STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 36, 10 February 1906, Page 10

STAGE JOTTINGS.

The Knight-Jeffries Company on Monday replaced "The Darling of the Oods" by a revival of the ever-welcome "Monsieur Beaucaire." That comedy gave place, in turn, on Thursday to a revival of the powerful, if melodramatic, "Royal Divorce." I find it difficult to understand the postponement of "Davy Garrick." but I suppose, the company knows its own business better. At least, the serious playgoer is likely to regard a production of Muskerry's powerful play as the most interesting of the season. From infancy Miss Holloway, the charming Dick in "Two Little Vagabonds," aspired to be an actress, writes a friend. During tbe many hundreds of plays Mr. Holloway produced in her childhood "Bee," as she was always called, was regularly taken to the theatre, where she revelled in the action of the various pieces produced. As she grew older she showed a most retentive memory, and learned to repeat the speeches of every actor in a play. And now she is starrinn: in the very part of Dick, which she adored as a child, and loves as a woman. Many a. time "Bee" would be missed from her home at Mosmans, Sydney, and be found in the garden playing the "Two Little Vagabonds" as a monologue performance, with only the flowers, birds and her favourite dog, "Lion," as audience. She is a cultured little lady, who speaks four languages, paints well, and is a writer of verse, some of which has been published in book form in Sydney. Mr J. C. Williamson has received cable advices from his London agent that 'The Little Cherub," which was staged at the Prince of Wales' Theatre there in January, has made a big hit, The piece, which is a musical comedy by Owen Hall and Ivan Caryll. was produced under the direction of Mr Geo. Edwardes, and in all probability, if the fuller accounts by mail endorse the cabled one. Mr Williamson will secure the Australasian rights. Miss Maud Jeffries has had a unique, though perhaps not altogether pleasant, distinction conferred upon her. Actresses have long lent themselves, and with every right, to advertisers of all sorts of commodities, but so far none have been in request by undertakers. According to the "Daily Mail" (London), however, Miss Jeffries has set a new cemetery fashion in compliance with a rapidly growing desire on the part of the English public for a less gloomy, though still dignified tombstone memorial. At the head of a grave Ln a London cemetery there now stands a marble effigy of Miss Jeffries in the garb of Mercia in "The Sign of the Cross," bearin.: the cross j and lantern. It is a familiar pose to all Australian playgoers, and the : sculptor has. so the'"Daily Mail" af- I firms, produced "quite a recognisable likeness," and the popular actress' representation makes an excellent mc- ' morial statue. It is now deanitely decided that "the Great Thurston" shall not visit New Zealand. Mr Edwin Geach has arranged to tour the East with this clever magician. At a performance oi "looping the loop" in Hanover (says Mr Punch) there was a praiseworthy innovation. The vehicle containing the artist fell off the track among the audience, injuring many of them, while the performer was scarcely hurt. This is undoubtedly the right way to pot a stop to the dexoatnd for Q__b_> ioc-hah ex- j J__b--K_ns»

•Veronique," which made its Sydney debut at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, on the 27th ult,, caught. the favour of the music-loving public almost from the opening chorus in its dainty flower-shop setting, and thenceforward the popularity of Messenger's opera was never in doubt. Indeed, the reception accorded it .was even more enthusiastic than the Melbourne onewhile the band of Mr Coventry was observable in many directions of stage management and -business generally. Mr J. C. Williamson's future intentions regarding this opera are of great interest. He has added it to the repertoire of the Gilbert nad Sullivan Company, and they are now at work rehearsing it in readiness for the New Zealand tour, for which it, as well as "Utopia, limited," will constitute the chief attraction. As was pointed ont some time ago. the Repertoire Company will be made Mr Williamson's touring combination, and will take with them the principal attractions which the Royil Comic Opera Company will deal with in Sydney and Melbourne, thus giivng playgoers'' all' over the Commonwealth and New Zealand an opportunity of keeping themselves thoroughly up to date in musical plays at any rate. In the present case "Veronique" should be thoroughly suitable to the whole of the- members of the company, while the fact that Mr Gerald Coventry is superintending rehearsals in Melbourne is a guarantee ■ that <be best possible preparation will be given it. It is understood that Mr Bram Stoker is to write a volume of reminiscences of Sir Henry Irving, with whom he was so • long associated. Necessarily the book must also, in some degree, • be a life of the great actor. Miss Nellie Stewart has begun her American tour at San Francisco, and with "sensational success," according to -a cable message received by Dr. G. Hall Bohrsmann, of Newtown, from Mr George Musgrove. The message states that Miss Stewart opened at the Majestic Theatre on- the 22nd January, in "Sweet Nell of Old Drury," and that the performance was a sensational success. In a cable to Mr Collins, manager of the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Mr Musgrove adds the words:—"Press notices great." At Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, on the 27th ult.. Miss Tittell Brune transferred her attentions from the quaintly pathetic sentiment of the little lodging-house slavey in "Merely Mary Ann" to the emotional characteristics of Rostand's "Duke of Reichstadt," the interpretation of which role set the seal upon her reputation as a highly talented actress. The revival was -welcomed by a crowded.house, and the fine, stirring Napoleonic drama was received with every mark of approval, special appreciation, of course, being lavished on Miss Brune for her consistent, sympathetic, and wholly admirable representation of "The Eaglet." "Sunday" will be revived after "L'Aiglon," and the time not devoted to the tale of the mining camp, the popularity of which seems to increase with its familiarity, -Will be occupied by the company in putting a final polish on their parts in "La Tosca," which will he next in order of production. Miss Brune's interpretation of Sardou's heroine is being anticipated with a very considerable amount of interest. The arrival of the Wilcannia from South Africa in the-.early -part- ; of last. week brought Mr R. G- Knowies to fulfil an engagement.for a tour of tralasia as a monologue entertainer uri" dcr the direction of Mr J. C. Williamson. He begins that torn- at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, to-night, Febmary 10, but ho will be" only able to dilate upon "Trifles that Trouble the Traveller" for a fortnight, in consequence of the theatre being required on February 24 for the farewell season of the Knight-Jeffries Company. Mr Knowies will therefore be given an opportunity of adding further to his store of trifling troubles. In other words, he will be sent on tour, and will in all pro-l-ability visit Melbourne about Easterlime. Tbe first week of "Utopia, Limited," at the Princess Theatre, Sydney, proved beyond all doubt that the public taste for Gilbert and Sullivan pieces has never waned, and that a "new" work from the famous collaborators creates just as much enthusiasm and appreciation as the revival of the older favourites have done throughout the existence of Mr J. C. Williiirison's Repertoire Company. At the end of last week there was an interesting alteration in- the cast of the comic opera, Miss Olive Godwin replacing as Princess Zara Miss Dolly Cafttles, who is taking a well-earned holiday. Miss Godwin is remembered in Australia as the young actress who made such a pronounced, success of the part of Josephine Zaccary in "The Orchid" during Miss Florence Young's absence in America, With a useful gift of comedy and a particularly pleasing voice, Miss Godwin, judging by her admirable' presentation of Gilbert's character •should be a decided acquisition to the company, to which she has been permanently attached. Miss Dolly Castles will, of course, take up her work with the company again when she has had a complete rest. Mr Arnold Daly, Whose company presented Mr Bernard Shaw's "Mrs Warren's Profession 1 ' one night in New York, when the police were present and reported that the play was subversive | of public morality, was further brought I up with his manager, Mr Samuel ,Gumpert.z. on Christmas Eve. The advocate for the defence, Mr Goldsmith, now informed the Bench that as far as the defendants were concerned they were willing to stand their trial at the general sessions for misdemeanour. The magistrate said he had read the nrompt book of the play, and thought that many other plays now running in New York were infinitely more reprehensible and dangerous. The two defendants were released, each in £20 bail, until the special sessions. "How about the other defendants?" asked the Public Prosecutor. "Warrants were issued for them, but they have not been arrested." said the magistrate, "and I don't see how it will serve any purpose of the inquiry now to have them brought down to gaol. Under the circumstances I will only commit the two defendants, Daly and Gumpertz, for trial" During the short examination Mr Daly, who always maintained that Mr Bernard Shaw's plays teach a moral lesson, was decidedly wroth. When asked to state his occupation he replied, testily, "I am not sure what I am. I am beginning to think that I am just an ordinary sharper." X the Court's decision be favourable the play will be again seen in this city;- if unfavourable, there is no reason why Mr Daly should not travel across the border to another State where the laws are less stringent. About 250 Chinese, including a few women, attended the performance of j "ESnbad tbe Sao-or* at the Sydney Theatre last week. j

! The Fuller Proprietary will reopen the Opera House on the 24th inst. Eyrie Bellew, the peerless, seems still able to draw strongly as "star" without the beauteous Mrs Potter. At latest he was just finishing a very successful season in Philadelphia, United States, America. He has been doing splendidly throughout the big cities, I. is stated in weU-informed circles that Mr Harry Rickards has secured a half-interest in the Cremorne Gardens, Perth, Western Australia. All credit is due to the Gilbertt and Sullivan Company for the really arduous work they have done since their formation a short twelve months ago. In the year they have learn., rehearsed and played eleven operas, the majority of them exacting both musically and histrionically and calling forth the exercise of far greater mental and. artistic powers than are required for the usual run of modern musical comedy. With any company the feat is a remarkable one, but it becomes far more so when it is remembered that except for the "stiffening" afforded by such experienced players as Messrs Howard Vernon, Charles Kenningham, and Frank Wilson, the members of the company are young, comparatively fresh to the stage, and with no previous knowledge qf the many parts they were called upon to interpret. Moreover, it must be remembered also that with all this strain of preparation the company, were touring nearly the whole time, that they played only short seasons, and that were called upon for a different character, needing different treatment, at intervals which were seldom more than a week in duration. It will not, however, be of very long duration, for Mr J, C. Williamson is already arranging for new features in view of the _oT._hcon_ing New Zealand tour. THE DEADHEAD.