STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 70, 21 March 1908, Page 10

STAGE JOTTINGS.

The next attraction in local amusements will be Messrs. MacMahon's cinematograph entertainment. Their French films on the occasion of their last visit were thoroughly delightful, and fresh subjects from Paris are promised on the present occasion. A capital "show" may be exyected.

Miss Marie Lowrey, better known in Auckland as .Madame Shoesmith, give;! her-first concert on Thursday evening. Since her training under Mr. Reginafd Somerville and Madame Blanche Marchesi, Miss Lowrey has had many signal successes in the English musical world, and her advent is sure to attract the attention of critical lovers of music in New Zealand.

Wirth's Circus and Menagerie, with what promises to be exceptionally strong attractions, open a season at Auckland next Tuesday week, March 31.

The fact is, I think, said Mr. J. C. Williamson, in conversation in Sydney, that the established dramatists are getting lazy; they have a secured position, and they write more to please their own whim. Their works don't see,m to have the same vitality: they don't seem to have the same strength—the same heart. That is, of course, speaking of the average. The people in any country—England or America—will only make a lasting success of what has real power and real heart in it. The most reliable man of them all is Barrie. Pinero is not doing so much work, though I may say that 1 have bought the right to produii all his plays. The problem play, of which he was at one time the recognised exponent, is fading out. A good melodrama will always attract; but it must be good— not a second or third rate one.

One of the most important "characters" in "Peter Pan" is Mana, the big Newfoundland which acts as a day and night nurse to the Darling's children, fetching their "nighties," filling their baths, and generally looking after them like a second mother—to the accompaniment of the most whimsical business imaginable. Mr. J. C. Williamson has engaged a special animal man for the part, who is already well on his way to Australia.

Mr. H. Scott MacCallum, the gifted young violinist, who will appear at the Picture "Pops" at the Federal Hall, on Saturday, March 21st, and who toured Australia with Mr. Andrew Black, under engagement to Messrs. J. and N. Tait, is the proud possessor of a fine instrument—a genuine Stainer valued at £300. Its tone is superb, and it has exceptionally good carrying power. Lovers of the violin should not miss the opportunity of hearing this young artist and his beautiful instrument.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Musgrove left by the Orontes for London the other day to engage attractions for the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, Mr. Musgrove Waving obtained a long lease of that playhouse.

George D. Whitehead, a young and experienced baritone, arrived in Sydney last week under the management of Mr. J. G, Williamson. He will shortly take up work on the lyric stage in the colonies.

Mr. J. C. Williamson told an interviewer that he had opened preliminary negotiations for the appearance at a later date of Tettrazini, the great singer, who has made such a profound impression in London and in America.

Mr Andrew Mack is said to have signed on for a third tour of the Commonwealth within the next twelve months. New Zealand will be included in the tour.

The new theatre in Russell-street, Melbourne, is going ahead rapidly, the structure being already up as high as the stage on one side. The demolition of Bowes' Tattersall's building is now proceeding.

While you have seen tears most realistically simulated, you could not count on the fingers of one hand the actors or actresses who have ever successfully attempted to portray the emotion of laughter, says Mr. Alan Dale in the "New York American."

Miss Maud Fitz-Stubbs, of Sydney, for long years a pianist ot brilliancy, and a composer of tuneful waltzes, has for some time past .been settled in England in th" interest of her daughters, Aileen and Doris Woods. Professionally known as "The New Zealand Twins," the Sydney girls are just now appearing as "second boy and girl" in the pantomime, "Robinson Crusoe" at the Grand Theatre, Fulham, where their Maori interpolations have formed a feature. The Press notices are very favourable amd the "Stage" says that they "distinguished themselves with a Maori War Song and Dance, which, rendered with great nerve and spirit, is received with much delight, and is distinctly one of the hits of the pantomime." ,

The Simonides of Mr. J. C. Williamsera's production of "Ben Hur" in Sydney in 1902, Mr. Austin Meliord, died last month at Twickenham. Mr. Melford was held in esteem as a character actor whose methods were forcible, incisive, and convincing. The stage attracted him at an early period in his career, which was to have been that of a commercial traveller. Having proved his ability as an amateur, he speedily found his way into the professional ranks. His first appearance took place at Tunstall, Staffordshire, in "Dick VVhittington," in 1880, this leading to a more important engagement in 18S1, at the Alexandra Theatre. Liverpool, iv the Drury-lane drama, "Tho World." But before very long he elected to enlist under the b.'nner of the late Wilson Barrett, with whom he remained for 12 years. A visit to Australia followed the termination of his engagement with that actor. On his return to London Mr. Melford found a congenial sphere for his talents at Drurylane.

After singing the role ot "Othello" at the final performance or the Bucharest opera season, the tenor, M. Lunardi, hastened in costume to catch the night express for Budapest, intending to change en route. His luggage miscarried and he had to make the journey iv the Moor's attire and with blackened visage. A wag, noticing his plight, says the "Gaulois," telegraphed to Budapest that the Sultan of Zanzibar would arrive, and as such the bewildered tenor found himself received at his hotel.

The two new announcements made by Mr. J. C. Williamson on reaching Fremantle, that Miss Carrie Moore will come out to play lead in "The Merry Widow," and that Miss Emilie Melville is to pay us another visit for the Australian production of "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch/ will be received with great interest.

Mr. Barclay Gammon, the well-known humorist and pianist, who appeared at the London Palace, the Comedy, and St. George's Hall, left for Australia and New 1 Zealand on February ]3 in charge of a Maskelyne-Devant Company. Mdme. Melba left for London by the Orontes last week. She has promised to return in three years' time with a complete grand opera company. At the sendoff at the TJnrversity Conservatorium organised by Professor Franklin Peterson, her presence stimulated Premier Bent into a promise to enlarge the institution, and to build for it a "Melba HalL"

"Linked sweetness long drawn out" might be an appropriate heading for the American articles describing a record kiss on the opera stage. The lady is Jane Noria, a St. Louis girl, who in the character of Aida enters the tomb with her lover. The Noria kiss, according to careful calculation, lasts just 295 seconds. This must altogether eclipse the celebrated kiss of Mary Garden, the prima donna, which lasted only 25 seconds. Jane Noria is married to an Italian Count —who should have been the counter to the Countess. Upon this phenomenal osculation, a New York critic remarks: "The kiss occurs for the first time in the opening of Act 111. of I 'Louise.' Dalmores is situated 'down stage , ' reading. Enter Miss Garden. I She steals upon the unsuspecting tenor, and before he knows it the lucky man is incased in a dreamy half-Nelson. Then I the kiss begins. The theatre-manager j stops counting the house, and worriedly I pulls out his watch. For these two young people on the stage are kissing I on his time, and he has to keep on'pay-j ing them high prices just as if they were letting forth their top note. But still the kiss goes on." Apparently there is time for. a revolution to take place in the world's affairs during this new process of kissing-wTiile-you-wait. "Outside," on unsuspecting Thirty-fourth-street," says the weary critic, "the autos whiz eastward past Eighth-avenue. They j will reach Broadway before tsat kiss ! ceases. A man on the corner strikes a match. The light travels 156,000 miles a second. The flare of that match will have travelled 4,050,000 miles before the lips of Dalmores and Miss Garden part. The earth still whizzes through space, in spite of all this osculatory excitement. It will have travelled 462.5 miles between the start and finish of the kiss." But followers of the. "Benches in the Park" cult of mental science will surely aver that this notorious kiss is by no means germane to the motive power which works the busy world outside the theatre. '•Kisses make the world go round," etc. At last, after many anxious minutes for the audience, there is a grand finale to this epoch-making kiss. With reluctance, as if the muscles of the tongue were cramped from lack' of motion, four arms relax. Two pairs of lips draw apart with all the unwillingness with which a life-office-holder quits his sinecure. Kissing is easier than singing when one does it at union rates. But until the present influenza epidemic subsides, for reasons of health I would advise my readers, one ana all, to steer clear of the "Louise" kiss. THE DEADHEAD.