FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 11168, 17 February 1900, Page 8

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

—i ——"r- ■ £Bt Call Boy.] THEATRE^OOKINGS. PoDards, February 15 to 24,' Garrick Club, February 26 and.27. Northcote Kinefnatograph, February 28 to . March 8. Happy "St. Georges, March 9 to March 15. Bland Holt, March 16 to March 30. Montgomery Kinematograph, April 12 to ;,s April 18. Chas.'Holloway, December 26 to January 12, ISOI. t *_ Miss Jearmie Pollock, a promising Auckland amateur, hits joined the Bland Holt Company. Mr George-Rignold will next month play a short farewell season under Mr Williamson’s management, opening in his famous role in Shakespeare’s ‘ Henry V.’ Miss Ada Ward (who visited th.is colony some years ago) has played many roles since leaving tbo-stage. Her first, character was that of a Salvation lassie. Then sho entered the ChuixtuArmy. For some reason she has forsaken that branch now, and has joined the Baptist Church, -and she was at the monthly baptism of the Lake road Church, Portsmouth, formally immersed by the pastor. By-and-by perhaps she may , establish a-new sect of her own. Mr Orpheus M‘Adoo, who has just concluded Ms tenth year as proprietor of the original Jubilee Singers, is at present iu P.risbanc at the head of tie Georgia ’Minstrels and Alabama Cake Walkers. The “show” has lately been augmented by Mr Gerald Miller, the possessor of a phenomenal bass voice; by Ferry, billed as the “ human frog” ; and by Gauge, a female impersonator. Mr Hugh J. Ward, of the ‘ Chinatown ’ Company, has been engaged by Mr Williamson for a long Australian season.

Stratford (Taranaki) amateurs have been giving performances of ‘ Dandy Dick ’ in aid of the local Patriotic Fund. ■The Wellington Amateur Opcr;*ric Society have ‘The Grand Duke’ in rehearsal. Mr Charles Warner revived on Boxing Night at the Adclphi (London) ‘ Drink.’ in which his Coupcan was as forcible as over. He was assisted by Miss Grace Warner. Says an exchange; “ Both were well dressed, and apparently of what society calls the ‘young matron’ class. Recent theatrical productions wore under discussion. There were other passengers in that particular car in which they were seated, bn I thov were apparently oblivious of the fact. ’The, Tyranny of Tears’ had been discussed. ‘Speaking of tears,’ said the younger of the pair, ‘ have you seen Julia. Marlowe in Barbara FrietchicV And then, without waiting for a reply, she raft If d on : ’lt is perfectly splendid! Why, I cried through nearly tv«) acts, and., believe me, T didn’t care a siuqr*as In who saw me 1’ ’Yes.’ said her companion. ‘ it affected me the same way when L saw it at Saturday’s matinee. But dn you know. dear', that when 1 gol to the theatre. 1 found 1 hj ul forgotten my handkerchief, and f entihiu'r cA hctail.-c 1 didn't know what to do with the team!' And the nude brute who heard it couldn't raise his paper quickly enough to hide the smile that spread over his face-, and put an end to the further exchange of confidences.’’ Mr R. Conrad, the well-known New York theatre manager, during an interview, contrasted the status of an American or British actor with that hold bv those of Germany. In Germany an artist has a much better position. There, after the military comes the stage. There are four nr five positions

that are worth trying for. They arc in the court theatres, positions for life, with orders and decorations. Yon arc received by royalty, and held in high esteem. That is something to work for, and if you have talent-it is recognised. All the well-estab-lished theatres play the same plays—.Shakespeare and Moliere, as well as Schiller and Goethe. There is only on© theatre in each town,' except the larger ones. like Berlin and Dresden. Towns of 60,000, 60,000, and 100,000 inhabitants have only one thetere, partly supported by the Government. The manager has to show that he is mentally, morally, and physically able to manage he;fore' he is given a permit license. Then every year ho has to give his plays, ShakeSeMUec, Goethe, and music, Mozart Wagner, and the stage is looked the church and school as an eduof the community. The chance, because he must have £t all. Here ap actor can it "certain part and put'on the play will run fyr two year's, where there is a different play you musk know how Here, if you get to the profession and know how a star, unless so raw me — —will make the success of his latest Northcotc. of kinematoextended his Wellington has been scored by the by Mr Rickards than at. Sydney last, week by a facial impersonator, who in full view of his audience witfl|H»rvcHo«s quickness. After a number of ” studies and prominent had been represented, Herr Amann depicted M?occil Rhodes, Mr Joseph Chamberlain, and President Kruger, followed by striking portraits of land Roberts and Lord Kitchener. The enthusiasm of the Mdienco knew no bounds' at ( bis stage, and ni response to the deafening applause the mimic added two more pictures to his gallery. These were the Prince of Wales in full military uniform and the Queen. He was recalled time after time, and a s • cessful debut was placed beyond doubt. Mr J. C. Williamson will reopen the Melbourne Princess's this night week with the successful pantomime ‘Little Red Riding Hood.’ Afternoon tea-anti ices for lady patrons of the dress circle and reserved stalls is the latest innovation ini connection with Sydney matinees. The Melbourne Opera-house is to be pulled down at once and re-erected in iitcordance with up-to-date plans approved by Mr 1 Rickards, its lessee. Mr Wittiam Kignolff'has been compelled to-retire from tile boards, with which he has keen associated for half a century, owing to failing eyesight. He played in Australia two or three years ago. Miss Maud Hewson, who joined the Pollards in this City, is a prominent member of the opera company which Mr Howard Vernon has. |npit .organised in Sydney. They have staged *Rip Van Winkle’ with considerable success, raid have now ‘Fayette’ in active preparation. Smart work, indeed! Mr Charles Wyndham and Miss Mary Moore went on the stage of the Theatre Royal, P.tighten, for the benefit of tho Home for the Blind, at a quarter-past two on a recent winter’s afternoon. and played ‘Mrs Hilary Regrets,’ which occupies thirty-five minutes; subsequent to which, by the courtesy of the London and Brighton Railway Company and Mr Arthur Wagg, a special tram was waiting for them, which arrived in London (fiftytwo miles) in less than an hour, and enabled them to be a* the Lyceum for Mrs Billington’s benefit by four o’clock, where, for the ; second time, they played the little coraedii (etta. jf Th e Dunedin Meistersrrtgccs’ quartet party * arc now under the control of Mr Arthur j. Barth, B.A.M. The quartet as reconstituted are a« follow: —Conductor, Mr A. ,7. Ilfttth; tenors, Messrs Blenkinsopp and basses, Messrs D. IHutton and FarIt will thus be seen that quartet remain with has nob pleasurable visits to South Africa, country the of much disquiet, occasion his to be trouble, the young men were, and town was left so Air Arnold at once to Pqffc Elizathey had the Mr Arnold’s Auswill ‘ What Hapwill of course be the card), ‘Captain Fritz’ (in sings his latest patriotic our hats to the Queen ’), ‘ The Amazons,’ ‘ Little dramatisation ’), ‘My Sweetleast, a new play,

‘Yesterday,’ by the author of ‘Under the Red Robe.’ Mr Arnold’s arrangement with the author is that he shall create the principal character in ‘ Yesterday,’ and on his return to England produce it at the Strand Theatre. Jack Lohr will the man ahead of the show.

Tom Fitzgerald, who is on his way to "Europe in search of novelties for his circus, drops me a lino from Colombo. Mrs Fitzgerald accompanies her husband in his quest. Mr O’Strlliviin, the father of Mr Tom Pollard and xMr W. O’Sullivan, of the Pollards, who died in Melbourne recently at the ripe ago of eighty-seven veal's, was an old soldier and police officer. There arc live o f his sons connected with the company now iu occupation of the Princess’s. A POWERFUL PLAY.

Conan Doyle and William Gillette (the American, actor) have dramatised, under the title of ‘The Strange Case of Miss Faulkner,' n. power play founded on the world-famous detective story of Sherlock Holmes, and the new play has had a tremendous success in the United States. Gillette makes an ideal Sherlock Holmes—an impersonation not onlv after Doyle’s heart, but after the heart of the novelist’s innumerable readers all over the world.

"Tile principal part is acted” with much ease, grace, courtliness, subtlety, charm, and sly humor, and given just that touch of sentiment and heart- feeling that it required. Odette becomes at 'once a inelflHramatic actor and a lover. This is the verdict ol Clement Scott, who witnessed the initial periormance at the Ganich Theatre. New Vnrk, and who writes critically concerning the new piece :

“It is no use going hack to the book to find the Conan Doyle detective story (fiat is hero dramatised, for you would fail to discover it. • The Strange Case of Miss Faulkner ’ is perfectly new, invented by the author in order that it might be dramatised, by William Gillette to suit his delightful style. The story is brietly this : A certain ’exalted personage’ has written some compromising letter?, sent envious photographs, and otherwise misconducted himself with a certain young girl, who apparently died o! his iH-ti'fiitme.nl. deserted, and Aisgraced. Her' sister is determined to avenge hoi memory, but she falls into (he hands of some blackguards, who desire to blackmail lie ’exalted personage ’ by means of these selfsame letters and photographs. Sherlo-k Holmes scents the fraud; hut, alas, pom weak humanity, he falls head over ears in love with pretty Alice Faulkner, and relm.i, her the Idlers, the hiding-place of which hj has discovered by a. clever and ingcm-ct-trick. Hearing that Sherlock Holmes has the blackmailing cave in hand, Ins giv.ii rival. Professor j’oriarty, determines t> thwart him, and. if needs mud he, to murae: him sooner than that he .shall succeed. Thi great scene in the play is where Shcrlm k Holmes is lured into a den of thieve,; at Stepney, whore he finds Alice Faulkner shut up in a, clipboard, bound and gagged. Then arc oppo.ad by four hired assassins, and it seems certain death for Sherlock ami Alice. Bur, his coolness and the red-hot Gillelh cigar saves them. Sherlock dashes out with a chair the only lamp, and smashes it to pieces. The stage is pitch dark ; the and! torium is even darker than the stage. Lhei ally, there is a. darkness in the theatre live can almo;| be felt. Nothing is seen nnv where but the live glitter of the llowim end of Hie cigar of Sherlock Holmes. Tiff is the beacon of the brutal murderess. The', proceed to follow, no; the man from Cook’.; 'ml the man with the cigar. Mcanwiii:Sherlock Holmes, having sconced his i-igm in a corner of the window, slips out of the room with Alice by the ojicn door, ami Peas well as hobs the rats into their own trap : in fact., it is a sensational drama, of the wildest kind, that tones down into a prettv lov. romance, for. of course, the giri he harescued from death iu turn saves Shcrlm!' Holmes, when his reputation is at stake. Ir giving up the packet and allowing revenge t; he tempered with love. . . . The sue cess of Gillette was not the only notabli feature, of the evening. Someone his invented a new method of lighting the stage, which, fairly astonished every spectator. I knew some radical reform in stage light in: must come, but it has arrived sooner than 1 expected, and the new invention lias clearly come to stay. We all know the dark scene utilised in these days for changing a scene it the middle of an act without using- lima atrocious tilings ‘ drop curtains.’ But never before has the power of regulating (la light till over the stage and the theatre Ivci so complete and absolute. Directly tin orchestra, have done, playing, a light, teigte theatre is turned in half a, second into dark ness blacker than pitch. . Half a second nmr; and the lighted stage stands out in its full glory. But this is not all. A system of graduated tones and tints has been arrived at of singular hcautv. Thus, in the las' love scene, where Sherlock Holmes, different, awkward, anxious, and in deadly earnest this time, declares his love for Alice, the stage, that had been bright, is gradually, very gradually, getting darker and clinker. The auditorium, that had been fairly bright, sinks into darkness too, and at last wc set nothing but the two faces of Sherlock Holmes and Alice Faulkner, with a stream of golden light thrown upon them, silhouetted against a deep and densely black background. Tin client is weird and exquisite, and I dn no! see how this clearly-defined cameo effect can fail to be imitated.”