FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 9702, 10 May 1895, Page 4

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

[By Call Boy. J

Mr lE. Weir, the well-known Christchurch tenor, has accepted the position of solo tenor at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Sydney. The ' Daily Telegraph ' says: "Mr Weir owes his appointment to his perfectly successful singing on Easter Sunday." Whcu ' A Oaiety (lirl' was first billed in London the " person of the play," who now figures as Sir Lewis Gray, appeared as Sir Francis May. This name had to be altered. Sir Francis May, judge in Divorce, suggested Sir Francis Jeune, judge in Divorce, too strongly, and the authorities wouldn't allow it; ami so a very nice little joke had to be sacrificed.

Miss Maggie Moore will in all probability, on reaching America, tour under the management of Mr John Maeguirc, of Montana, who is in communication with her regarding dates and fixtures for the Pacific Coast.

Tlio present suggestiveness of the ballel, which has been gradually becoming more pronounced during the last live years, has rceiived a cheek in Boston, where thcßeaid of Aldermen prevented four " Phryncttcs " from playing at the local casino. The dancers wore black stockings to the knee ; above that, through short transparcnffckirls, gleamed more than a vision of rounded pink limbs. Of course what the audience saw were pink tights, but the Hoard of Aldermen considered it looked too much like the real thing to be moral, and stopped the exhibition at once. The " l'hryncttcs" and their friends raised a howl of remonstrance.

| Fnovi Out Lonhon Coi;i;i:si-onih;nt.]

Mr Maudeno -lackson, of Auckland, who since my last. Hole has gained admirers in Southsc:i, Manchester, and Lincoln, made his second appearance at the Albert Hall on a recent Saturday evening. The occasion was Mr Carter's Irish concert, and though the attendance was somewhat smaller titan usual there was ;i main of St. I'atriek's Day enthusiasm to cheer the singers on. Mr Jackson was sull'ering from a cold, but his rendering of 'Believe me, if all those endearing young charms-' was very cordially received. Encores were strictly prohibited by the concert-giver, else the'Aueklander would have had to irv again. Your late visitor Madame Belle Cole was the particular success of the evening, a deafening clamor succeeding her delicate and sympathetic rendoting of 'The meeting of the waters' and the ' Vales of Arklow.' Another singer with a colonial reputation—Madame Mina Fischer, to wit—contributed Balfe's ' Killarney' to the infinite satisfaction of tho warm-hearted audience.

Mr Jackson has not yet decided lo accept the protVored engagement for a South African tour, nor do 1 anticipate that he will leave the Old Country yet awhile. .For a -'new churn''' (as he is pleased to term himself) the Auckland tenor has done excellently in the matter of small engagements since arriving in England, and should do well in the immediate future as a concert star.

At the conclusion of the run of 'The Notorious Mrs Kbbsmith ' Mr John Hare will make a prolonged tour through America and Australia, playing in 'A Pair of Spectacles,' 'A cesses with which his name is associated.

Dr Mannington Catl'yn, husband of the accomplished "lota," informs me he has written a play which Janet Achurch has promised to produce somewhere sometim'. As, however, the talented actress is not likely to tind any capitalist fatuous enough to encourage her eccentric notions of management, and as she is just off to New York to try her luck with American audiences, I fear the ehauces of my volatile friend's effort seeing light are remote. "lota's 1 ' books fortunately continue to go. A fifteenth edition of 3,000 copies of 'A Yellow Aster ' is just announced.

Neil Campbell, the Australian parachutist, was blown out to sea whilst making a descent at Worthing on Wednesday evening, aud dropped into "the water 300 yds from shore. A boat went to his assistance, and the intrepid Antipodean was rescued seemingly little the worse.

Mr Haddon Chambers has plays on the stocks both for the Adelphi and Criterion. Had Mr Corney Grain lived till ISD7 you would have enjoyed the privilege of seeing this unequalled drawing room entertainer in the colonies. His partnership with Mr Alfred German Keed ended on December 25, 1S()5, and it was then the big man's intention to make a tour of the world a la Grossmith.

Lecturing has been overdone in the States, as witness the fact that the witty and accomplished Dean Hole's tour has only realised £3OO. I expect the rev. gentleman now regrets that he didn't carry out his original programme and accompany Jlr Haweis to Australia. The pair would have made capital foils for one another, leeturhi" alternate evenings. Mr Hawcis's friends anxiously await news of little " dot-aml-go-onc's''reception at the Antipodes. I don't expect his very peculiar style will "catch on "at once, but ultimately you will overlook his manner for the sake of his matter. Barring the Bishop of Bipon and ids brother, Mr Boyd Carpenter, Mr Haweis is almost the only really eloquent preacher the Establishment can boast.

MrPculey declares that he is interested in twenty-five companies playing 'Charley's Aunt' iu ditl'erent parts of the world, and that the piece has made over half a million of moncv.