STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 244, 12 October 1907, Page 10

STAGE JOTTINGS.

FORTHCOMING ENGAGEMENTS. HIS MAJESTX'S THEATREOctober 7 to 26 — Messrs MacMahon's Dramatic Co. The advent of Messrs. MacMahon's living picture enterprise should arouse considerable interest in the amusement world. The cinematographic reproduction of all the stirring scenes and episodes of Rolf. Boldrewood's famous story " Robbery Under Anns," is said to be quite a remarkable accomplishment in the realm of animated photography. Its initial trial in Sydney during last week was considered a. complete success in all particulars. The organisation for the New Zealand tour has sailed by the Waikare, and Auckland will see the first of the new attraction on Tuesday evening next. Those favourite artistes, Mr. Howard Vernon and iliss Vivian de Loitte, who are associated with the combination in operatic sketches, will be cordially welcomed back to New Zealand. How the fashion has changed in the pantomine! (says a Wellington weekly apropos of "Mother Goose"). The vaudeville has encroached upon the fairy's realm, the motor-car has entered into the domain of the demon fairy, and the electrically-lighted bower lights up a scene of glittering gold and flowers of rainbow colours. There is no ■weariness

throughout the whole programme. Bright melodies and haunting tunes, comic incident and local clever gag, all keep the series of events running like some stream of mirth through the evening. The latest recruit to the battalions of musical comedy in England is Miss Marie Wilson, who is 18 years old, and said to be exceptionally gifted as singer, actress, and dancer. Miss Wilson made her debut under Mrs Carte's management, at the Gilbert and Sullivan revivals at the Savoy, towards the close of last year, playing Elsie in "The Yeomen of the Guard, 3 " at a special matinee at the Savoy, and to some performances with the Repertoire Company. On each occasion, it is said, the young artist created an extraordinary impression, not alone by the beauty and refinement oi the vocal treatment, but by the unexpected excellence of her acting. Miss Marie Wilson has now been engaged by Mr Robert Courtneidge for a tour in the provinces, as Chandra Nil. "the singing girl," in "The Blue Moon," and next Easter will be seen in London in one of the principal parts of the new musical play which Mr Courtneidge is at present preparing. London papers early in July gave considerable space and much eulogy to a new dramatic soprano named Osca Marah, who was referred in prominent letters as "A NViv Soprano," "An Australian Soprano, -, and so on. She appeared at the Bechstein Hall, and the assisting artists were Edouard de Reszke and Boris Hnmbourg. It now appears that Osca Marah is a Sydney girl, whose real name is Miss May M'Camley. She studied in Sidney under Mr. BurnsWalker, and displayed a powerful soprano voice on the occasion of her debut at the V.M.C.A. Hall six years ago. About a year after that she sailed for Europe, and was placed under the tuition of the de Reszkes in Paris. A prominent London journal remarks:—"Osca Marah is endowed with a voice of great power, sweetness, and exceptional range —a brilliant soprano with all the richness of a contralto in her lower notes." The young lady will shortly appear in grand opera The season of Miss Florence Baines's English Coirpdy Company is now drawing to a close, sifter a continuous run at the Sydney Palace Theatre of over 50 performances — a jjplendid record for the theatre. " Miss Lancashire. Limited," is the musical farce ivhieh has held the i boards all this time. Miss Baines's sketch oi Mary Ellen Thompson, and her singiii" of catchy and tuneful songs have contributed in no small degree' to the great I success of the season.

Mr. William Anderson produced at Newcastle (X.S.W.), last week, a new Australian drama by Mr. Edmund Duggan, who collaborated with Mr. Bert Bailey in the authorship of " The Squatter's Daughter." The new play is entitled " The Southern Cross," and is a romance of the early days of Australian minimi; life. The chief episodes are the wreck of the Dunbar and the Eureka Stockade, both of which lend themselves to stirring situations and big scenic effects. Mr. Reginald Robins, Mr. Anderson's staff artist, has for some months past been engaged upon the scenery, which is said to eclipse his excellent work for " The Squatter's Daughter." Mr. Anderson returned from Melbourne during the week, and went on to Newcastle to supervise the initial production of " The Southern Cross." Miss Eugenia Duggan, who has been resting while the company was in Brisbane, has restnaed her work in the principal role. " The Great Rescue," played by Mr. Bland Holt's Company at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, is highly sensational, including a representation of the rescue of Varischetti by Diver Hughes in a flooded mine at Bonnie Vale. The opening night was very successful, and a good run is expected. Asbestos fireproof curtains are to be provided for both the Dunedin theatres. A contract has also been entered into with Messrs. Turnbuil and Jones, electricians, for four large arc lamps outside the Princess and a new elctric lighting installation for the interior. The purchase of His Majesty's in Dunedin by Messrs. John Fuller and Sons was completed on Monday. No doubt the opinion has been largely held, since the negotiations were first mentioned some three months ago, that bills would be given to meet the purchase money (£15,000). That, however, is not the case. "Call Boy" ("Dunedin Star") says: It was my privilege to witness the passing away of the property from the Agricultural Hall Company to the new owners, and I can verify the statement that it was a cash transaction, Mr. Ben Fuller handing over to Mr A. Bathgate, solicitor for the Agricultural Hall Company, the firm's cheque for the amount. A private letter received in Sydney from London states that Miss Carrie Moore comes out nest year to play in the comic opera "The Merry Widow," of which Mr. J. C. Williamson has acquired the Australasian rights. To show the appreciation of Gilbert and Sullivan in foreign countries, it may be noted that "The Mikado" has been translated into Italian, and will shortly be staged in Rome. Mr. Fred Graham is, it is understood, about to follow the example of Mr. Howard Vernon, and go on the land in the shape of a small property in Sydney. The vaudeville stage will be distinctly the poorer for the retirement of Mr. Graham and his clever wife, Miss Nellie Dent. Herr Slapoffski had no luck in Christchurch with his trial of voices in view of the forthcoming amalgamation of Mr. Geo. Musgrove and Mr. Wm. Anderson to produce musical comedy. Over forty presented themselves, but there were

none that were thought good enough to predicate any budding Melbas or Clara Butts Mr. George Willoughby will take "The Man from Mexico" to England when the Willoughby Ward Company disbands in Perth after its present New Zealand tour. He has acquired the rights of the play, and will probably produce it in Manchester or one of the other provincial cities, beioro taking it to London. It is the intention of Mr. Willoughby to return to Australia in a year or two with further new plays. "Raffles" has had such tremendous success at the Rejane Theatre, Paris, that the enterprising impresario, Mr. Baret, has acquired the right of playing the clever piece throughout the provinces of France. A Sydney paper, speaking of Mr. Walter Baker, who had, with the Bland Holt Company, such a monopoly of the illtreated heroes of melodrama, says: — "Walter Baker, back in Australia, looks rather the worse for his health excursion. He went to rejuvenate, and returns looking old, thin, and grey-faced, a limping victim to rheumatism. It will probably be a long time before Walter faces the floats again, but his absence has brought to many people a knowledge of his ability and usefulness, which his frequent appearances had failed to do." Here is what the "Bulletin" has to say of Mr. Kennerley Rumford's singing, as compared with that of our own Mr. John Prouse: "Kennerley Rumford sang some Hungarian folk songs that Maorilander Prouse (the fierce-voiced) made particularly his own in Melbourne when singing with Dolores. Rumford's artistic but ineffective voice weakened the climax in these. In Korbay's 'Shepherd, see thy horse's foaming mane,' Prouse used to bite out Til strike him dead.' Rumford seemed to sing 'I'll scratch his face.' " The writer of the ladies' letter from Melbourne to the. "Bulletin" says: — "Bad news is told of Sweet Nell Stewart. She has been forced by illness to relinquish her New York engagement, and she returns shortly to Australia. The growth in her shoulder, which was operated upon as a tumour, is again troubling her, and grave fears are entertained lest it should develop malignant tendencies. Nellie, as usual, bears up with fortitude- I —albeit she is sorely disappointed at the breakdown of her campaign."

THE DEADHEAD.