STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 271, 13 November 1909, Page 14

STAGE JOTTINGS.

(Dates Subject to Alteration.) ... HIS MAJESTY'a Nov. 13 to 27— Hugih J. Ward Comedy Co. Nov. 29 to Dec. 18—Wm. Anderson Dramatic Co. Dee. 20 to 25—Henry Hayward. Dec. 26 to Jan. .16 — J. C. Williamson "King of Cadonla Co." OPERA HODSR, tftOYAL ALBEST ttiat.t., AND TIVOLJ THEIA.TB.B. Pictures—Nightly. It is estimated that on the last four nights of the Dunedin season the Julius Knight company treasury ohowed £1000 as the takings. . ■Reynolds Denniston, of the Julius Knight company, is said to have a scheme for entering into management, but the time is not yet ripe. An experience of South Africa has suggested the possibilities of that quarter of the globe for theatrical enterprise. Meynell and Gunn's Christmas attraction in Sydney will be " The Girl Behind the Counter," by the "Hook" company. Little Elise Craven, the tiny fairy queen who made a hit at the London Coliseum last Christmas, is appearing at Shepherd's Bush Empire dn a play entitled " The Queen of the Fairies," specially written by Mr. Sidney Blow. Elise, who recently appeared in a Glasgow mu-sic-hall, is engaged at £100 a week, the largest salary ever paid to a dancer of 11 years. It is understood that Miss Maud Chetwyndj who was here with the Allan Hamilton Dramatic Company, will fill the.place in Mr. .Ward's company soon to be vacated' by Mies Rose Musgrove. The latter is returning to the spicy isle of Ceylon, where her husband, Mr. Garrick, ia a tea planter. It is some ten years ago since Mr. Hugh Ward came to Auetralia and New Zealand with "A Trip to Chinatown" company. And after spending five years subsequently under the management of J. C. Williamson the now prosperous actor-manager went Hom\;, and took part in two Druxy Lane pantomimes as premier dancer. La.ter he successfully appeared in Paris and America, and then returned to Australia with a company of his own—an ambition he had aspired to for years. Ho may certainly now claim to be a favourite with the public, and as is usually the caee with such fortunate individuals, he ie making any amount of money. Miss Grace Palotta, who appears here this evening in "A Bachelor's Honeymoon," liae always been a prime favourite with Auckland theatregoers, and she id assured of a' hearty , welcome. Her part "in thie evening's comedy abounds in those amusing and complicated situations in which eho revels, While it permits of ~ the displaying of eomo beautiful gowns. Mise Palotta has always been •renowned ifor the exquisite manner in -which she dresses her parts. Mr. Gerard Coventry tells of an attempt at realism that nearly ended fatally for Dan Daley, the original Ichabod Bronson when " The Belle of New York" was first etaged in America. When the lunatic chased Bronson, the latter climbed up a verandah post and joined a wire on which was a " traveller" that swung him across the street to the balcony of a house on the prompt side of the stage. This frantic escape always provoked the audience to wild mirth. One night, however, the wire broke and Daly fell 20ft. That was the last time it was tried, and "a cloud came o'er his (Daly's) brow" for a week while his understudy played the part. The next J. C. Williamson pantomime will serve to introduce several new artistes to Australia. Among others the principal boy this year will be Miss Lily Iris, who will be leaving London within the next few days, while the principal girl will be Miss Clara Beck. Miss Iris is well known in London, not only in pantomime, but also in musical comedy, for she alternates between the two classes of entertainment. The last musical comedy she appeared in was "The Persian Princess," with Carrie Moore and George Graves in the cast. In the London production of " Humpty-Dumpty " she made a big success as Prince Rudolph (Miss Florence Young's part). She is shown in her photograph as possessing a bright, pleasant face, a fine figure, and report says she has a very good voice and a fascinating manner, so that she evidently has the makings of an ideal principal boy. A "Bulletin" writer makes some amusing observations on theatrical posters. They aTe often unconsciously humorous, he thinks. A case in point is the old familiar one, "See Charles Warner in Drink." A well-known Andereonian melodrama is "The Price of Sin." The bills usually read: "The Price of Sin—3/-, 2/-, and 1/-." Somewhat similar was the poster of another Andersonian production, -.rtilch the writer saw in Perth, with Walter Dalgleish as juvenile lead. The hoardings were gay with the legend: "Why Woman Sins — See Walter Dagleish at Her Majesty's Theatre." Way back in the 'eighties an American actress named Louise Pomeroy was starring in Melbourne, the late Herbert Flemming being in her company. Louise was a heavy (in every sense) tragedienne—a regular Dreadnought of the boards. Ono of her stock pieces was "Led, Astray," and the pos.teijs thereof were ; the .standing joko of Melbourne in those days. And no wonder, for they ran—"Louise Pomeroy —Led Astray—for One Night only." "Othello," which is one of the sti-ong cards of the Oscar Asche repertoire, ia not often seen in this part of the world, though it stands as one of the finest examples of Shakespeare's power of characterisation, as well as the most moving tragedy of jealousy in the whole range of dramatic literature. Old playgoers readily call to mind the artists who have appeared in the title role in this part of the world, from the days of G. V. Brooke, -who made it one of his greatest parts, down to those of Barry Sullivan, Walter Montgomery, and George Rignold. The Othello of Mr. Rignold is remembered by the older generation, when Mr. H. W. Diver was his lago. Mr. George Miln included Othello amongst a round of unequal Shakespearean parts, for while his Richard was excellent, he was not fitted for such characters as Romc'o, for instance. Mr. H. R. Jewett, who afterwards secured a leading place in America, acted with Mr. Mi'ln, and did well as Othello, while Mr. Miln was a capital lago, the two changing the roles each night. The late Mr. Wilson Barrett was another Othello of recent years. Mr. Oscar Asehie, who has naturally given the play • close study, exhibits, the Moor as returning to his primitive savagery after the poison of lago has begun its work. Knowing nothing of life except from the soldier's standpoint, the Moor is, he reasons, a great simple child, easily imposed upon by his ancient; and when he thinks he is wronged by Desdemona, the veneer of <jivilisation disappears. Till that moment his love for Desdemona is noble, and full of respect—a reading which differs in certain respects from that of some traditional actors, but is quite justified by tho text.

Harry Lauder, it is said, is really going to get £ 1000 a week in. America thig tour. We were told the same last time, ■but when the income-tax people got on tie scene the great comedian's American earnings dwindled down to a paltry £600 a week or so. Miss Marjorie ChaTd and. Mr. L«anghorne Burton, of the Nellie Stewart Company, leave for England on November 23. Mr. Harcourt Beatty and Mr. Gaston Mervale join the company this month. Mr. Matheson Lang and bis wife, Miss Hutin Britton, will shortly visit Australia, under the management of Clarke, Meynell and Gunn, the opening production being Hall Came and L. N. Parker's dramatisation of the former's novel, "The Manxman." The latest acquisition to the long list) of "the very youngest" leading lady (according to "tfoe Prees agent) is Miss Ida St. Leon, of the famous St. Leon family of equestriennes and acro.ba.ts, ■well-known out here. She is announced as one of the many big features in Frederio Thompson's production of "Polly of the Circus," in New York. Miss St. Leon .plays the title role. She ie not ye-t 17 years old, and her training, with the exception of the last two seaeons, has been in the sawdust ring under the "big tent." The St. Leon family has been under Mr. Thompson's management for six years, employed respectively in the New York Hippodrome and Luna Park, Coney Island. What could be more natural than for Mr. Thompson, when ihe discovered 'the remarkable talents of Ida St. Leon as an actress as well ac a circus rider, to take the first opportunity at hand to present her in .the title role of Polly, thu3 giving to the public in one person a real actress and a real circus rider? The most remarkable feature of it all is that the circus has been the little actress' atmosphere since her infancy, and when she steps out of it she does so for the purpose of depicting just that life*by which she has always been surrounded. Ida St. Leon wae born in China less than seventeen years ago. Her parents were Aoiatrali-ans, and she ie at present accompanied by her another, two sisters and 'her ibrother, who are one of the features of the big third act circus scene. She lays claim to being the "very youngest' , of .present leading women. Who will deny it? Miss Mabelle Morgan, a charming and talented artist, celebrated in the Southern Hemisphere, who made her first professional appearance in England at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in March last, and whose performance at the time was highly praised in these columns, ia again appearing at that hall this i week (says the latest."Era")u On.the previous ooeasion. Miss .Morgan , appeared' in: ■ a musical.. comedy. sketch, entitled '-A Musical Tragedy," but- this time her turn is described as a musical, comedy, and vocal seena. Mis 3 Morgan herself, however, is the great attraction, for although she is assisted by two gentlemei? —one of whom accompanies her at the piano—who indulge in amusing pabtei for a few moments, their parts are small. Miss Morgan appears first wearing even ing dre3s and a latgo hat, and sings a charming song, entitled,-apparently. "Mademoiselle, well T Tchow." For her second and third,-" songs, "My Own, my Otvri , !.: aiidi XiXty" Evening Star," she is beautifully costumed in principal boy fashion. 'iViiss Morgan is the possessor of a fine voice, a voice which rings round the theatre, delightfully pure and rich in tone, and at the same time it possesses a sympathetic quality which makes listening to her a real and rare pleasure. She has a fine stage presence, and her songs are delightful. In the spea'al interior used by Miss Morgan, with snow-clad mountains in the distance, a twinkling staT effect is introduced, which is very pretty. Le Brun, of Queen and lie Brun, is one cf Miss Morgan's assistants. The revival of "King Lear" at the Haymarket recalls a story from Bram Stoker's reminiscences of Irving of how our old friend, W.n J. Holloway, took the leading role without notice when Irving was stricken down suddenly with grippe. "I asked the company dn general if any of them had ever played Lear—or could play it; there was no affirmative reply" (writes Stoker). "In.the company was Mr. W. J. Holloway, who. played the part of Kent. He was an old actor— that is, the actor was old though the man was in active middle age. He had, I knew, played in what is called 'leading business' with his own company in Australia, •where he had made much success. I asked him if he could read the part that night. If so, I should before the play ask the favour of the audience in the emergency; and that ho would then play it 'without the book' on the next night. He answered that he would rather wait till the next night, by which time he would be ready to play. To this 1 replied that if we closed for the night we should not re-open until Mr. Irving was able to resume work. After thinking a moment he said: 'Of course anyone can read a part.' 'Then,' said I, 'will 3 r ou read it to-night and play tomorrow?' He answered that he would. So I said to him: 'Now, Mr. Holloway, consider that from this moment till the curtain goes up you own the theatre. If there is anything you want for help or convenience, order it; you have carte blanche. Mr. Irving's dresser will make you up, and the wardrobe mistress will alter any dress to suit you. We will hsive a rehearsal if you wish, now or in tlie evening before the play; or all day, if you like.' 'I think,' he said, after a pause, I had better get home and try to get hold of the words. I know the businpss pretty well, as I have been at all the rehearsals. I am usually a quick study, and it will be so much better if I can do without the book—for part of the time, at any rate.' I shall never forget that performance. It Teally stirred mc to look at it as I did all through from the wings in something of the same state of mind as a hen who sees her foster ducklings toddling into the ditch. I had known that good actors were fine workmen of their craft, but I think I never saw it realised as then. It was like looking at a game of Rugby football when one is running with the ball for touch-down behind goal with all the oii-side men of his team closo behind him. He could not fall or fail if he wanted to. They backed him, up in every possible way. The cues came quick and sharp, and there -was not time to falter or forget. If any of the younger folk, upset by the gravity of the occasion, forgot or delayed dn their speeches someone else spoke them for them. The play went with a Tush Tight through; the only difference from tho sixty previous performances being that though the entr'actes were of the usual length the play was shorter by some twenty minute 3. When the call came at the end the audience showed their approval of Mr. Holloway*s plucky effort by hearty applause. When the "curtain had finally fallen the actor received that most deaT reward of all. His comrades of all ranks closed round him and gave him a hearty (Sheer. Then the audience beyond the curtain, recognising the rare honour, joined in the cheer till from wall to wall the whole theatre rang." THE DEADHEAD.