violinist is now sixty years of age, but there is as yet no trace of waning power in the magic of his bow. .Sara-sate, has played in every coirtinent - except. Australia, and one would like to see him follow the example of Paderewski and venture on a trip to the Antipodes ere his star begins to set. It is a thousand pities that tbe people of the colonies should have been denied the opportunity of listening to so rare an sartisL Mr Oscar Asche, who with Miss Lily Brayton and a pairticularlly strong company scored a brilliant success last month in his revival of "The Taindng of the Shrew," at the Adelphi, is an Australian by birth, though his father is a Norwegian and his mother English. He learned his business thoroughly in the State Theatre in Ohristiairia, the director of which was Bijorn Bjornsoa, son of Bj.ornst-jern Bjonison, the author, where he took part in many plays during eighteen months. Then he came to England, but failing to secure an engfigement -retirmed to Norway foT a visit, during which he gave a scries of Shakespeaaian costume recitals on a short tour. While with the Benson Company Mr Asebe played upwards of ninety Shakespearian part?.

Mr Harry Hiscodcs, organist of St. Patrick's Oathed<nal, has undoubted ability jus a composer. His "Little Sweethearts' Waltz," a copy of which hae been sent in for review, is a really piano piece, well con-ceived, excellently harmonised, and tunofuJ. The tim« i<s well marked, an«l th« waltz will probably be a popular dance piece.

At a "One-night Stand.' , —The Barnstormer: I came over to ask you if you couldn't, lend us about twenty bed-sbe?t3 for to-night's performance. Hotel Man: What for —boarding-house scene? The Barnstormer: No; we're playing "Julius Caesar," and we want Roman togas for the mob.

Paderewski received something akin to a European ovation last evening (says a San Francisco paper to hand by the mail). Constraint took wings, and the most staid and conservative people found themselves cheering. In all, Paderewski gave seven encores, three of them being aft-er the completion of a long programme. The tremendous enthusiasm that greeted the first appearance of the great pianist, after four 'years' absence, has increased, with his every appearance. The "New York Worla" is championing the cause of the chorus girls, who have appealed to the press for support ngainst the officials of the theatrical world. The "World" recently published a number of letters from the girls, who claim that they have no chance of retaining their positions if they remain honest, that it is impossible for them to make any progres in their profession unless they are willing to sacrifice an upright life to what they allege is known as the "regulations." On the other hand, the "World" prints an interview with Mr Joseph Weber, a prominent employer of theatrical people., who claims that the conditions cited by the complainants are not representative. Mr Pepper: "I don't believe there was a dry ey« in the house when the curtain went down on the third act." Mrs Pepper: "No, bnt there seemed to be the usnal number of dry throats." After Mrs Brown-Potter—Miss Ada Reeve. The heroine of "Winnie Brooke, Widow," has given her opinion on tho subject of the effect of "dress" on the stage to an interviewer for the autumn number of the "World of Dress"; and from the merry prattle of the fair comedienne we gather: (1) That Miss Reeve regrets the disappearance of the tight (2) that she seldom wears her jeweWery save on the stage; (3) that a touch of black gives a finish to a costume; (4) that cleaned gloves don't peel off quickly enough for the stage; and (5) that a coarse cream straw of the prevalent mnshroom shape, the ruche and strings being of green velvet, would go wall with a green cloth gown. The '"interview" , makes bright reading, and is accompanied by a photograph of 'Miss ileevo in what appears to tbe mind, at any rate, of a mere male, a most complicated and beautiful "confection," with hat to match. THE DEADHEAD.

BASDS AND BANDSMEN. (By PRKSTO.) The Waihi Salvation Army and Federal Bands will render a programme of music to-morrcrw at Waihi in aid of the local hospital. The Gisbome City Band are (says a GLsborne paper) practising in view of the forthcoming contest iv Auckland in February. 1 have been fortunate in securing some information about the Kaikorai Band (Dunedin), the winners of last year's contest at Palraerston, and who lir'- again competitors at our contest, heading rhe list as far ;is entries are concerned, having no le*s than Z.i entered fur solos, trios, quartettes, and drum events. The band is very popular in Dunedin. and its many supporters are confident of its giving a good account of itself (it the Auckland contest. June '.'• IB<SI, the Kaikoiaßand an established fact, with

Mr. Thomas Chapman u.n • onductor- <md t.it.l practising for 18 months* they <ia\o tinir lirst progniiuuie. In March, 1884, Mr. K. ration was appointed conductor, wiiicn position he hold uutil August, 1002, and during his eight years' cuiiductorahip tbe band made rapid strides, taking part in all the groat contests with more or less success. Mr. G. B. Laidlaw was called upon to fill the vacancy causpd by Mr. Strat ton's resignation, and there is no doubt a wise selection was made, as the band , !; performances will show. The present conductor has had a wide and varied experience in brass band work,, being bandmaster of the Ist Argyle and Bute Volunteer Band for 14 years, and six years hi the same position with the Ruthsay Corporation Birnd. Mr. Laidlaw has not confined himself to brass band work, but has had a good deal of experience in oratorio anil opera work, he having played with Colonel Maptson Royal Italian Opera Company! Carl Rosa Opera, Valentine Smith's Opera, and Bucosiar Ope.ra Companies. The following is a summary of the Kaikorai Band's performances to ISO 2, Wellington, fourth; IS9'*, Christ church, tie for second; 1894, Invercargill, first; 1895, Tiuiu.ru, third; 1890, Dunedin, third; 1897. Oamaru, second; IS9S, Dunedin, second; IUOO, Christchureh. third; 1902, New Plymouth, third; 1903, Masterton, third; 1903, Timaru, second; 1904, Palmerston, first. The following members have attained lirst honours at the above-men-tioned contests: Messrs. F. and ( . Da vie, J. O'Brien, C. McClashen, K. Fett.it, A. Schnark, .T. Fca, R. Chrisbolin, W. P. Coughlan, J. G. Oaborne (band secretary), and A. Peters. The quartette and trombone trio parties were successful in carrying off the first prize at New Plymouth. I am sure local bandsmen and Auckland citizens will extend a hearty welcome to Mr. Laidlaw and his men.

One of the members of the Garrison Band has supplied mc with an account of their trip to Tauranga, where they went to play at the regatta, having been engaged for that event by the Tauranga committee. The men are loud in their praise of the treatment meted out to !.hem by the committee and townspeople, who, they say, seem to have made up '.heir minds not to let the band spend any money while at Tauranga, they (the people) desiring to do that portion 01 he business for the band. It seems inseparable from parties travelling that an amount of boasting should be indulged in, as to the effects of the sea trip, etc., and on this occasion some were very brave as the Wellington steamed along the smooth water towards the gulf, but later had to succumb to the effects of inal-de-mcr. Tauranga was reached at seven a.m. on December 29, 1904. The band played during the- day. giving the heaviest programme the members ever remember giving, over 50 items. Friday was spent in sightseeing and a visit to Lady Maxwell's, (who entertained the band at afternoon tea), after which they set out on their return journey, the monotony of which was broken by a court-martial of one of their number for . Well, suflice it to say he was fined by the mock court 5/6. which amount. I understand, still remains unpaid. Tile members arrived home next morning, after having, as one of their number put it, a "dead good time.' .

A correspondent writes mc with regard to the marching of our bands. He says he was at the Domain last Sunday and s w both bands marching, and it was very poor I have sought information to verify or disprove those remarks, and I find most j.cople agree with them. Tbe opinion prevails that a competent military man should be engaged to coach the hands in this very important matter, and I trust tho men responsible wQI give this matter erery consideration.