STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 72, 24 March 1906, Page 10

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Some months ago it was stated that Mr G. Musgrove proposed to bring another grand opera company to Australia. A company is now" in process of formation in Melbourne for the purpose, of co-operating with Mr Musgrove in bringing to Australia a grand opera company, to open in Melbourne in Easter, 1907. 'The "Argus" announces that a number of influential people, including several prominent in musical circles. have taken up the matter warmly, and it would be a matter of ease to find applicants for the 4000 shares it is intended to offer at £ I each. But the object of the promoters is not merely to float the company. Their desire is to obtain 4000 different persons who will purchase one share each, and, if this is not possible, to sell the shares in as small parcels as possible. By this means a widespread interest will be created in the opera. The shareholders will eagerly-visit a show in which they are part proprietors, and will freely advertise it ainons Their friends. " The promoters are therefore anxious to distribute the shares over Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand, as the proposed tour of the opera company will cover those lands. The shareholders are. to be given one day's priority in booking seats. Tbe financial arrangements are that Mr George Musgrove will receive an allowance of £ 1000 a year for expenses, and supervise the productions. He will, further, be a full partner in the company, half the profits going to him, and half "to the shareholders. In addition, a special arrangement will be made under which Mr Musgrove is to tour America, France. Italy. Austria and Spain, in search of suitable artists. The intention of the promoters is to produce the operas on a scale of magnificence not yet achieved in Australia, and have the scenery, costumes and ballets worthy to support artists of the calibre it is intended to engage.

j Without exception London dramatic j critics speak in the highest terms of A. W. Pinero's latest play "His Hous,? in Order," which was produced at St.-Tames Theatre. London, at the beginning of | last month. Several of them s>o so far ias to hail it as his greatest piece of J work, and all of them congratulate him on his selection of a theme far removed from tli_> unwholesome surroundings of which he has been somewhat too fond in : such dramas as ""The Notorious Mrs. ! Ebbsmith."' "Tris,"' and '"Lcttv."' lie has

left the problems he enunciated in those I efforts, and has adopted a new, more hu- | man. and infinitely more interesting subj jeet, preaching indeed the attainment of I real happiness by virtue of self-r?nuncia-i tion. "The Smart Set," that, favourite I objects of attack in later day stage pieces |is desert, _ in favour of another class i equally deserving of censure—the large j section of conventionalists who refuse to I recogni-s? good and evil outside, tbeir own ! narrow and bigoted ideas on such things.

; Australasian playgoers who remember ) the .palmy days of Pinero will look forI ward anxiously to the production of the I drama out here. As tlw_ option on all j the dramatist's plays, past, present, and r future, is in the hands of Mr. ... C. Williamson, that event should not- be far distant.

"The Sign of the Cross*' never seems to stale in the estimation of Australasian theatregoers, and it must share with "A. Royal Divorce." the distinction of being t!i,-> play witnessed by the largest number of playgoers throughout the Commonwealth and. New Zealand. This is due most probably to the fact that Wilson Barrett's melodrama has a religious significance which has attracted thi" attention and the attendance of a large, section of the community which ordinarily never visits a theatre. Reiterated evidence of its popularity was

afforded during the farewell season of the. Knight-Jeffries Company at the Palace Theatre. Sydney. Originally an' nounced for a two nights' revival, the crush of people anxious to set? the last of the two stars as Marcus and Mercia was so great, that Mr. Williamson decided to keep it on for yot two more'performauces. cancelling the revival of '"Pygmalion and Galatea" for that purpose. The last week of the Sydney season wa.s filled in with revivals of "The, Silver King " and "'The Lady of Lyons."

The tirst of the Williamson's "oversea" companies for 1006 will be that headed by Air. William Collier, which leaver- San Francisco for Australia on the 11-ith April next, and opens at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, a month later to the day. Mr. Collier is an American comedian who. In addition to a

most enviable reputation in. his own Country, has added to it a London popularity such as few actors of his type have enjoyed in years. His two pieces. "The Dictator." and "On the Quiet." were most highly, spoken of, and the new method and his supporting company employed iv the interpretation of the irresistible humour, was welcomed us a novel change from the conventional lines of farcical playing. The former, in which he will make his debut before an Australian audience, deals with the laughable experiences of a young New Yorker, who, in tbe belief that he has killed a man, escapes to a South American republic in company with his valet. There the two of them become embroiled in the usual revolution, and the hero finds himself exalted to the dizzy if insecure eminence of president, an" unfamiliar honour which <>ives rise to a number of absurdly funny incidents. An amusing story of stage jealousy and revenge is told by a Hamburg paper. In a provincial touring company a quarrel had arisen between one of the actors and the leading lady. The former swore to be revenged, and his opportunity came when a performance of "Faust" was to take place. The play had proceeded as far as the exciting scene where Gretchen finds the jewel box, and deliberates whether she will open it. On lifting the lid a strange whirring noise was heard, and from the box there j issued tbe sounds of the popular ditty, ''Ach dv lieber Augustin, Augustin, AuI gustin." Trembling with vexation, ' Gretchen. slammed the lid, but the box relentlessly kept grinding out the tune, (which was promptly taken np by the jjallery. The house was convulsed with laughter, and the curtain descended on a very discomfited Gretchen. weeping tears of mortification.

It is asserted that Edward Terry is contemplating a farewell world's tour. Quite a number of actors with whom we are acquainted are in "The Heir at Law 5 ' at the Waldorf, London—Lionel Rignold, Sydney Brough, and Charles amopg others.

... The,new .Zealand, contralto, Te Rangi j Pai, has been the chief attraction at] two concerts at Wellington, which attracted a-very large audience. Other -artists are Miss Army. Slurphy and Mi- Handley Wells, -of "London." Arrangements are being made' by Mr." James MacMahon, who is 5 -tarring" Te. Rangi Pai for a season In Auckland.

""The Gilbert and Sullivan.- Company have b?en doing the Victorian "smalls" for st- week in Bendigo, and a season'of the same, length in Ballarat, to, be followed by one night each at.Geelong, A_bury, Wagga Wagga,. and Goulburn. At Newcastle they will make their final appearances iv Australia before departing for New Zealand.

Miss Gertie Campion, who is suffering from lung trouble, is at present an inmate of the Cambridge Sanatorium.

The usual way: At a musical comedy in London, from his seat in the stalls. Clyde Fitch noticed a young man in one of the boxes laughing uproariously. His companion was a critic, and Mr. Fitch said to him: ."I think he ought to have better taste than to laugh so loud. "Oh," said the critic, "he is the author, but he never heard these jokes before. They were put in by the comedian."

Madame I.ydia Yeamans-Titus, who is to tour the Commonwealth again, under the management of Mr. Allan Hamilton, has reached Australia. Mr. Leslie Har ris will also be a member of this company, the New Society Entertainers.

Mr. Thomas Kingston is leading man to Mrs. Langtry, who is now touring South Africa. Kingston plays Jack Frobisher to Mrs. Langtry's Lady Alethea in "The Walls of Jericho."

George Oiddens, was sued in London the other day by Maples, the big furniture people, for new goods and for storing his furniture during his. last visit (o Australia. The actor counter-claim-ed, but as it was shown that the furniture was the property of Mrs Giddens this -was disallowed, and judgment was given for the amount, £91 11/6.

An actor's holiday usually consists in going and seeing other actors ut work. R. GL Knou.es,. when passing through Wellington the other day, spent his evening seeing Johnny Sheridan in "Fun on the Bristol." Knowles' previous acquaintance with actor and part was in New York twenty-eight years ago. Mr. Edwjn Goach received by the last. English mail a letter from Misa Grace Falotta, who expresses keen pleasure at the thought that she will .soon renew her always-pleasant..acquaintance with her many Australian-friends.. She is yt present .in Paris, taking a course of dancing lessons from Herr Hassreiter. Miss PaJotta will make her first appearance in "The Man From Mexico." Hoy Redgrave, of the Tittei Brune Company, was a parly to a divorce case in London last month, when his wife secured a decree nisi in an undefended action. A sacred song entitled "The Voice of Cod" has just been published. The words and melody arc by Mr Archibald Crawford, and the music is harmonised by Mr Harold E. Light. It can be sung either as a solo or quartette, and will be fouud to be very suitable lor church gatherings. Geo. Musgrove has been having trouble with the American Customs. The collector let the scenery through promptly on a ' promise that a bond would lie forthcoming next day that the goods would not be disposed of in the States. Musgrove got the scenery, but the collector had a hard time getting the bond. Xo less than ten demands were made within two weeks by the collector's deputies, but continual postponement was the result. Eventually the collector gave notice that unless the bond "Was filed by 10 o'clock next morning the goods, on which the duty amounted to about £300. would be seized. THE DEADHEAD.