MIMES AND MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25, 29 July 1911, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC

jTBt ObphbUb.J THE SHOWS,, • OPERA HOUSE The Scarlet Troubadours, 29th July to tb« 4th August, .T. and N. Tait ("Nicole"), 7th to 16th August J. C. Williamson, 17th to 26th August. Florence Baities, 28th August to 4th Sep tember. Clarke and Meynetl, 15fch to 30th September, J, C, Williamson, sth to 25th October. Clarke and Meynell, 3rd to 16th November Maxwelt Dramatic Company, 2nd to 16th December. J. C, Williamson, Christmas leaion. THEATRE ROYAL. Fuller's New Vaudeville Company. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. His Majesty's Pictures. THE KING'S THEATRE, Royal and West's Picturet, ST. THOMAS'S HAtlr. Star Picture Company, THE NEW THEATRE. MaeMahon and Donnelly's Picture* "The Scarlet Troubadours" commerioe their farewell season at the Opera House to-night. The company is sure of a hearty welcome, for all of the members are extremely popular here. After Wellington the company goes on to Auckland, and then returns here to go down the West Coast, before finally mailing for Sydney. Mkfl Winifred O'Cottnor, who fills th« important part of Sombra lit "The Arcadians," leaves the company aft Chrietchitrch and returns to Melbourne, , where ene commences rehearsing to. "The •'%olate Soldier." Mies Florence Quinn Win 'take the part of Sombra during the remainder of the New Zealand tour. Sotisa, whose famous band visits Wellington on the 14th August, has long been known as " The March King " from the fact that he originated a style of march, peculiarly his own, that has been adapted by military bands throughout the universe, and has composed over a hundred marches, the popularity, of which may be judged from the fa-et that their sales have reached many millions of copies. In fact the sales of one of the earliest, "The Washington Post," has alone reached over two million copies. It is not only in this style of music he excels, for his more pretentious works comprise _ several operas, symphonic poems, suites, and songa, all of which have achieved considerable popularity. Sousa is a most indefatigable Worker. He hoe written many magazine articles, and his novels, "The Fifth String" and "tipetown Sandy," and his year book entitled "Through the Year with, Sousa," fita«ip the author as a man with a fund of humour and a great insight into human nattim Nicola, a Yankee magician, accompanied by some fifteen American artiste, and over twenty tons of paraphernalia, has just arrived in this country with veteran George Bttller as pilot, who alleged that his new star goes all other magical productions one better. Among hia most startling feats is the hair-rais-ing test, which he publicly performed a short time ago in Shanghai, China. He was securely manacled hand and foot to the railway track a few minutes before the express was due. Ad the engine whistled at the 1500 feet limit, Nicola began to release himself, accomplishing the feat in 17 seconds. The sensation of a manacled i Houdini falling from a bridge into a river fades away when compared with the spectacle of a large train tearing down upon one small I Yankee at the rate of 60 miles an hour , threatening to leave nothing in its wake but an obituary notice. This clever mystifier is to appear in the Opefa House on Saturday, bth August. "The Lyons Mail," which Mr. H. B. Irving is producing in Sydney, was built up on an inddetn which took place in the year 1796 in France. A brutal murder was committed, and suspicion rested on a highly-respected trench citizen. Circumstantial evidence was so strong against the citizen that he was arrested, and finally convicted, although afterwards it_ transpired that he was, innocent, while the crime had really been committed by a desperate ruffian whose revolting deed was but the fitting climatf to his life of wrong-doing. The story was dramatised in 1850, and a year later was played in London. A special Version of it was prepared by Gh&rlea fteade for Charles Kean. In trance it used to bt> the custom to give, alternate endings to the drama-^one night the innocent man would suffer the consequences of the crime he had not committed,' and the next he would be reprieved just at the last moment. It j is the latter version which was adopted in England, and which is played by Mr. i Irving. It may be said of Mr. Irving in this connection that his presentation of the double' roles of Lesurques and l)ubosc enjoyed the longest run ever achieved by any actor in the piece. It is said on reliable authority that the Melba tour will run into an expend^ ture of over £3000 per week} that, in fact, J.C.W., Ltd., are shouldering a liability of over £52,000 for the sixteen Weeks in Sydney and Melbourne. Only these two cities will be visited, the show being too expensive to warrant seasons in Adelaide and Brisbane. _It will be miles in advance of anything yet attempted in Australasia, and it really ought to be a unique boom. "The call of her n&tive land seems to be growing altogether too strong for Madartne Melba,'' says the London Telegraph in its notice of the farewell concert given by the distinguished singer at the Albert Hall last month, on the eve of her departure for the tour in grand oftera in Australia. "In 'Ah! fors c lvi,' from 'Traviata,' in the Willow Song from ' Otello,' in ' Voi cho sapete,' from 'Figaro,' and in Ardjtj's 'Se sa.ran Rosa,' " writes this critic, "she reminded us that, among alt the singers of the day, there is surely none who practises tn« pure vocal art m quite such perfection as she does. In splendid voice, she sang with all that wonderful ( purity and incomparable finish which have giiten her a place apart from all others, and it was impossible not to feel that Tosti's ' Goodbye,' which she sang as an encore to her last eong, wa<J only too appropriate." The Btar was supported by Signor Carasa, a tenor from the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, and Mr. Backhaus, the well-known piaaiist. The accompaniments to the songs and a couple of orchestral pieces were played by the Queen's Hall Orchestra, under Sir Henry Wood. Madame Melba was presented by the Gramophone Company with a beautiful model of the steamship Osterley (on which she will travel to Australia). This model was made in flowers, floating on a sea of green moss, and bore the legend " Come back soon." In the same week Madame Melba appeared in the role of Juliette in the revival of ' Gounod's opera, " Borneo et Juliette," at Covent Garden. Mr. Bland Holt is on Broadway, New York, employing the opportunity furnished by his holiday to search for new plays for Australia. The New York Telegraph of 2nd June contains an article by Mr Bert Levy chronicling Mr. Holt's arrival, and indulging in pleasant reminiscences of the Well-known manager's career. "Bland Holt's namei" he writes, "is revered in Australia not" only on account of his great productions, but also for the affection that he has inspired in the hearts of the members of Ins company. For years he has held together a band of artiste who look up to l him as a sincere friend as well as a man* ager. Walter Baker, Miss Frances Ross, Albert Norman. Charles Brown, Miss Hilda Spung,' 'Mice Hsrme^ia .Watson,

»nd many other big names in Australia's theatrical history owe their prosperity and reputation to the care and forethonght of Holt's management. Bland Holt's successful career in the Antipodes is directly attributable to his intense love of the theatre. The writer remembew Holt's terrific capacity for work. On many occasions, long after the exhausted members of the company had Wtl telioateale, Holt would stay until the small hours urging the scene artists and the stage carpenters to stick at work. In all of the productions staged by Holt the manager and hie wife (who accompanies him to N©w York) played the comedy parts, and when Mr. and Mrs. Bland Holt sat down to start one of their famous comedy scenes a murmur of expectant pleasure would be heard in the audience." J C. Williamson, Ltd., have secured the Australian' tights of Haddon Chambers's latest play, "Passers By." The powerful drama, with its intensely human touch, is regarded by tho critics as the star piece of the ex-Australian dramatist. The story is of a young couple whose love for each other exceeds the bounds of prudence, Peter Waverton is quite prepared to make reparation to the woman he loves, but his step* sistet interposes, and succeeds in separating them, making Margaret believe that Peter wishes her to pass out of his life. Seven years slip away, and ode night, in a thick London fog, Margaret, thickly veiled, after struggling through tho etteets, pauses on Peter's doorway, and is invited in to rest and shelter. Peter eventually findd out her identity, and also hears from her the story of his stepsister's duplicity, and of the little son whom Margaret is striving to educate. Peter gives Margaret no peace till she promises to bring the boy to see him, and the next day, though he had promised to take his fiancee and Lady Hur» ley for a motor ride, he excuses himself and remains at home to make the acquaintance of his son. Later on the boy wanders off with a, half-witted protege of Peter's, and when Margaret calls for him ho is nowhere to be lonnd, Thera is a hue-and-cry, and Peter, sen., rushes out to find the boy. In the meantime Lady Hurley and Beatrice arrive, and finding Margaret theTe naturally expect an explanation, which they get. la the end, Beatrice, learning that Margaret really loves Peter^ and that he has all along loved Margaret, in her own Words, gives Peter "the chuck," and 'little Peter having 'been discovered safe and sound sleeping with his companion in a haystack, all ends happily. "The story of the supposed origin of my name is a rattling good one," says Sousa; "and, lilt© all ihgenious fables, permits- of international Variations. The German version ts that my name is Sigismond Ochs, a great .musician, borne on th* Rhine, emigrated to America, trunk marked '5.0., U.S.A.'; therefore the name, The English version is that I am one Sam. Ogden, a great musician, Yorkshiroman, emigrated to America, iuggage marked '5.0., U.S.A.,'; hence the cognomen. The domestic brand of the story is that 1 am a, Greek named Philipso, ■emigrated to America, % great musician 5 carried my worldly possessions I in a box marked 'S.A., U.S.A.*, therefore the patronymic. Now for the historical record : I was born on G-street, S.E., near Old Christ Church, Washington, D.C. My parents were Antonio and Elizabeth Sousa. I was christened John Philip at Dr. Finkel's Church on I Twenty-second-stfeet, North-west Washington, D.C., and would say, had I an opportunity to be born again 2 1 would j select the same parents, the same- city, and the same tuner" The J, C. Williamson management has a particularly busy few months ahead so far' ac their Sydney theatres are concerned, says a Sydney paper. In addition to Mi, H. B. firing's season, for which other plays are being prepared, the work of getting ready for the, Melbourne grand opera season is occasioning much thought. In all, twelve operas will be staged, and these call for some thousands of costumes. As the season is to begin on 2nd September there is no time to waste. Mr. Hugh Ward, tlw> Sydney managing director of J, C. Williamson, Ltd., is being kept busy in supervising the production departments. Only a few weeks remain at the Theatre Royal for "The Balkan Piincess," as the new Sherlock* Holmes play, "The Speckled Band," is fixed to open there oft l&th August. Miss Dorothy Ihx, an English actress, is to arrive from London for this piece which will be played by tjhe company .recently supporting Miss Katherins Grey. Mr. Gaston Mervale will increase the strength of the company by appearing in the part of Dr. Rylott. The same company will play "Alias Jimmy Valentino," the drama in which Gerald Dv Manner in London, and John Ba.rr.ymore in New Ybrk, made big successes. Another big attraction will be "Ben Hur," announced for Christmas at Her Majesty's, Sydney. In j the field of musical comedy, "The Girl in the Train" will come, along during the year at the Theatre Royal. This piece has, in addition to its Continental success, proveci a winning card both in London and New York. "Passere-by," Haddon Chambers' new play, has just b«n acquired by the J. G. Williamson nrm. "Our Miss Gibbs" is running successfully in Melbourne, and next month will move out on tour. Since last September the piece has been continuously in Sydney and Melbourne. It may come about that it will be played for a week again in Sydney before it goes to New Zealand, but so far this is not definitely fixed. Theatrical clips.— The Melbourne &ea* son of Ethel Irving and her company will last for only four more weeks, and will not be extended, as Miss Irving has mad© all her arrangements for reappearing in London. Immediately on her return she* is to do a special starring engagement at the Coloseum at a salary of £600 per week. . , Hamilton, Plimmer, and Denniston have just secured by cable from London the sole Australasian rights of the immensely successful comedy, "Inconstant George," now being played at Wyndham's Theatre, London. . . Dion Titheradge, now m London, has ceased play-acting to devote himself to playw^iting. He has already turned out something for Marie Lohr, and several of his playlets have raised their young heads in sketch theatres. . . Miss Margaret Cooper, an English society entertainer, has been en. gaged by MessTe. J. and N. Tait for aft Australian tour. Miss Cooper has been a great success at the London Palace Theatre. .. A revival of "Sergeant Brue" will follow "The Gay Gordons" at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney. On the conclusion of the season the company goes to Queensland, thence to New Zealand. . , Miss Florence Young has bought a home at Darling Point, Sydney. . . "The Quaker Girl," which is in the list of forthcoming J. C. Williamson attractions, has achieved a tremendous success in London. . . Mr, Allan Hamilton has secured the rights for four new American plays, and will shortly organise a second dramatic company. . '. A revival of "The Whip" is being contemplated at Drnfy-lanv. . . N«xt Sum day Mr. William Anderson lias arranged to present the popular actor, Mr. Walter Baker, and Miss Frances Ross in Melbourne m the military play "Tommy Atkins," supported by a specially-form-ed company of artists. . . Next year promises to be one of the busiest in the history of theatrical management throughout Australia. In order to "house" his attractions, Allan Hamilton has secured, a long lease of the Palace Theatrej commencing September next.

For ohronio chest complaints, Woods .G^eab Peppermint .Cure, li &d.— Advt.