MIMES AND MUSIC. [BY ORPHRUS.] COMING EVENTS. OPERA HOUSE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 57, 4 September 1909, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC. [BY ORPHRUS.] COMING EVENTS. OPERA HOUSE.

J. C. Williamson, in season to 2Srd September. Hugh J. Ward, 2nd to 16th October. Harry Riekards, ISth to 30th October. J. C. Williamson, 25th October to 13th November. J. C. Williamson, 15th November to 9th December. M. Branscombe, 10th to 18th December. 3. C. 'Williamson, 26th December. THEATRE ItOYAL. Fullers' Pictures, in season. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Royal Picture Syndicate, in season. Mr. Walter Bentley, supported by a strong company will, in all probability, open a , New Zealand tour in January next, under the management of Allan Hamilton. The repertoire will include "Hamlet," "The Bells," "David Garrick," and "Rob Roy." Mr. Chas. Tait, of the firm of J. IST. Tait and Co., who has been to London, to make arrangements for Madame Calve, the distinguished operatic singer, to visit Australia next year, and give 30 concerts, says that Calve was certain to be a great success in Australia, ow- | ing to her strange personal fascination and the purity and beauty of her voice. •She took a lot of persuading, because she dreaded the sea voyage. Miss Fanny Bauer, of Sydney, and a, soprano, who went to England some years ago, has been engaged by Mr. J. C. Williamson as one of the principal sopranos of his company opening in Sydney in October. Mr. Andrew M'Cunn, who up to two' years ago was conductor of the Royal Comics, has also been booked for Australia. Mr. Harry Riekards will commence his next New Zealand tour at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, on Monday, 4th October. Wellington will be visited J.Bth-30th October ; one or two nights will then follow in the "smalls" of the North Island ; His Majesty's Theatre, Christchurch, will follow from sth12th November, and the tour will conclude with a Dunedin season commencing 13th November. The following are the approximate opening dates of Mr. Hugh J. Ward's Company of Comedians for the coming tour of the Dominion: — Dunedin. Saturday, 11th September ; Oamaru, Wednesday, 22nd September ; Timaru, Thursday, 23rd September ; Christchurch, Friday, 24th September; Wellington, Saturday, 2nd October ; Napier, Tuesday, 19th October ; Hastings, Monday, 2oth October; Dannevirke, Wednesday, 27th October ; Masterton, Friday, 29th October; Palm'erston North, Monday, ■ Ist November ; Wanganui, Saturday, 6th November 5 Hawera, Wednesday, 10th November ; New Plymouth, Thursday, 11th November ; Auckland, Saturday, 13th November. Playgoers may possibly hear more of sweefe Kitty Bellairs, whom they last 6aw gazing through a shower of rain upon the departure of her lover, Jxird "Verney, from Bristol for the wars abroad. At any rate, the authors of the original romance ("A Bath Comedy"), Agnes and Egerton Castle, have now issued a continuation of the story entitled "The Kidnapping of the Bean," dealing with the fortunes of Kitty Verney. This time the scene is laid in London, where Julia Standish, "the watering pot," Denis O'Hara, and others of the Bath set, reappear. Kitty, as daring and vivaciously irresistible as ever, on this occasion scores against Mr. Tom Stafford, and upsets his favourite scheme of a club for the entertainment of the newly-married husbands of herself and her friends. Mr. Chas. Tait has arrived in Australia from London and, interviewed, eaid that the people of England were anxious to know when Melba was going to sing there again. Frequently at concerts the chief topic of conversation among the seatholdei's was, "When is Melba coining back?" "Melba," added Mr. Tait, "is worshipped by the English. Tetrazzini is liked also, but the two artists are' greatly unlike. Tetrazzini is adored for her passionate. Italian nature, Melba is worshipped for the bird-like quality of rter voice and its glorious timbre." Mr. Taifc added that tho Besses o' the Barn Baud was coming back to Australia, and would reach Sydney next January. The band had made a name for iteelf by its successful tour of Australia, and was now in great demand. Mr. Harry Riekards will send another "All Star" combination to New Zealand shortly, opening at Auckland 4th October. The principals will include Rose Casselli and- her troupe of dogs, which have caused a great sensation in Sydney ; Florence and Lilian in their original musical act, which is generally voted one of the best and most refined "turns" ever imported by Mr. Riekards ; Graham and Dent will return to New Zealand with a number of new sketches, and another sensational English act will be included in the company, which promises to compare with the strongest that Australia's Vaudeville King has yet organised for New Zealand. Mr. Allan Hamilton will travel with and peieonally direct the tour. The rapid rise in the tneatrical profession of Mr. Hugh J. Ward, whose company wijl appear next month in Wellington in "A Bachelor's Honeymoon," is due not only to his brilliance as a comedian, but his cleverness as a manager. That Mr. Ward knows what the public wants is proved by the fact that since he first went into management on his own account, about four years ago, he has nob known what failure means. Twice, in conjunction with Mr. George Willoughby, he toured Australia and New Zealand with such success that he was enabled to go to England and Ameiica in search of the best talent procurable in the big world centres, amd the most popular plays. It Ls a remarkable fact that, after an exhaustive search extending over' mny months, Mr. Ward could find no greater artists than Australians, and so it came about that in what was at first intended to be an entirely new company there are some of our oldest favourites, notably Miss Grace Palotta, Miss Rose Musgrove, Miss Celia Ghiloni, Mr. Reginald Wykeham, Air. H. H. Wallace, and Mr. Robert Grieg, and several highly promising colonial artists, such as Miss Ruby Baxter, Miss Florence Redfern, Mr. W. B. Beattie, and Mr. Charles Knight. At the same time, Mr. Ward appreciates the value of "new blood," and, to lend additional strength to his combination, he engaged several English actors of prominence, notably Mr. Wernham S. Ryott (formerly a "juvenile lead" with Arthur Bouchier) and Mr. Arthur Eldred (formerly a member of Sir John Hare's company). Mr, Ward announces his intention of presenting farcical comedy in New Zealand «n such a scale as has never been hitherto attempted. No talent, he considers, can be too good for farce, which is, in his opinion, the most exacting form of theatrical art, and so he de- ! cided that every member of his company should be a finished arLisfc. He also intends to produce his farces with the best possible atmospheric effects in the way of scenery and accessories. There seems to be a consensus of opinion in Melbourne that Mr. Oscar Atche is giving a great oerfonnance of

"Othello," where his Moor stands revealed "a being of splendid physique, high courtesy, chivalrous adoration, and noble bearing — a man who might indeed, despite his swarthy skin, easily have won a romantic maiden's affections." Equally we read that Miss Lily Brayton "developed the character of Desdemona as if it were a glorious, flower, beautiful in the lovely bud of girlhood, growing in dignity and sweeter fragrance as a wife, finally to be swept away in the fulness of her springtime by the relentless hands and blade of the arch-destroyer." It appears that the murder scene is carried out with greater barbarity than is usual, a reading which Mr. Asche defends on the ground that •-. woman of Desdemona's high-bred quality would not have consented to die tamely under the stigma of a false accusation. There was a scene of extraordinary enthusiasm at the opening, and the season is still running to over-crowd-ed houses. My. G. P. Hnnlley writes out concerning tha "probability" that he may again tour Australia, "if possible next year." The comedian was immensely admired in Sydney, says the Herald, when he played in "Three Little Maids," "Kitty Grey," and "The Girl from Kays" with Deila Mason, Madge Crichton, Maurice Farkoa, and others of the original cast. Many people expected too much, and were consequently disappointed in the very "average" display made by the London crowd, but all united in joyously hailing G. P. Huntley a star. It is probable that Mr. Huntley has been confabulating in London with J. C. Williamson; but to quote "The Rivals," he is "as silent as a coach-horse" on the point. However, this may prove to be one of the many pieces of news which Mr. Williamson will bring back with him to Sydney. Packed from the organ loft to the clock on the south wall was our Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday evening last (says a Melbourne writer on Miss Amy Castles' first concert). And the reason for all this cram and excitement was one youthful singer, who, having left our shores in a blaze of juvenile glory just a % few years ago, after acquiring as much as she possibly could in the art centres of tho Old World, had just returned once more to give us a j proof of the hopes we had of her, the confidences we then bestowed upon her. Were these hopes and confidences realised; and to the full? We think the almost unparallel enthusiasm with which each effort of hers was greeted, culminating as it did upon the conclusion of her final simple ballad, in so frenzied an outburst, was a sufficient, and more than sufficient, vindication as to the justice of our convictions at the time of her debut. Nor was the audience of that "sheep-over-the-stile type," easy to be led by a few interested claqueurs. Rarely has there been so wide and spontaneous an outburst of approval m any audience as we heard on this occasion. This is most pleasant to contemplate, for is she not one of our own — a little Victorian girl ? Mr. Bland Holt is likely to get into debt with Sydney playgoers owing to the success of "The Great Rescue" and "The Bondman," which are now certain to fill the first three months of his brief stay at the Theatre Royal, says Sydney Morning Herald. In the meantime his 'costly acquisitions of new dramas in London are ' beginning to accumulate. This is the "debt" referred to, and it constitutes one of the many rose-leaves that form the bed of the successful actor-manager ; who himself, probably, gofers to them as "thorns!" "Trie Bondman" was produced at Drury-lane Theatre as long ago as 1906, after which, a year later, came "The Sins of 'Society." Mr. Holt has had this play in preparation for some time, and much of the scenery has been already painted by the late John Brunton. The plot deals with the fashionable craze for gambling at bridge, and presents a modernised tableau on the tragic lines of the loss of the B'irkenhead. Mr. Holt possesses also the autumn piece of 1908, "The Marriages of Mayfair," the title of which more or less explains the scope of the story. An avalanche in Switzerland is the central spectacular feature. Now, already, the latest mails bring gossip concerning the next autumn novelty, upon which tho authors, Messrs. Cecil Raleigh and Henry Hamilton, are engaged for Mr. Arthur Collins. Beyond the statement that the play is to be a "sporting drama," so that "once more the stage of Old Drury will resound to the beat of horses' hoofs," the papers do not reveal very much. Thus, it will be noted, that Mr. Holt, after I next month, will be three years behind with his Drury-lane pieces. Unfortunately, a difficulty in securing "dates" in the chief centres stands in the way of any_ very rapid achievements. At first Mr. Holt contemplated disbandment for a time ; but now it is understood that he will open at the /King's Theatre, Melbourne, on 9th October. Theatrical Clips. — Julius Knight and company commence another New Zealand tour at Auckland on Monday night. . . . The "Village Priest" will be shortly revived by the J. C. Williamson Dramatic Company. . . . Mr. G. S. Titheradge has invested in a house situated in Rose Bay, Sydney. The actor's hobby is flower culture. . . . Miss Gertrude Boswell,, who was hero with Wilson Barrett in 1901, and appeared m Stephanus in "The Sign of the Cross," has returned to Sydney from England. . . Mr. C. Simonsen, manage* of the Bland Holt Company, has been wifch Mr. Holfc for twenty years ; Mr. P. Kehoe, Mr. O. Brown, and Mr. C. Wheeler, 17 years; Miss Harrie Ireland, 15 years ; Mr. A. Styan, 10 years ; Mr. Max Maxwell, 13 years. . . . Lazern, the "King of Magicians," was in London last month. He was amongst the artists at the "All American matinee" in aid of the Fresh Air Fund given by multimillionaires and a multitude of famous stars. ... It is understood enquiries are being made by several American vaudeville # artists as to what prospects there are in Australia There are good opening for good acts. . . . Miss Maudie Cosham, ballet mistress at the King's Theatre, is already at work on the ballets for Anderson's Christmas pantomime. In answer to an advertisement j for children, over two thousand applicants arrived at the stage door. . . . Bland Holt plays a season in Melbourne at Anderson's King's Theatre, Anderson's Company touring Tasmania and Adelaide the while. . . . Miss Daisy Scudamore, of Anderson's Dramatic Company, is in private life Mrs. Roy Redgrave. . . . Miss Pattie Browne, after a long retirement, 1 is back on the stage in England, doing sketches in vaudeville. . . . The Anderson Touring Dramatic Company, headed by Miss Frances Ross and Walter Baker, has concluded its, lengthy tour at Geelong, and disbanded. . . . For his representation, of "The Prince and the Beggar Maid," Mr. j Anderson will bring most of the production, props., dTesses, etc., from London. . . .* Fred Mfllis, the ,ventriloquist, is up against hard times in England. Owing to blindness, which it was recently reported had settled on him, he has practically had to give un, work. A benefit was given to him, and now he has had to sell his show and props. . . . Mr. and Mrc. William Anderson, who have just concluded a tour of Great Britain, are now in Paris, and wall leave for Australia about the middle of this month.

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