STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 250, 19 October 1907, Page 10

STAGE JOTTINGS.

FORTHCOMING ENGAGEMENTS. HIS MAXESXX'S THBATEE. October 7 tb""26 '—Messrs MacMahon'S dramatic Co. Nov. 4 to 16 — Edwin Geach. Nov. IS to 23 — "Home( Sweet Home." Nov. 25 to Dec. 20 — West's Pictures and De Groen's Band' December 26 to Jan. 11 — .Pollard's Opera Co. Jan. 13 to 16 —- J. and N. Tait — Clara Butt Jan. 17 to 24 — J. C. Williamson's "Brewster's Millions" OPERA HOUSE. Fuller's Variety Company (till further notice) —_____ Messrs. MacMahon's 'Robbery under Arms" was only one feature in a capital cinematograph entertainment, which, moreover included a pleasant little operetta on the Rip Van Winkle story, participated in by Mr. Howard Vernon, Miss Vinia de Loitte and Miss Iris Vance. The pictures were among the steadiest ever seen in Auckland, and every series was good in its particular kind—while " Bobbery under Arms " was distinctly a sign that colonial mechanicians are not lacking in the ability to handle the cinematograph to good purpose. The arrangement of the subjects showed excellent stage management. Mr M. .Marcus, manager for Mr Allan Hamilton's Dramatic Company, sends the following note from Invercargill:— "Just arrived by the s.s. Moeraki from Melbourne to make arrangements for the New Zealand season of our company. We open in this town on the 21st inst, going from here to Palmerston North. We shall be in Auckland from November 18th to 23rd. In addition to "Home, Sweet Home" our repertoire includes— "A Mesage from Mars" (by arrangement with Mr Chasi Hawtrey, of London), and "Little Lord Fauntleroy," with Baby Watson, the youngest Fauntleroy in the profession, in the name part." A new theatre is to be erected in Rus-sell-street, Melbourne Mr Bert Gilbert, the comedian who was in Australia under the Williamson management a few years ago, is to pay ' another visit out here at the end of the year, arrangements to that end having been made by Mr J. C. Williamson in London. It has been variously rumoured that he is to take part in "The Girls of Gottenberg" and "Peter Pan," but these statements are all wide of the mark. As a matter of fact he. has been engaged for the next Christmas pantomime especially, and. in it will play the same role as he took in the English representation, so that he will have, to his advantage in making his re-app,earance, a part that has been "built right up" until there is no room for further improvement. The "Christchurch Press" on "Mr Hopkinson":—A comedy without an element of low comedy is as rare nowadays as Uncle Remus's "nigger with a pocket handkerchief." But "Mr Hopkinson" fills the bill. It is reminiscent of the era of "Lady Windermere's Fan," and "The Tyranny of Tears." Mr Bichard Stewart, Mr Williamson's active manager, has latterly had some trouble with his health—no especially grave illness, but an irritating succession of little painful maladies. He is now somewhat better, and all his acquaintances will join in. wishing him .a, speedy and complete recovery. Mrs Mark Squire, the" wife of a Cleveland (Ohio) millionaire, recently joined a St. Louis musical comedy company as a chorus girl Mrs Susie Vaughan has been, transferred to the Julius Knight Company from the Tittell Brune Company—as it is still called without the young tra-p-edienne to grace it. There can be no doubt about the interest playgoers (especially the feminine portion of them) are evincing in Mr Julius Knight's production of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," and many queries as to when it is to be done, have been made during his present season in Melbourne. To satisfy this manifest curiosity it may be mentioned that it will be the opening attraction of his next Sydney season in December. Preparations are already well forward for it, and the allocation of the cast has practically been decided upon. Adverting to the statement recently, made in certain English papers to the effect that her father had flatly contradicted the- news of her retirement from the concert platform on account of-ill-health, and had told a Press representative that she was a staunch Roman Catholic and not a Theosophist, Miss Maud McCarthy writes:—"l am sorry to 'dissect' myself in the Press, but I should be grateful if you would publish this explanation. My father's surmise that health had nothing to do with my abandoning the career of a violinist was correct. Since then he has had the full explanation .by letter. But some mistake, must have arisen in the latter part of the report, as I have been an enthusiastic Theosophist for 11 years. I left the Catholic Church two years ago, not because I believed less, but. because I believed more than it teaches. And I have found full intellectual and emotional satisfaction in the tenets of Theosophy." Sir Squire Bancroft, Mr Beerbohm Tree," and Mr Charles Hawtrey, all lunched with the King one day during his recent visit to Marienbad. Under the vigorous and able management of Mr. Frederic Shipman, the New South Wales tour of Madame Arral has 'been excellent so far "as business is concerned. The company, besides Madame Arral, includes Signor 'Torino, the harpist, and Mr. Harold Proctor, a tenor singer. Concerning Maggie Moore, the "Detroit Free Press " says:—" There was a memorable revival of ' Rip Van Winkle ' yesterday at the Detroit Opera House. Mr. Thomas Jefferson played the name-part, and he had for support, in the character of Gretchen, Miss Maggie Moore. The latter has been for many years in Australia and Europe, but she" is still gratefully remembered by many American playgoers as a typical comedienne, and one of the most versatile players of her time. She is a well-preserved woman — plump, fair, agile, humorous, and ' comfortable.' The old twinkle lingers in her eye, and the old roguish pucker of her lips remain. Her voice, which she was wont to use effectively in opera, holds to the clearness and resonance of the voice of youth, and her elocution is of the kind that carries every syllable distinctly to ', the auditor." I Amongst Mr J. C. Williamson's most j recent purchases in England is the elaI borate animal and bird costumes for Walter Slaughter's musical scene, "Who Killed Cock Robin?" which is to be one .of the principal features in the Christmas juvenile production of "Bluebell in. Fairyland" at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney,.. The children, of the "Mother Goose"; pantomime are hard at work rehearsing '"Bluebell in Fairyland."

Mr. Fred Graham ana* Miss Nellie Dent have" received a" tempting offer from the well-known composer, Mr. Alfred -Hill,-to play their original parts, and for the firstnamed to reproduce Mr. Hill's opera, " The Moorish Maid," in Dunedin in December next.. Their far-ahead bookings* however, Mr. Graham states, do not permit of acceptance. . .

When Mr. Julius Knight returns to Sydney, in December, the opening production of the season will be "The Scarlet Pimpernel," which ran for 500 nights in London.

Coincident with the revival of " The Christian" at the Lyceum Theatre is the arrival of Miss Ola Humphrey, one of the most successful interpreters of Glory Quayle, the chief character in Mr. Caine's play in the United States, and quite recently in Australia (remarks trie London " Pelican"). Miss Humphrey, who is of Franco-American parentage, has also made her mark in " The Squaw Man," " The Second Mrs. Tanqueray," and similar parts. She is over here on a holiday, this being her first visit .to England.

The Adelaide representative of a wellknown Sydney weekly wants to know: "Is it a sign of what the public want that Tod Callaway is biUed here as ' England's comedian'? " Seeing that Madame Melba is acclaimed all' over England as an Australian, and the term "Australian " is not expurgated from playbills m any part of the Empire, one would like to know the motive for this new and petty form of parochialism. Some of the prices charged at the recent Covent Garden performances ■of "Madame Butterfly":—Grand and. pit tier boxes, 50 guineas each; first tier boxes, 30 guineas each; second tier boxes, 15 guineas each; orchestra stalls, eight- guineas each; balcony stalls, four guineas each; and unreserved gallery, 10/. This isn't exceptional either,,but a usual thing for such an event as a "Melba and Caruso night."

Said that Miss Tittell Brune will return to Australia after her visit to England, and that she will appear under Mr J. C. Williamson's management, as be : fore. •

Miss Alice Vernon, eldest daughter of Mr Howard Yernon, died recently at Perth. Miss Vernon made her debut in New Zealand at the theatre here some years ago. The following is from "Johanna's" Melbourne chatter in the "Bulletin," of September 26th:—"Bad news is told of Sweet Nell Stewart. She has been forced by illness to relinquish her New York engagement, and sLe 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—albeit she is sorely disappointed at the breakdown of her campaign." Miss Stewart was to have commenced a tour of America under the direction of Klaw and Erlanger, on Monday, September 2nd.

Mr John F. Sheridan is at present touring Queensland with his pantomime "Sinbad the Sailor."

Arnold Daly has signalised his return, to the American stage by the issue of a theatrical mandamus to the following effect: —"(1) Critics must pay for their seats; (2) newspapers will receive no advertisements; (3) there will be no orchestra; (4) free passes are entirely abolished." He will produce three one-act plays nightly. Under the above conditions it is safe to predict that his season j will be •of short remarksa contemporary.

Mr Percy Coward, the-alto singer here with the Westminster Singers, has a moving picture show at the Town Hall, Melbourne. Mr Avalon Mond, of whom we have knowledge, also is in the company. A quartet of boys is a feature of the entertainment.

Mr Allan Hamilton's Dramatic Company, which shortly commences a tour of the Dominion with "Home, Sweet Home," "A Message From Mars," and "Little Lord Fauntleroy," includes Mr Bobert Inman, Mr George Carey, Mr George E. Bryant (late of "The Squaw Man" Company), Mr Harold Carr, Mr Gus. Neville, Miss Khadigal Cooper, Miss Faune Earies, Miss Hilda Fraser, Miss Beatrice Usher. Little Baby Watson, and Messrs S. A. Fitzgerald, E. M. Beresford, Lancelot "Vane, and Herbert Shaw. Mr Herbert acts as business manager, while Mr M Marcus will look, after the advance work.

Miss May Moore Duprez, who was in Auckland a couple of years, ago, and is one of the briprht particular stars in the performance of "The Zuyder Zee" at the Hippodrome, in London, recently had a narrow escape from serious injury. She and her mother were h?ing driven along Cheapside, when the traffic was "held up" by the police. Their motor came to a sudden stop, and the shaft of a brewer's dray smashed through the back as though it had been matchwood, while the off-side horse reared and planted its hoofs on the hood of the car, underneath which the ladies were sitting. But for tha hood the ladies would inevitably have been seriously injured. As it was, Mrs. Duprez swooned, and had to be taken to a chemist near by for restoratives. At Leeds, which Grieg was to have visited on the occasion of the approaching triennial festival, the news that he has passed away at Bergen created a very painful shock. He was looking forward to this visit with the greatest interest, and had taken considerable trouble in order to render the festival a pronounced success. He was set down in tha programme to conduct his "Scenes from Olav Trygvason," and also his "Peer Gynt" (No. 1), on the Thursday morning of the festival; and, further, his "Concerto for Pianoforte" on the Saturday evening. Mr Charles Carter took the part of Tristan in the Moody-Manners Company's performance of Wagner's great music drama "Tristan and Isolde" "at the Lyric Theatre, London, on August 27th. It was his first appearance in that important role. Of his performance the "Daily Telegraph" says: "Mr Carter's Tristan was not very touching dramatically, and his' singing left a good deal to be desired. He must strive to extirpate the hateful tremolo before- it injures his organ permanently. Mr Carter displayed considerable earnestness, though there were occasions during the performance calling for higher judgment and taste." Miss Enriqueta Crichton, who has made a good recovery after overstraining her voice recently, was the Isolde, and Mr Charles McGrath, another artist well known to New Zealand audiences, played King Mark. "Possessing a voice of considerable power and adequate range, Miss Crichton," says the "Telegraph" critic, "displayed good qualities as a singer last evening, and asserted herself as a painstaking and capable artist. In the first act of the opera, which provides so severe a test for a dramatic soprano, she imparted fire and. intelligence to her singing, while her share of the wonderful love-duet, in the second act was interpreted with a good deal, if not. all, of the charm and tenderness which the situation demands. As an actress, Miss Crichton exhibited no -little. skill and resource." THE DEADHEAD.