FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 10341, 15 June 1897, Page 3

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

[Bt Oaix Bot.J Miss. Ada Juneen ia organising a strong burlesque company in Sydney for a New Zealand tour. . M. Leon Caron, alter twenty years? absence from his native land, has decided to revisit France, and bis many musical friends in Sydney intend to give him a proper sendoff. No professional ihan in the colonies more deserves one. New Zealand must good dumping ground at present for the “ perfesh.” The St. John and Hayman ‘ Dramatic Company, just arrived in Auckland from Sydney, will produce in the chief centres of the colony ‘ The Vagabond,’ ‘Parson Thorn,’ ‘ True Till Death,’ and ‘ Queen’s Evidence.’ The leading lady is Mrs Harris Marshall, and the company include the Misses Dora Moatyn, Madge Corcorap, and Blanche Wilmotp, Messrs Joe Tolano (for many years with. Mr Rignold), Fred Patey, B. Bailey, and Hayman. A dramatic company, which recently played in Dunedin, had a “ record ” attendance at Timaru on Saturday night, when they gave a performance before an audience which numbered less than a score of persons. Fancy one performer to every paying member in the bouse ! Some months ago it was mentioned in these columns that Mr G. P. flausmann, then exhibiting the Eontgen rays in Dunedin, intended introducing to this colony the “ biograph,” an improved development of the cinematographs. I now learn that one of the machines is on its way out by the Ruapehu. It throws a picture 16ft in diameter, and presents it to the audience with all the natural animation, but minus any aggravating vibration. The Gay Parisienne Company of ‘ * the Firm " is now practically formed, and Miss Mabel Everley, the principal singer (who plays the name part) baa sailed from London for Melbourne. Mr Watson, a brother of Misses Henrietta and Elizabeth Watson, is coming out as stage manager, and the cast will in : elude Mr Ernest Stiand (at present in Melbourne with the Paulton-Stanley compaujr) and Mr George Lauri. Miss Juliet Wray, whose retirement on her marriage with an Auckland medico was lately given out, has changed her mind again, and has signed on with the ‘Gay Parisienne,’ who otherwise consist of the Royal Comic Opera Company. Mias Maggie Moore is again in harness at the Sydney Royal with a repertoire of new plays—of which ‘ Joanna ’ is the forerunner —picked up in the States. Mr H. R. Roberts is still the leading man. Messrs A. H. Adams and M. Barnett, of Wellington, have jointly composed a Jubilee cantata, of which the ‘Post’ writes:—“lt opens without any orchestral prelude, with a full chorus, which leads into a recitative for a bass voice. This is followed by an unaccompanied madrigal, whose simple form should contrast with the heavier character of other choruses. It is succeeded by another recitative, which serves to introduce an orchestral march. A bass solo follows, and the work is concluded by a full chorus. The general theme is the unity of the Empire, and though the work bints at the record reign it is not chiefly concerned with the personality of the present occupant of the throne.” The decision of “ The Firm ” nob to grant further permits to amateur societies to play the operas over which they hold the rights does not apply to licenses already granted. “ A better array of vaudeville artists, purely and simply, has not been seen in New Zealand.” Thus the Auckland ‘ Herald ’ sums up the Matsa Company. According to the ‘New Zealand Times’ proceedings are being instituted by Mr R. E. Bannister, as representing Messrs Williamson and Musgrove, against several Dunedinites who took part in unauthorised amateur productions of the * Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘The Mikado’ during the Christmas and New Year holidays. The evidence in an action heard at Sydney recently before Mt Justice Cohen, in which Mr Arthur Garner sued Mr Philip Goatcher for the recovery of £3,000 damages for not carrying out an undertaking to conduct the Palace Theatre under an agreement with plaintiff, Who was to receive a salary of £2O a week, was interesting as showing what large salaries are paid, even in Australia, to variety or music hall artists. Among the performers whom the plaintiff engaged to appear at the Palace Theatre were the Delevines, £3O per week for forty-four weeks; Bellman and wife, £22 per week ; Henry Lee, £SO per week for three months, with the option of an extension for three, six, or nine months ; the Wintertons (who were engaged with the Delevines), £8 per week for forty-four weeks; Antonio, £3O per week ; Knowles and wife, £75 per week and 6 per cent, of the gross receipts,; “ My Fancy,” £2O per week ; Huline Bros., £SO per week for forty-four weeks; Herr Grace, £65 per week for performing baboon and donkey and the services of groom; and Panzer Bros., £SO per week for forty-four weeks. The plaintiff also stated in evidence that his share of the gross profits during his nine years’ connection with the firm of Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove was £40,000. ■