MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 136, 9 June 1906, Page 13

MIMES AND MUSIC.

[By Obph«tjs.]

COMING EVENTS. OFKBA HOUSE. WillUm Anderson's Pantomime, season closes 12th Jane. William Anderson's Dramntio Company, 13tli Juno to 25th June. Meynell and Uunn, 26th June to 3rd July. J. O. Williamson, 21at July to 27th July. W. Anderson, 11th August to ?th September. J. O. Williamson, Bth September to 21st September. Ycamans • Titm - Leslie Harris, Entertainers, 22nd September to 29th September. J. C. Williamson, Ist October to 18th October. Harry Rickards, 20th October to 31sfc Ootober. Willoughby-Ward Comedy Company, let NoTember to 12tU November. J. C. Williamson, 26th December to 17th January, 1907. THEATBE BOTAL. Fuller's Entertainers. TOWN ttat.t, Wide World Pictures, 9th to 13th June, and 16th June. Choral Society, 14th 15th, and 19th June. Andrew Black Concerts, 18th and 20th June. Public Schools Oonoarts, 2106 and 22nd June. "America at Work," 23rd June. Mr. Charles Waldron, just engaged by Mr. Williamson for a tour of Australasia, will appear not only in "The Sfmaw Man," but in a drama entitled "The Virginians," an adaptation for the stage of Owen Wister'e novel of that name. "It is just beginning to leak abroad that there is such a thing in the world as an English musician. Mr. G. H. Clut6am has had an opera produced at Jkeipzig." — "Onlooker." Mr. Clutsam is a New Zealander, and the well-known composer of "Ma Curly-Headed Babby.» The Queen's gift to Miss Ellen Terry in recognition of the famous actress's jubilee took the form of a handsome diamond ornament, with a scroll lining the locket as follows : "For Ellen Terry, on her jubilee, with best wishes from Alexandra." A cable message from London to Sydney states that Miss Amy Castles scored a great success in he* performance at the Dublin Musical Festival. It has been stated previously that her fee for the .engagement was to be 100 guineas. Madame Dolores, who is starting from London shortly in order to enter upon another' concert tour of the Commonwealth and New Zealand, made her final '.ugpearance in London prior to her departure at one of Greig's orchestral concerts in the Queen's Hall, and scored a great- success. Miss Nellie Mortyne, the well-known i Australian actress, has been arranged i to create a part in a new piece adapted from the French of "La Rafale," which j Mrs. Patrick Campbell is taking on a tout embracing Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, and Brighton, previous to its London premiere Mr. Wallace Brownlow, tho •wellI known baritone, was engaged to create f the part of Satan in a. new musical piece entitled "His Majesty," the scene of which is laid in Hades, just produced in New York, but, at almost the eleventh hour lost his voiced and is now threatened with pneumonia. Mr. Alf Woods and Miss Maud Williamson arrived in London recently, and I will be in Mr. Frohman's forthcoming j production of his American success, "The j Marriage of William Ashe" (by Mrs. Humphry Ward), in which they have been appearing in Nqw York. After Miss Nance O'Neil, the American tragedienne, concludes her present tour of America, ending in Boston, she proceeds to Hawaii, Japan, China, the Straits Settlements India, Egypt, and Europe, taking with her a selected com- i pany of 36 players, a rep&ftoire ?of 30 I classic play*, and 600 tons of scenic equipment. "You are ambitious," wrote Mr. Tom Pollard to the secretary of the Dunedin Amateur Operatic Society in reference to "The Belle of New York" "Unless you have some one who can play Cora Angelique, Fifi, Kitsie Fitzgarter, Mamie Clancy, Blinky Bill, etc., leave it alone ; if you have, go on." The anin teurs are not going on. not with "The Belle of N'York," anyhow (says "Paequin"). When the pantomime was in Christchurch, Mr. Michael Joseph handed over to Nurse Maude, for her consumptive camps, a cheque for £5 ss. This amount was received from two young "bloods" who had created a disturbance at the Theatre Royal, and were given the choice between paying or being summoned to appear at the Police Court. In connection with Mr. Sanford's production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" at Adelaide it is interesting to note (says a writer) that Mr. Sahford's father, who recently died at the age of 86 in America, was the original "Uncle Tom" in the United States, and performed the part in the presence of the authoress, Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Abraham Lincoln, the martyr President of the United States. Miss Olga Nethersole, who toured Australia with Mr. Charles Cartright some years ago, and has since been exciting popular outcries in England and America by producing "Sapho," announces her intention of retiring from the stage in seven years. She states that she in tenda to devote her life tp the care of consumptives in the Consumptive Hospital in London, -which she maintains at her own expense. Mias Rose La Harte, a New York actress, created a mild aens&tion by car rying about a small black pig as a pet. She took it out shopping, and caused bo much stir and interruption to traffic that a policeman told her that she had better take her friend home. The actress entered a big cafe near Union-square, where the pig attempted to thrash several small dogs. As the result of the riot, Miaa La Harte was requested to withdraw, and, gathering the pig into her arms, she indignantly returned to her motor-car. On Wednesday evening Mr. Wm. Anderson's Dramatic Company, headed by Miss Helen Burdette and Mr. W. Diver, will commence a season at the Opera House. The supporting company ib a very strong one, and the repertoire inclndes several dramas new to this colony. The company has appeared in the South Island, and in several of the inland towns in thio island, and the press notices are eulogistic. Mr. Frank Reis is the atage manager, and Mr. Fred Henningham is the business manager. Andrew Black, the Scots baritone, whose appearancea in this city some weeks back caused such interest, returns to give two farewell concerts in the Town Hall on Monday, 18th, and Wednesday, 20th June. Little referenco need be made to the immense and popular favourite Mr. Black lias become, and hia two farewell concerts should be very successful. Mr. Black will l>6 heard in numerous new numbers, amongst which are some gems from oratorio. As before, Mr. Black will be assisted by Miss Ethel Sinclair, violiniste, and Mr Adolphe Borschke. The combination that tho Messrs. J. and N. Tait have already presented, and are about to re- i present, is one of the strongest that has yet visited the colony. Each in their own particular branch of art have reached remarkably high standards. It has been stated in the Press of this city during the past week (writes "Call Boy" in the Dunedin Star) that theatrical business is very bad in Australia just now. Such was not my experience , oa tag occasion of » recent .visit, nor

is tho statement confessed by Mr. Ben Fuller, who gave me a look-up en route for Wellington. He stated that both in Sydney and Melbourne he found the outlook better than on any previous visit he had made during the past eleven years, all the theatres doing excellent business. The number of suburban "shows" had also increased, and some of these that could noh carry on three or four years ago owing to lock of support were now playing to profitable business. "You may cay," concluded the genial Ben, "that it is my opinion that the outlook for the profession in Australia at present is the reverse of unpleasant." Mr. Henry Bracy had to fill the breach at Auckland in connection with "Tho Gondoliers." Mr. Kenningnam was absent from illness, and Mr. Walter Whyte had been allowed to sing the tenor part in "Judas Maccabeus" by the local so- j ciety. Hence no tenor was available for Marco, so Mr. Henry Bjacy had to take up the role, and did so with a i great deal of success. He received a I very enthusiastic encore for "Take a | Pair of Sparkling Eyes." Mr. Walter Howe, so, long a leading member of Bland Holt's Dramatic Company, is now with Richard Mansfield's Repertoire Company touring the States. In a recent season in New York City, Mr. Howe played Tubal in "The Merchant of Venice," Poole in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Grand Inquisitdr of Spain in "Don Carlos," and Mr. Abraham in "Beau Brummel." Miss Gertrude Emery (the Aerial Queen) makes her appearance at the Theatre Royal to-night. Besides the list of names published a few weeks ago, Mr. Ben Fuller has engaged the Carmos, jugglers, who have been _ a big success in Australia, Rollo and Sinclair, j acrobats, and Carl Carlisle, baritone. _ American football is somewhat different from football aa it is played in > Wellington during the present season. New Zealand footballers have been reading of the agitation against the rough methods of the American gome, and consequently they will be particularly in- { terested in seeing the unique pictures i showing a great contest between the two famous colleges, Princeton v. Yale, j to be seen at t£e Town Hall on the j 23rd inst. Another. film of special interest to athletes shows a game of baseball. A craft going at the rate of 60 miles an hour on the Hudson, River, with a view of the largest ship afloat, wheat-harvesting machinery at work, night-time in Coney Island (the world's greatest pleasure resort), and a desperate encounter with burglars are a lew of the wonderful scenes which will be thrown upon the kineto-cloth. Then there are diverting pictures which will evoke roars of laughter. There will, in fact, be a combination of instruction in modern methods of manufacturing, of mirth, and of music. The Opera Houss and Thoatre Royal held immense audiences on T'riuco of Wales' Birthday Night. A unique record was put up 'at the Opera House, for not one ticket was sold by the man in the family circle money-box, the place being crowded with early-door patrons. Mr. Joseph claims that on that night the Pantomime Company played to the largest audience the Opera, House has ever held. Mr. Ben Fuller also established a record in the Theatre Royal, when 1100 people paid for admission to that popular house. This beats the Leroy, Talma, and Bosco record house, which was 1089. Mr. Williamson's Sydney attraction last Saturday was the first Australian production of "The Little Michus" by the Royal Comio Opera Company. The piece may bo classed in the same category as "Veronique," and as M. Andre Messager is the composer of both, lovers of music may anticipate in the score, when the Comics visit Wellington at the end -of this year, a repetition of the delightful charm of the latter operaTaken altogether it is said , to be one of the very best musical plays 6een for years. The story is moreover a connected one, and deals with the awful results of mixing up two babies "The Dairymaids," the new piece at the Apollo Theatre, London, is of the boisterously-farcical order. There is a schoolroom scene, in which a chorus of girls accompanies a bright little ditty, in which Miss Carrie Moore sings about "A Sandow Girl." Like most of the "musical plays," it is the joint work of a small syndicate of authors. Messrs. Robert Courtneidge and A. M. Thompson wrote the book, the lyrics are by Messrs. Paul Rubens and Arthur Wimperiß, and the music is by Messrs. Paul Rubens and Frank E. Tours. Theatrical Clips. — Mr. Dion Bouoicault is, for the first time in his career of I "many parts," playing that of a woman, ! "Josephine," the central figure in J. M. Barrie'a political revue at tho Comedy Theatre, London Work is proceeding rapidly in connection with the conversion of the Canterbury Hall, Christchurch, into a, theatre Mr. Hurry St. Maur, who will be remembered in this colony by his fine character study of "Jim, the Penman," has retired from the stage, -uid settled dcwi, on a ranch in South America. . . . Manuel Garcia, the famed voice-producer, is in his 102 nd year Mr. J. C. Williamson has decided to abandon the tour of New Ze<tland planned for William Collier A banjo artist, one of who.se specialties is to play an operatic selection upon fourteen, banjoes while the lot are being tossed in the air, is- to pay a short visit to Australia under engagement to Mr. Harry Rickards. . . . The financial result of the tour of the United Stales recently completed by Kubelik has just become known. It transpires that tho 107 concert* given by the famous violinist yielded £40,000 Miss Maddie Rovle, daughter of Mr. Bert Royle, Mr. Williamson's collaborateur in "Djin-Djin, 1 "Mataa," and other Christmas pieces, has made a successful debut as a pianiste at the Albert Hall "To be versatile in London is a drawback — unless you are an actor-manager." — Mr. Story-Gorton in the Manchester Courier Mr. Leslie Victor, an Australian, is a member of Mr. Frohman'a company in "The Little Father of the Wilderness" at the Camden Theatre. .... Mr. Cyril Keightley is playing Pistol in Mr. F. R. Benson's production'of "Henry V." at Edinburgh Lyceum Miss Florence Lloyd, here with "The J.P." company, ha* left on her return to London Miss Olive Godwin, through the decease of an uncle, has been enriched by £2000. • .... Edgar Mackay, a London leading juvenile, has been engaged by J. C. Williamson for his dramatic company. . . . Mr. Thomas Kingston, leading man in the Tittell Brune company, linn been disturbed by the statement that he is 52 years old. To the best of hie knowledge and belief he is only 36 Mr. J. C. Williamson lias secured the Australasiavi rights of "Bedford's Hope," a dramatic effort of strong and sensational character, which has been received with a great amount of popularity in America. The comedy "What Would a Gentleman Do?" has been added to the Brough-Flemming repertoire. . . . Fred Rivenholl, the comedian so long on the Fuller circuit, lost all his theatrical goods and letters in the San Francisco disaster The new plays, "Leah Klescbna," "Merely Mary Ann," and "Dorothy Vcrnon, of Haddon Hall," will be included in the New Zealand repertory of tho Brune-Kingaton company. . . The Invercargill Municipal Town Hall and Theatre will probably bo opened on the 25th October. His Excellency the Governor is to be invited to assist at the opening Latest reports of Miss Maud Bentty are that she was recently touring China with an Australian entertainment company.