MIMES AND MUSIC. [BY ORPHKUS.] COMING EVENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 148, 23 June 1906, Page 13

MIMES AND MUSIC. [BY ORPHKUS.] COMING EVENTS.

OPEBA IIOUSB. William Anderson's Dramatic Company, In ceason to 25th June. Heynell and (Juno, 26th June to 3rd July. J. C. Williamson, 2iet July to 27U» July. The World's Pictures, 28th July to 10111 August. W. A»4erson, 11th August to 7tl» Ssptwuber. J. C. Williamson, Bth September ti> SU*t September. Leslie Harris, Entertainer, 22nd September to 29tli September. , .„, J. 0. WiUiimaon, lot October to 18th Harry' Riokardf, 20th October to 31*t Ootober. Willoughby-Wtird Ooinedy Company, lat Kovember to 12th November. J. O. Williajnaon, 26tu December to 17th January, 1907. THKATBE BOTJX. Fuller'! Entertainer*. •TOWN Hill. "America at Work" m««oo otmmencai tonigbt. On J. C. Bain's Australian circuit there are 54 performers. Of these, 24 have in recent years toured Now Zealand under the management of thp Fullers, five with P- R. P«*> throe with Rickards, and 12 of them have not yet visited this part of tha world. Messager, tho composer of "The Little MicUus," is a pupil of Saint Saeus, and conduotod the Paris Oper» Coniiquo in 1898, And Covent garden op«ra in 1901. His productions in London have been "La Bearnaisp" (1886), | "La tt&soohe" (1891), the comic opera "La Mireilie," and •' Veronique." In London last month "l'he Spring Chicken" reached its 300 th night, and as & few weeks previously it had been reincubated — that is to say, new songs and business had been introduced — its run at the Gaiety Theatre there is likely to hist for Mune time yet. Mr. J. 0. Williamson has re-engaged many of he important members qf the Knight-Jefiries Company, including Messre. Plimmer, Stirling, and Carey, to support Air. Charles Waldron, the American actor, in his tour of Australasia, which commences at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, on 7th July. Miss Edna May is in London in "The Belle of Af ay fair," and is afterwar*ds to visit Brussels, Berlin, and Vienna. Mr. Williamson considers that his long negotiations for an Australian tour by thifl beauty-actress axe now unlikely to come to anything, though at one time the affair was nearly settled. A few months ago Miss May married the head of the Steel Trust, a millionaire, The company headed by Miss Tittell Brune, when its season opened at Perth on Monday last, was joined by Mr, Jojbn Beauchtimp, from London, where he has been distinguished for years as an actor of old-age parts. The recent tragic death of Mis? Olga Brandon in poverty and obscurity is recalled by the publication of a letter written in 1886 by Madame Modjeska to a former member of her company who had married and left the stage. '£he letter contained the words : — "An actress is appreciated only at the time of her glory. When she has given to the world all that is best in her, she ip like an empty bottle. Ko one cares for her any more." Mrs. Brown Potter thought of coming to Australia again, but the project is deferred. An English paper states that Herman Oppenheuner has. engaged her far a 12-weeks* season hi the United States at £500 a week. There are, it is understood, says an exchange, certain conventional fictions in the theatrical profession which make salaries appear larger in print than in the contract. , I This is the second visit of Madame ! Lydia yeamans-Titus to New Zealand, I and Mr. Fuller is to be congratulated on acquiring this artist's services. Madame Titus is at the top of her profession as an entertainer, and on this visit will introduce several new sketches from her extensive repertory, besides her inimitable "baby" songs and recitations. Madame Titus also sings several new coon songs, including "Shine on, ! Silvery Moon," and "I Wouldn't Leave jmy Wooden Hut for You." Her accompaniments are still cleverly played by Professor P. Titus, Thia tour of Madame Titus of this colony, under the direction of Messrs. Fuller, should prove very successful. Through Mr. Eardley Reynolds, of Dunedin, the Messrs. MacMahon Bros, have purchased the dates at various theatres in. New Zealand originally allotted to Mr. Edward Branscombe, of the Westminster Glee Singers. These include, . amongst others, show week at Palmerston North, and all show dates on the West Coaet of the North Island. News of Nora Long's three years' engagement by the Moody Manners Opera Co. will make her birthplace in Maoriland throw up its hat and never care whether the head-garment comes down again or not (writes "Akenehi" iij Sydney Bulletin). Nora came over from her island home some four years ago and began the strenuous life of study and struggle in Sydney. Some 18 months back she went to London at the same time as Eva Mylott. The contralto is about to be married, but the soprano is in for grand opera. Mias Long is a thin, dark-haired girl, with (what is rare in a thin girl) some dimples and a large store of energy and optimism. She isn't more than 20 or so, yet her portraits make her look older than her own mother. That mother, by the way, was as good a singer as her daughter hi, only her voice was never published. Where is tho rising generation to find in the English drama the intellectual nourishment to which it is entitled,? In Shakespeare's own country evep "King Lear" is mutilated and expurgated as a concession to prudishness and respectability. To expurgate Shakespeare would in France be considered as absurd and indecent as to put a kimono on the Venus de Milo. The fact is, English dramatic art will remain mediocre and commonplace till tho drama becomes a representation of true life. — Yv«tto Guilbert, in "Monde Moderoe," Paris. Mr. George Edwardes's manager at Daly's Theatre (Mr. J. A. E. Malone) writes to Mr. J. C. Williamson cpmplaining of "a terrible dearth of firstrate pieces." He adds that ho goes to all the first nights and hears a succession of pieces likely to meet with moderate local favour, but rarely any good enough to speculate with for Australia, where playgoers are accustomed to her only the best. He has purchased for Mr. Williamson only "Brigadier Gerard" and "The Scarlet Pimpernel." ■ These new pieces are being reserved for Mr. Julius Knight when he returns early next year. "The Squaw Man," which has been most favourably received in the United States, in from the pen of Mr. Milton Roylo, a well-known American journalist, and deals with the question of race. An Englishman of high birth, exiled because of a self-sacrifice which hns made him the bearer of another's burden of fraud, meet* an Indian girl, and marries her because fiho saved his life. There is a child. The father succeeds to an earldom, and then comes the real dramn of the play — the position of mother and daughter in their new environment in aristocratic England, a problem which involves a number of ctrong and pathetic situations. The play, in which Mr. Waldron will appear, him not vet been produced in London, but it will form one of Mr. Charles Frohman's attractions for the present dramatic season there.

To-nighl tho New Zealand season of Edison's Popular Pictures and America nt Work is to bp opened in the Town Hull i the Clirtotohurch season is to open in tho Thc«tr« Koyul on tho 13th July ; and tho Duuediu (season on Ihe 24th July in Ilia Mnjewty's. The series of animated photographs which the- enterprising muuttgement lms just imported dj«Mst from America urn tho latest achievements jn this most modern process, und tb« machinery, appliances, and expert operators huve all been specially secured for thn tour. In udtlitiou to tho pictures, Mr. Avalou Collard, an English tenor, is to provide a musical interlude, with the asßisttmee of Miss Olivft Merton (pinniste), who will also havo under hor direction an orchestra which will play musical selections specially written or urranged by Mr. Cullttrd tor eauh series of pictures, Tim miwic will be appropriate, and there will bo ck'vcrly-uorkod effects during the displny of tho moving soenee. Special features of the group of American pictures will be records token in San Francisen aft«r the disastrous earthquakes. Amongst tho miscellaneous films are said to b» wine of tho most ludicrous "chase" episodes ever thrown upon a screen. One of tho oldest figures in show-life in Melbourne, if not the oldest, disappeared with the death of Mr. Maximilian Kreitmuyer, on 2nd June, says the Australasian. For the past thirty-five years Mr. Kreitmayer had been associated with the management of tho Melbourne Waxworks in Bourka-street, the delight of country visitors, to which the heroes and villains of all the latest tragedies were "just added" with commendable enterprise. Mr. Kreitmayer, who was a native of Hanover, lived for many years in Abbotsford, and took great interest in municipal affaire, having occupied the position of mayor of Collingwood on seve- • ral occasions. During the latter d^ys of his illness he entirely forgot English, and was able to converse only in his native tongue. Personally Mr. Kreitmayer was a man of most lovable disposition, and was extremely popular with everybody with whom ha oame into contact. He was 77 years of age. Referring, to the children, who play a prominent part in '.The Fatal Wedding," to be staged at the Opera House on Tues-. day evening, Melbourne Punch says:— Although very few of the thirty children npw touring the States in Messrs. Meynell and Gunn's phenomenally successful drama, "The Fatal Wedding," are twelve yeans old, the stage is for them no sudden fancy. Many of them have been on the boards from the age of four, and have even had. speaking parts. Eight Elays performed by the Knight-Jeffries ompany have parts for children, and under the care of "one of the ladies" a small child from Melbourne appeared it) all. Others have taken part in plays produced by Andrew Mack. One is very proud to relate that »he was the little boy in the school scene in "Tom Moore," who "would not go. 1 ' The stage 6cems to have less attraction for boys than girls, There are only six in this little company, and none take a prominent part. All the choristers in "The Fatal Wedding" are girls. A little girl of eight leads the tin-can march, another of the same age sings a solo to her doll, A large part of the success of the pjecß depends upon a child actress of twelve. Mr. Fred Henpmgham, manager of Anderson's Dramatic Company, now playing at the Opera House, gives an instance of the kindliness and courtesy of the hate Mr. Secjdon. About four years ago Mr. Henningham brought Mr. Anderson's first dramatic company to New Zealand, and it tvas due to open in. this city on Easter Saturday night. The company had come from Hobart, but the properties for the opening play, "The Ladder of Life," were being sent from Sydney, They missed the boat, and Mr. Henningham was left without the many rifles, soldiers' uniforms and accoutrements used in the production. An appeal to the defence barracks in Buckle-street was met with refusal — all the military authorities were in camp; it seemed as il "Anderson will not show to-night." Mr. Seddon wa« jn town, however, and urgent request to see him brought Mr. Seddon from an important conference with the other Ministers. Tho position was explained ; a few words to- a secretary, his signature, and I in two hours the war and wearing apparel 1 of the "Gordons to the Front" was in the local Opera House. Mr. Henningham has never forgotten Mr. Seddon's kindly action, for, as- he says, there are very few, if any, Prime Ministers who would have worried themselves over the plight of a theatrical manager on the loss of his "props." Mr. Cuyler Hastings, the actor, who is at present in Sydney on a visit, was asked by a Sydney Sun reporter to relate some humorous incident in his career. "There have been none," he said. "I can't recall one !" "Nor 'tragedy 1 either?" "No ; I can't say there has been that either." "A most uneventful life, eh?" "Well, yes, as far as the matters you have referred to go. But you know I'm out here for a holiday, and I don't want! to come out of this retirement." "But Australians cannot forget Sherlock Holmes in a hurry." "Yeß, I know they are splendid people, and they treated me splendidly, but withal I'm afraid I have no story for you !" "Well, will you tell me what) yoij are going to do in the future; will you appear here again?" "Not now ; some day, perhaps, I'll come back to Australia again." "And now, I suppose, home calls ?" "Yes ; I go to America from here, but at present it is the off-season there — hence my .holiday." For many years there was a deep-roob-ed prejudice in Melbourne against American actors and American plays, writes "Peter Quince" jn Melbourne Punch. Joseph Jefferson had set a. standard, a very high standard, and there came a succession of comparatively weak, socalled, stars. There was a pTetty Kose Evans, a bulky Kate Denin, a somersaulting Came Swaia^ and others. They did not catch on with tho general public, although all of them had their admirers. The "Little Lord Fauntleroy" Company came along and made a distinguished success, but they wore soon followed by a company of which Nat Goodwin and Miss Elliott were the leaders. They were artists, but the Melbourne playgoing public did not partt with too many of their dollars. The slump in American artists continued, I think, until Nance O'Neil came along and captured tiie Australian public. Then there followed Andrew Mack, who, opening under adverse circumstances, achieved a conspicuous and triumphant success. Now we have William Collier, one of the most finfshed American actors that have ever come to our shores. Theatrical clips: — Arrangements are being made for the erection of a monument) in Central Park, New York, to perpetuate the memory of Joseph Jefferson. The cost of the work will bo £1,0,000. . . . Mr. Chas. Albert, one-time of Pollards Opera Company, and more recently through New Zealand with Stephenson's Opera Company, bos deportled for Manila. , . '. It is reported that Fitzgerald's Circus, which has recently lost the two proprietors, has been purchased by the toll American, J. F. Fitzpatrick, who was the manager, for "Looping the Loop" Chefalo, round here with Wirths' Circus last year. . • Mr. Reginald A. Roberts, of the Royal Comics, is death on the American tip system. It) cost him £5 a week while in New York. . . An American syndicate has been formed to supply Australia with musical attractions, starting nextf year, . . Mr. Charles Frohman was lately in Paris arranging for the appearance of Mr. William Gillette in 'TSherlock Holmes," and for the production of Bairie'a "Peter Taa."