MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 79, 30 September 1905, Page 13

MIMES AND MUSIC.

£Bx Ori-hkus.] comingTevents. OPERA lIgUSB. Hill - Sirch Opera, "The Moorish Maid," season olcots to-night. Wellington Physical Training School, 2nd October to 4th October. Nanco O'Seill Dramatic Company, sth Octo bcr to 16th October. liiough-Flemuiiiig Company, 18th October to 4th J«o\pmber. Knight • Jcllriea Company, 9th November to 29th November, HIS UAJESTT'S THEATBI. Fuller's Kntei tamers. THEATRE BOTAt^ Val Vousdtii. During the hearing of a big theatrical lawsuit in London some years ago, M. Marias, who visited Australia with Mrs. Bernard Beere's company, was called to give export evidence, and the Court was crowded with theatrical people eager to hear Ids opinions. "What are you?" asked counsel. "An actor," replied Marius promptly. "Perjury, perjury," cried the audience in an Irish whisper. One of the most startliug illusions presented by Le Roy, Talma, and Bosco at the Melbourne Opera House is called "'The Man from Nowhere." A pedestal is placed on the stage. An assistant takes his place close to the footlights with a pistol, and Le Roy takes his place on the padestal, and is covered with a cloth. The attendant, instantly fires, the cloth drops, and on the pedestal is a public man or national hero, the attendant changing into Le Roy. "The strenuous efforts made by William A. Brady to secure the original Oberammtfrgau Pa&ion Play for Brighton Beach next season have resulted in failure — miserable failure," says the New York Globe. "Despite the greatest care in approaching the religiously inclined peasants, and the most tempting baits held up to entice them to make the trip, only one member' of the famous organisation could be induced to come to America — the man who was cast for the part oS Judas Iscariot." Mr. Charles Frohman, in a recent interview, drew an amusing distinction betweon the London and New York playgoer. "In London people go to the theatre, buy their tickets, and demand their moneys worth. In New York when a man separates himself from his wu.d at the box-office he simply says, 'Well that's gone, and if he gets any entertainment he looks upon it as so much in." "i t The news that a daughter has been born to Mms. de Navarro, once known all over the English-speaking world as Miss Mary Anderson, will bring many hundreds of congratulatory messages from old admirers of perhaps the most popular actress of her day, writes the Australasian. Mmc do Navarro, who has just passed her 46th birthday, was married in 1889, aad her only other chi\d, a hoy named Jose Maria, was born in 1896. She has been living ev«r since her marriage at the Court Farm, Broadway, in Worcestershire. Like -many of her' profession^ Miss Mary Anderson had a wide popularity altogether unconnected with her artistic powers, which, to say truth, w-ere not very great. From the day when she left her American school. a,t the age of sixteen, and took Louisville by storm os Juliet, til! her marriage/ and retirement fourteen years later, sue was acclaimed everywhere as the most beautiful actress on the stage; and in all her ftivourite roles, mostly Shakespearian, the most aggressive critics were kind to a> young actress, who, knowing her own limitations, was mostly content to look pretty. The latest child performer fo achieve fame on the variety stage is Marjory Bray, of West Aushulia, now showing a*t Adelaide Tivoli. The Critic thinks her the best of child serios. Tlio list is a long one. It begins with Alma Gray, the quaintest and d<"wntiest of all. She 'is still in England. Fanny Powers, through her mimicry,, may perhaps climb higher than any of them. Tin finest voice of the crowd by far belongs to Eileen Boyd, whose fine limbs also help her in boy parts Bnby Parkes is clever, and has seemingly outgrown that self-con-sciousness which once spoiled her efforts. Then there are the Smith Sisters — now grown up. Baby Capel is a very smart dancer, and possibly will remain at ,that. Edna Seaton may make an actress some day. Roy Cashin, the four-year-old boy who sang martial songs in khaki until ordered back to pinafores by the law, seems not to have recovered from that rebuff of five years ago. Ida Rosslyn's little girl is very smart. Latest of the clever Sydney children are Clara Keating, Doris Baker, and Baby Cooper. AH are very clever dancers, but are not otherwise remarkable. Out of the dozen or so mentioned, only two or three are not Sydney natives. Socially, as woll as artistically, Mdme Maggie Stirling, who will shortly begin an Australasian concert tour under the direction of Mr. John H. Taifc, has been a great success in London, and at very many oi) the largest and most fashionable homes" in tho West End, she has been not only tho most appreciated contributor to the musical programme, but also one I of the most popular figures in the general I evenings enjoyment. Before leaving for Australia she was deluged with invitations to a long series of farewell functions, and at receptions given by Lord and Lady Brassey, Sir Malcolm and Lady MTiacharn, and other distinguished people—Anstralian and English— she Was the guest of honour. Many of the leaders of society in London, whose homes are noteworthy as places where the best musical, library and artistic talent is always met, felt it incumbent upon them to mark their appreciation of Mdme. Stirling, not only as a singer, but also as a personal friend, before sho embarked on her lone trip to the Commonwealth. It is satisfactory to hear, says the Bulletin, that Manager William Anderson intends to make a bid for hicher success than "The Face at tho Window" or Rescued in Senegambia by the Brass Band. Early next month ho will stace, at Sydney Royal, an Australian melodrama, by Ambrose Pritt and A S Joseph, "Three Days with Thunderbolt." It is a busltninginj story, bnt it is said to be a thing of some merit*, and, judging by the calibre of the writers, the treatment should be effective. Thurston, the magician, now playing at the Melbourne Athenaeum, gave a matinee especially for theatrical people, and Mr. George Lauri is making use of the chances so gained to work up a burlesque of his principal illusions, m the elaboration of which lie will have theassistance^ of Mr. Claude Bantock. The scena, which promises to be exceptionally funny, will be introduced into "The Cingalce." Mr. "Johnny" Wallace, the well-known stags manager and comedian, was 64 on the 15th of this month (says the Theatre). He was brought from London specially to stage "Tambour Major, 1 ' which had the longest run of any produclipu in Australia. Wallace's Bambini is still one of the memories of playgoers, and his myriad friends will wish him continued health and plenty. Miss Tittell Brune is now enjoying her well deserved holiday on a Queensland station as tho jrwst of Judge Noel. His daiif.Lter, Miss Vivian Noel, joined Miss Brune's ccmpiny some months (.go, nnd the two — the finished artist and the young aspirant — soon developed a firm friendship, Miss Noel being the close compa.iion of Miss Brine throughout the New Zealand tour. The vacation will

only last a fortnight, and Miss Brune resumes active work at Her Majesty's, Sydney, with a revival of/'L'Aiglon" on the 14th October. The Broughs made their first appear- { ance in Australia in 1885 under the management of the triumvirate in "lolanthe, 1 ' with the Royal Comic Opera, Co. Mr. Brough was the Lord High Chancellor, and Mrs. Brough played the Fairy Queen. No reception could have been more cordial, no applause more hearty, than the performers received as the opera swung along. But at the curtain's fall not a hand clapped. "A failure, after all," ejaculated Brough. "No, no, a great success," said someone — "Australians don't call for actors and authors like Londoners, when the curtain falls they go home to bed.". Many elianges are taking place on the Fuller circuit. Mr. Ben. Fuller left for Auckland this morning, and will not re- j turn here until after his marriage ; Mr. John Fuller, senr., will take charge of the local house, and his tenor voice will be heard during his stay ; the Modem Milo and Cruikshanlss left for Auckland this morning,i and" the gap left by them will be filled this evening by the Melvas, trick cyclists, and Prince Olrac, the Fire King ; and on Monday Mr. Fred. Graham and Miss Nellie Dent will appear in a new sketch, "A Lucky Catch." Mr. Ben. Fuller has also engaged Ajax, the flexible wonder, and this artist leaves Melbourne for New Zealand on Wednesday. Cleopatra, the snake charmer, and Bonita will appear here on the 9th. Theatrical Clips.— Apropos of American tours, it is said that Mr. George Musgrove's Comedy Company have one arranged, so that our American cousins will shortly have an opportunity of giving Ihoir verdict upon MUs Nellie Stewart's powers as an actress. . . Van Biene gave a 'cello concert at the Queen's Hall, Perth, after the burst up of hL unfortunate dramatic season. The audience was highly enthusiastic. . . Eugene Stratton is still singing in England, "I May be Crazy, But I Love- You," the song scene so murdered in Australasia. . . Early in October the Adelaide Royal will be closed for alterations, ordered by the Fire Brigade Board. NW exits, an asbestos curtain, and new dressing rooms will be found amongst the improvements. Charles Holloway and a dransatic company reopen the theatre on. the 11th November. . . Sandow told the Singapore people that if they adopted bis system they would be proof against tropical diseases. Then he caught the dengue fever and had to suspend his show. .i . .Miss Beatrice Day (Mrs Wall in private), oil the BroughFlemming Company, has two married sisters living in Sydney. . . The title of the musical play to be produced at the Waldorf Theatre, London, in November, is "Mr. Pottle" The title part will be played by Mr. G. P. Huntley. ... A play entitled "The Old Age of Don Juan" is to be produced in Paris in the autumn. If the Don proves as skittish in his old ago as he did in his salad days the play should be quite up to Parisian requirements, comments an exchange. . . The plot of '"The Blue Moon," the new musdcal comedy at the Lyric, turns mainly on the adventures of a singing girl in Upper Burmah. Miss Carrie Moore plays the heroine. . . According to the Newsletter, Fred. Graham and Nellie Dent return to Australia from New Zealand at Christmas, undsr engagement to Harry Rickards. . . Edith Kenward died recently in Paris, where she was correspondent for a New York paper. She was the original Kangaroo Girl of Dr. Bill in 1890 at London Avenue. . . Chefalo, the daring looper of the loop and gap jumper at Wirth's Circus, was thrown off his -bike while going round in the cylinder at Forbes and slightly hurt. . . "Mr Tom Dawspn is back with his old dnnce>. Mr. Tom Dawson dancing to any other tune would feel alone in a strange world." A sly hint by the Australasian that variety aitLsta should, if only once in their careers, present something new. . . Like other theatrical managers, Mr. William Anderson finds that it is "the, unexpected that happens-." He put on "A Sailor's Sweetheart" at the Sydney Royal; with a take-it-or-leave-it air. The piece is by no means one of his strongest or best, and he had no notion that it would be rtished. But rushed it has been since the opening night, and there is an overflowing treasury. — Punch. . . Mr. Robert Brough now charges a small sum for his autograph — proceeds to go to the theatrical fund. Julius Knight has charged Is each ibr some time. . . In Durban the Sunday concerts are under the aegis of the tramway department of the City Council. They take place in in the Botanical Gardens. . The tramways cope splendidly with the crowded traffic, and refreshments are obtainable on the spot. . . Miss Carrie Moore's sisters are joining J. C. Williamson, it is said. Carrie Moore began singing as a Salvation lassie, they say, at Geelong. . . Van Biene 1 had an even more disastrous failure in New York jome years ago that his recent one in this eclony, and hud then to take to variety in order to mend his broken fortunes. . . "The Ticket-of-Leavo Man" was last seen in Sydney in 1891, or thereabouts, with J. H." Clyndes, a fine actor of the old virile school, as Bob Brierley. Clvndes, by the way, was husband to the Lite Miss Sally Booth, who died of plague, as did Miss Ada Lee, daring their visit to Australia with the lato ChaTles Arnold, about five years ago.— Newsletter. . . Mr. Robert Inman joins Holloway'a Company, which commences a Melbourne season on Monday. . . A copy of "Ihe Theatre," with excellent photographs of Miss Beatrice Day and Mr. Brouch t* hand from Claude Whaite. — Thanks. . . Mi&s Nance O'Neil's sister, Lillie Lamson (Lamson is the O'Neil's real name, says the Bulletin), who ueid to play rustic paits so well on the American stage, has lef£ the footlight glare in favour of rose-shaded electric lights in a privato drawing-room. In short, she's married. . . J. B. Atholwood, the well-known character actor, is by trade a tinsmith. . . In the Gilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Company the mother of one of the performers flits about in the chorus. Which reminds the Bulletin of a .Sydney "financial agent" who has his father as office boy. . . "The Modern Milo" recalls to memory the fact that the Empire Theatre (London) momgemeufc -in 1896 offered Lily Langtry ths wellknown actress, £100 a week JI sho would impersonate Lady Godiva nnd other figures. The "Lily" refused the offer. . . Oscar Asche (the Sydney born act^r) and • his wife, Lily Brayton, intend reviving "As You Like It," at the London Adelphi about Christmas time. . . Miss Maud Jeffries considers Kutusha in "Resurrection," and Marianne in "Herod," a poetic play by Stephen Phillips, produced in London by Beerbohm Tree, two of the finest acting parts she has ever had. . . Edwin (leach finds it necessary to advertise in Australia that West's Pictures arc still in New Zealand, and not in Sydney. Also that "Imitation, etc." . . "The Spring Chicken" will bo J. C. Williamson's Christmas attraction in .Sydney. . Miss Eileen Castles doM not join the Repertoire Company until the end of the year. . . Mr. Fred Bluett will re-join the Fullers shortly. . . Mr. Alfred Dampier is in harness again, and plays a Sydney season at the Criterion, after the BroughFlemming season. . . Twenty-ono theatres were closed in London when the mail left. . . Harry Rickards will not return to Australia for some little time longer, having decided to extend his stay in Europe. . Miss Minnio Terry and Edmund Gwenn, here with the "SherI lock Holmes' " Company, were in tin j cast of 'TVhat the Butler' Saw," a.t' Wyndham's Theatre, London, when the mail | loft.