FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 11891, 20 May 1903, Page 7

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

■i • [Br Caw. Bot.l Ben Fuller advises me that business at Both Dunedin and Wellington has been tmrte up to expectations during tho past two months, • despite the strong' counterattractions, He says: "We are showing confidence in the laughter-seekers of the colony by determining to carry on at Wch tington. Christchurch. and Dunedin. This will enable us to make complete changes, and to introduce different artistes frequently. Tho Mintons,.Will Harvev, and the Wmore sorters; (for Wellington), besides Fred Bluett and Miss Ellerelic, came over this week. W. hope to have other new faces shortly." During their recent five-week*' sraM.ii in Jrchourne Wirths' Circus LW ft.rtv-fivo att? 8 . Perf °L m . anCC S- ,he wtinwted average ??*"" t»W>B 3,000, sivinK a total of J* tron^ w ' hich is qu'te » record W,i° fi S"' a r a,s "> 1-robably, for Melbourne. Four Sunday were also given, and theso were iorgeiv attended. The losing performance on Fridiv week was before a full house. A London manager conceived, according to an English exchange, the idea of takinacoropany to Russia and producing an migiaal play. Before doins so. he made inquiries and obtained some useful information. As a preliminary, it was essential to have a literal translation of the play made, ■this had to be done bv Government officials. Copies had then to be made and sent to heads of a number of departments. Each copy had to be officiallv certiii d IS correct and stamped. What with fees and " sundry expenses," which bulk largely when Russian officialdom is approached, this proceeding would have cost £3OO, and it was merely preliminary. The Censor might have vetoed the play after all! The manager decided to abandon the project and to keen the money m his pocket. Few Mill question his wisdom.

New Tcmk has now a new Jewish theatre. It is called tho Grand, and is situated in the heart of the Jewish quarter on what is known as the 'Mower east side"' of the nty. It is the first theatre in New York tver erected expressly and exclusively for Jewish patronage of the bett-r class. Ir has a seating capacity of 1,700. and is handsomely appointed. The tta-e is equipped M'ith a~counterb:i,kncin.T jystem of weights running in guides—a labor-saving device for shifting machinery which, it is said, is not used elsewhere "in New York. The plays are given in Yiddish, the class of Jews for whom the theatre was built finding it easier to understand than English. Discussing the somewhat curious rights which the British are entitled to exercise in the'expression of their views in theatre.-, the ' Law Times' says : " Rather leas than a century ago Covent Garden Theatre was the scene of some remarkable-straggles. It ■would appear that the audience expressed their feelings with such violence that the play was virtually inaudible. Chief Justice Mansfield, however, in his judgment, shows that tradition confers upon people a perfect right to express in a theatre, in any vocal or instrumental way they please, the spontaneous feliwgs of the moment, though the prodigious noise they make deters anyone from hearing what is going on." It is to be hoped that our "gods" will not take full advantage of this ruling. Fred Bluett, who arrived by the Monowai this morning, makes his reappearance in this City at the scene of many former Iriumphs, the Alhambra, on Saturday evening. Miss Ellerslie (balladist), a "fellowpassenger, will make her debut in Dunedin the same evening. When princesses of the blood and peers of the realm take to the stage it is indeed a sign of the times. Yet at the Isle of Wight the Princess of Battenburg (Princess Beatrice) and her three children frequently appear in amateur theatricals for the benefit of the Whippingham schools; while at Chatsworth, (the Duke of Devonshire's famous seat) the wife of Prince Henry of Pless and other great notables acted," sang, and danced on a specially-prepared stage. Lady Maud War-render, Lady Blois, the Countess Df Huntingdon, Lady Westmoreland, and other grand dames frequently "strut their brief hour " on the mimic stage of baronial Beats or country towns. Two women are attracting just now the attention of the musical world of Paris. One is a pianist. Miss Selva is not yet nineteen years of age, but has received the cachet of the approval of all the best, critics of that capital. She is described as' "the pianist of the hour in the inner circle of musical Paris." The other is Miss Ethel Smythe, whose opera 'Der Wald' has astonished those people who thought that no Englishman or EngUshvfoman could write music worthy of interpretation by foreigners.

At Christchurch yesterday Mr Percy Herman, licensee of the Theatre Royal, was fined 40s and costs for having permitted structural alterations in the building without having obtained the sanction of the City Council. Mr Fisher, for the Council, said that during the 'Sweet Nell of >ld Drury' season the management shifted back the harriers between the pit and stalls, with a view to increasing the room in the stalls, and thereby permitting of increased takings. The result was that the door and passage of the theatre were blocked up and rendered useless to the public as a means of ingress and egTess, and the pit was w> crowded as to make it impossible for the police to get in and preserve order in case of accident. late London tiles record the deaths of Mr Frank Harvey and of M. Medrie Robbilfiard. The latter was known professionally as Lewis Martinetti, of the famous Martiuctti troupe of acrobatic dancers, who have appeared in Australia under Rickardiaii auspices. He was a French Canadian and thirty-five years of age. The late Mr Harvey, who was in his sixty-third year, was in his early years identified with Mdile Beatrice's famous company. Subsequently he toured the United Kingdom with bis ftwn company, who played numerous dramas from his own pen. A yery sad story is told of Carola Berger, a once-famous opera singer, who was arrested in Vienna quite recently for picking a woman's pocket. Mdlle Berger gained fame when twenty years of age, and for five years was the foremost in her profession, earning quite a regal income. In 1895, owing to an accident, she lost her voice, and her reason became affected, necessitating her temporary detention in an asylum. After her discharge she sank into a state of" destitution, and hunger drove her to theft. Efforts are now being made by sympathisers to restart her in life. She is only thirty-five years old.

The stars of tin: Neill-FraVley Company Trill be Mr Daniel Frawley. a romantic actor, who has for seven years been engaged in producing spectacular melodrama in San Francisco, and Miss Mary Van Buren, a handsome Junoesque comedienne. About fifteen artists are due from the East, and five more are joining the company on this side from San Francisco. The directors possess an immense repertoire of dramas, and during their season, -which opens in Melbourne under Mr J. C. Williamson's auspices about 30th May, they will stage 'Arizona.' a. favorite American drama, which has just been produced with success in Londou, and 'Secret Service.'

Mr.Edward Lloyd sailed for London by the Orotava. His second Melbourne season, substituted for the New Zealand tour, did not prove a success. Of the concert party, it is probable that Mr Peterkin may spend six months in Australia, whilst Miss Emily Foxcroft proposes visiting New Zealand on a holiday tour, and Miss May Muklo and Miss Jean Newman both talk of returned to Sydney for ten days' rest and recreation

■ After an absence of two years from Christchurch. the Messrs Fuller are about to reappear in management there, opening the Opera-honso there on Saturday next with the fame company as the Alhambra, Dunediu, was reopened with a couple of months ago, save that Will Stevens will be replaced by Jack Steele. Mr John Fuller wilL represent the firm's interest Mark Hnmbourg, the pianist, at present in Australia, possesses an interesting souvenir in the form of n gold locket, containing on oiie s;ide a lock of hnir fxr.d on' law other side a luck of Hsibla"Btdn's. r i'h« *oavt:Jiiv w«vi ju'Lscnl'Tt ten ho Russian pianist lylliu great \';..:u;o,,> ulano pedagogue, the instnp'irm !;r,::g: •'>; ;ir ] > - }l--?nho\';p;, frr ?«i 'l'heodoiv |.,--.-.-V,:' f "--/-,. •• . ?iV wr*i'ljwdel kf-il-::-). M-hic-h v.-;.'.';'l' 0 hesda in on May 11, August Manns

will conduct a choir of 2,700 voices, of which 500 will come from the provinces. According to official figures Paris has spent £211,726 on opera from Ist March, 1902. to 28th February, 1903, irrespective of the State subventions. Of this sum £121,863 was received by the opera and £89,863 by the opera comifji'.:'. In its declining days the Gaiety Theatre is reviving old memories in the compressed burlesque "The Linkman.' which follows 'The Toreador.' Recently a fresh link was added to the chain, for whilst Nellie Farren wns being imitated upon the stage by Miss Ethel Sydney the real Nellie Farren was present in a box, the guest of manr friends and Admirers of the O.P. and Gallery First Nighters' Clubs. Some twelve years have parsed since Miss Farren .last "trod the boards in Gaiety burlesque, but her memory i.s still green in the hearts of the audiences she erstwhile delighted, and when she appeared in the theatre at the end of the (n-st act a great oration awaited her. At the close of the performance the curtain was raised to disclose the whole Gaiety company grouped round Miss Farren, whii?,t Mr Edmund Payne recited the lines which appeared on the" programme : "Dear Nellie Farren—darling of 'the gods '— You are—you were—you will be—ever-

more. T.iko all ohi- love—from Gallery to Pit! (Oh. Nellie, how we wish vou v d ' take the Floor! - ) " 1 o-night- we. come to welcome you again, To cheer you!— That's the greatest of our joy J. In joy or suffering—don't forget how dear You were—and ever will be—to Your Boys." Not gnat, verses, perhaps (remarks a London exchange), hat still obviously and sincerely expressing the thoughts of the audience. Miss Farren replied in a brief little speech, thanking her admirers in front, and expressing a desire to be alwavs remembered as "their Nell"; and in "conclusion Auld lang syne' was sung, the audience upstanding. The Fitzmaurice Gill Dramatic Company return to Dunedin for show dates, when they will be seen in a new play, r The Prodigal IV,on,' at His Majesty's Theatre. 1 he Majeroni Dramatic Company open a season at the Princess's Theatre on the Mh ,„rt. in Frank Harvey's five-act drama Brother Against Brother.' This company have been in New Zealand for the. last' seven nicnths'.

Recent London record run* : 'The Chin.-~ Honeymoon,' 600 performances; 'Three Little Maids.' 300 performances; 'Monsieur Beaucaire,' 150 performances-al] three were still running when the mail left Williamson's Musical Comedy Company arc- at present in Sydney with "'The Circus Girl. M r Hugll Ward ha _. ijirellgthenp . l the cast, and appears as Drivelli, the circus proprietor: Rose Hamilton replaces Aggie Kclton, the circus proprietor's wife. According to the New York 'Dramatic Mirror.' Flora Moore and company go to Australia with 'Nancy BroM-n,' under Mr VviUiamton's management. Mr Williamson, the well-known theatrical manager, has just been paid by a man who admits that he wrongfully gained admission to his theatre sixteen years ago. It is a ease of payment of conscience money. A few days ago the manager received a "letter from a resident in one of the Victorian towns stating that sixteen years ago lie had obtained admission to a theatre where the firm M'erc presenting a comic opera by meiins of a ticket which he had made himself. The writer says he thought he was doing a smart thing, but be misrht just as well have put his hand into Mr Williamson's pocket and taken a' shilling out. Since then ho had become a Christian, and although "you can hide evil from man, you cannot hide it from God," he now paid the shilling with another shilling as interest, at the rate of 6 per cent, for the term it had been owing. Mr Williamson sent the writer a kindly and appreciative reply, promising to add the money to his next contribution to charity.

The members of the 'Sherlock Holmes' Company who elected to travel overland to Christchurch from the West Coast rather than by steamer to Timaru were loud in their praises of the scenery. They describe the appearance of the mountains with the snow on them as grand in the extreme. Miss Bertha Rossow is to leave London this month for South Africa, where she goes ;as soprano of a concert tour arranged by two clever Dutch artists, who hold high plaws in. London—viz., MM. Johannes Wolff (violinist) and Holhnan ('cellist). Fritz Muller, the Australian violinist, is 1 (-turning to Melbourne/ in order to procure more money for the purpose of advancing his musical studies. He gave a concert recently in Berlin, where he was assisted by Joachim (the great virtuoso), rnd obtained excellent notices of his playing. Jacques Inaudi's engagement under the Rickardian management terminates on June 5. His place for the Auckland and Wellington seasons will probably be filled by Seelye and Wtst (musical comedians). Air Hunter's engagement terminates on the 12th prox., and his "turn" will be taken by Hill and Silvainy (bicycle experts). Mr Hunter leaves for America, aad Inaudi returns to London.

Oddments.—Mrs Dante, widow of Dante, tho illusionist, is to be benefited at Sydney prior to her departure for America.—Mr George Musgrove's Comic Opera Company are now at Adelaide with 'The Fortune Teller.'—Mrs Brown-Potter is reported to have been served with a writ of injunction by a London firm to restrain her from reciting 'Hiawatha' with Coleridge-Taylor's music.—At the conclusion of a limited seaton at the Sydney Palace Miss Maggie Moore pays another visit to America.—The Boiscttes," eleven in number, are Mr Harry Ilickards's latest importation. They do a. pantomime sketch, a feature of which is some remarkable gymnastic attainments.— Miss Ada Delroy, Mr James Bell, and Mr Barry Shine are at the Gaiety Theatre, Melbourne.—J. L. Tonle celebrated his seventy-third birthday last month. The veteran is now enjoying improved health.— Mr Charles Warner is going to America to produce fiir William Maguey's dramatic version of his own novel ' The Man of the Hour.'

Under date of May 18 my Wellington correspondent writes as follows: After doing capital business with ' The Lady of Ostend,' the Hawtrey Company revived 'A Message from Mars' on Monday last, and the popularity of the play has been evidenced by the splendid attendances throughout the week. Mr Hawtrey's combination play tho piece with conspicuous ability, and a clever appreciation of the many extremes of character which the author has drawn. ' A Message from Mars' is going so strong that the management have decided to keep it on the boards for ?, few nights longer. ' In the Soup,' 'Little Lord Fauntleroy,' arid 'Tom, Dick, ;iiid Harry' are the next attractions. We are promised a treat when 'Little Lord Fauntleroy' makes his appearance. After the company have paid brief visits to Blenheim, Nelson, Westport (on the upward trip), Greymontb, and Hokitika, Dunedin will be exploited, then Christchurch aud Northern towns to follow. The company's present engagements will keep them "in this colony till September. On dit that Mr Chas. .Macmahou has had an offer to pilot an American company through Australia and New Zealand within the noxt few months. Your readers will doubtless have a good idea as to which company this refers to. It is quite correct, that a well-known New Zealand sport has been approached with a view to accepting a position on the managerial staff of this particular company when they make their appearance in this colony. According to theatrical gossip, Mr Allan Hamilton, who for a long time was associated with Mr Robert Brough's company, has accepted an offer to join Mr Geor,ge Musgrove's managerial staff. Mr John Fuller, jun., who has been attacked with congestion of the lungs, is mending satisfactorily, and he expects to resume his business duties at the Choral Hall in a few days. Meanwhile, things arc booming with Fuller's Entertainers, anil \\:.\ wet inv.aiiiih; of lute, has had no eff-v: in liniifiu-; the iittendnnois. Mr Will >;L".-!-n? (i-liu s;-<!-oycd t-hrk-k) mad" his renjip-.v!-::;!.-.' <y\ Saturday and got a ovation i'-./in the "jjods." ~£ bright entmiiiumenf was giveii by the

officers and crew of the big steamer Athenic in the Exchange Hall on Tuesday evening last. Though the programme was a long one, the items were diverting and entertaining, and there was no halting, everything passing oil' without a hitch. The net .proceeds (about £3O) have been handed over to the Sailors' Rest authorities. Mr W. S. Davenport (fourth officer of the Athenic) showed himself a clever caricaturist by dashing off a series of smart sketches. A very creditable performance of ' Caste' was given by the Porirua Dramatic Club in the social hall of the Porirua Asylum last Tuesday evening. The club have some first-class talent in their ranks.

On.the 15th and 16th of next month the Murist Old Boys' Dramatic Club purpose staging Bouckault's ' Colleen Bawn'. c-t the Opera-house for a benevolent object. Those talented sons of gifted Italians wl:u;-e memory still lingers pleasantly in tli'- nunds of colonial playgoers—George and Marin Majeroni— at the head of a first-class dramatic company have staged Frank Harvey \ melodrama •Brother Against Brother' at the Theatre Royal. Without question Messrs Majeroni have gathered around them for their present venture a compact, smoothworking combination, who act spiritedly throughout, and with excellent taste, and the stirring scenes that occur in the piece are placed before the audience in such a manner as to win their hearty recognition. This five-act domestic drama differs somewhat from tho .general run of melodramas, inasmuch as no murders are committed, and the climax is the forgiveness of the vUlain, who marries the girl he has wronged, everybody shakes hands with everybody else, and presumably they all live happy ever after. On Saturday night ' The Shamrock and the Rose,' an Irish comedy-drama, was produced in the presence of a large audience, who gave vent to their feelings of appreciation by hearty plaudits. Glancing over the list of Opera-bouse bookings, I note that Mr J. C. Williamson has secured the house for a three-weeks' season commencing on December 26, 1903. The Hawtrey Company play a return season from September 28 ±o October 10. So far the only vacant dates this vear arc July 7 'ort~vT St ol t0 St Ttember 5, October 15 to 22 November 14, and December 14 to Zo. Mr J. C. Williamson's 1904 bookings are: I ebruary 4 to 17, April 15 to Mavo, December 2o to January 16, 1905.