FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 12867, 17 July 1906, Page 7

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

[Bx Call Bot.ji William Anderson is reorganising his opera company, who are to begin touring New Zealand about September with ' Tambour Major' and other comic operas. It was a happy idea on the part of tho management of Williamson's Opera Company to give a concert at "the Garrison Hall, for it was the means of displaying to greater advantage not only the ilaaividua! excellence of some - of the principals, but the vocal abilities of a number of " undejv Btudks." The" surprise 'of the evening was the exquisite singing of Mies Vima De Loitte (Mrs Howard Vernon), who surprised most of her audience by her ren. dering of the difficult aria 'Robetto.' Subsequently I learned that Miss De Loitte. had for some considerable time oong with success on the concert platform. The general opinion was that Saturday's con. cert was the best, that had been given in Dunedin for many years, and it is encouraging to be able to report that the success was due in no small measure to the assistance rendered by the chorus and the orchestra.

Miss Nora Long, the New Zealand soprano, made her fir.t appearance in MoodyAlanners's opera- at the Crystal Palace, London, at the end of May, and was very successful, investing the part of Micaela, in 'Carmen,' with great sweetness and charm. Mr William Collier, tha star comedian of Mr Williamson's No. 1 American Company, now in Sydney, commenced his stage career with a juvenile company in New York in 'H.M.S. Pinafore.' He was then nine, and two years later was call boy at Daly's, New York. He made the'best use of his opportunities, and worked his way up to the position of stage manager, thus gain? ing an experience which has been of the greatest value to him in the production of his own Playe. Mr Collier, after' playing in Henderson's. ' Bhjebeard' Company, toured America with John Russell's Comedians, who went to New York for a four weeks' reason with the musical farce, 'The City Directory,' and stayed there for exactly one vear. A- partnership with Mr Charles Reed was terminated by Mr Reed's death, apd Mr Collier undertook management on his own account, playing ' The xMan frwp Mexico' for three years. When the play came into Ms hand's .he altered the second and third acts considerably, especially the prison scene. A comedy of which he wy,s the author,' Mr Smooth,' was payed by him for a year. In the two plays he is now producing, 'On the Qu.et' and 'The Dictator,' he has gained repute not only in America but in London. Last year he went to London under Mr Charles Frohman's management with these two pieces for four weeks, and extended the season for nine months. Like Mr Collier, Mr Grant Stewart, who is a member of his company, playing the Duke of Carbondale in 'On the Qu.et,' is an author. He wrote 'Mistakes \\ ill Happen,' the farcical comedy wh.ch Mi George Wdloughby introduced to Australian audiences a.few years agoiUany Ha—- Returns : July 16. G. Hoina-n Barnes. July 17.—Jcsephine Gas6man. July 18.—Roland Watts Phillips. Julv 25. E. Roland Slavery. Julv 24. Mary Van Buren. July 25.—Amy Castles. George Edwardes, the well-known manager, was lately asked what he would do it he had hip life to live over again and had £IOO with which to begin. He answered: "If I had to start life on A-100 capital, I would go to New Zealand, and if I had all the wisdom 1 have accumulated during my career I would keep out of all theatrical matters."

rhe Misses fcybil and Dorothy Tanoredi, who are partly New Zealandere and partly of Italian extraction, appear to be doing well- as singers in Paris. They have boon studying lately at the Ecole Maruhesi, and Madame Marchesi gave an "audition," at which the Misses Tancredi (the one a eoprano and the other a contralto) sang several songs, to the delight of a large and fashionable audience. Charters Towers goate enjoy the peculiar distinction of eating up playbills placed on hoardings by theatric*! managers No sooner are attractive pictures displayed than these quadrupeds proceed to demolish them, one animal seizing the heroine's leg, while another will ma-aticate on© of her beautiful dresses at a mouthful. Chaj-ters Towers and Townsvjlle are eaid to be the only two places in Austral asia where the goats show a liking for paper. On a recent visit of the Holloway Dramatic Company, Mr Cowan, the manager, saw no less tlum five nannies standing on their hind legs at a hoarding enjoying a paper meal off his most expensive pesters!

-Miss Amy Castles, in a private letter received m Melbourne, savs that, notwithstanding her successes at Home, she is longing for a visit to Australia, and that she is fully determined to forego all European engagements to come out in 1908. She is booked ahead for many of the principal musical festivals, and she has already been approached by an American syniicate for an appearance in grand opera throughout the v States. j Madame Melba, N 'who oreanised Miss Irene | AinsW's initial concert ":'n London, gave instructions that any area stalls applied for by members of the New Zraland Associa tion were to be sold at half a crown each, instead of ss, the ordinary price. The d.fference in price she would pay herself. Madame Melba also asked that 'the seats reserved for the NvJ.7 Zealand Association lie in the first row of the area stalls. The hall could he- sold out twice over (reported Miss Agnes Murphy, the organising secretary), but all who are interested in Mis.Ainsley's career were most anxious that some of her fellow-New Zea landers should be present at her first public appearance iu the great metropolis?. Madame Melba had quite a novel experience the other evening. She was motoring to Covent Garden to take part in ' Rigo'etto,' when, just outside Richmond, one o: the tyres of her car received a bid puncture It was impossible for her to wait whilst it \"'as repaired, the railway station was a long way off, and not a cab was to be seen Juat in the nick of time, however, a Pickford van hove in sight. Jhe driver w<v hailed, and asked to give Madamo a lift. " She's in a great hurry, and you won't legret it," said Melba's chauffeur. The driver of the van was agreeable, so Madam< ijumped up beside him, and was quickly driven to Shepherd's Bush tube station Here she alighted, and gave the astonished driver a sovereign for his trouble, before chartering a hansom to take her to the theatre, where she was warmly welcomed by the manager and her artistic colleague?, who were beginning to get apprehensive over the delay in the prima donna's appearance. A crowded house welcomed the Australian, who was in excellent voice, and the beautiful manner in which she sang ' Caro nome' so pleaded the listeners that there was an outburst of applause which, lasting several minutes, quite disturbed ihe action of the drama The other star of the evening was Signor Caruso, who made a picturesque Duke. He was enthusiastica.llv : cheered for his perfect rendering of ' Love is : the &un.' The other parts in Verdi's evergreen opera were well sustained, and m the whole it was a great nig'ht at Coven t Garden.

" Laurence Godfrey," a yonng Australian ■pianist, hailing from Sydiiey, who rejoice? in private life in the highly unprofessional name of Smith, bids fair to take rank among the foremost pianist* of the day. He made an appearance in London some time ago and won high praise from the leading critics, and last month he achieved a big success in Paris at the Salle Plejel. ' Le Figaro,' Le Gauloia,' ' L'Echo rle' ruria,' and 'La Liberie' all accord Mr Smith the warmest praise for his interpretation of compositions by Scarlatti, Bach, Chopin, Schutt, and Greig. ' Figaro' says : —■" The .younsr pianist is a pupil of Lescbetizky, and he certainly has all the characteristics of this celebrated school—very «ijse fingers, suro technique, intelligent ri.itriicil interpretation, and beautiful plmising, which served him wonderfully in Scarlatti's Capribcio ... and also in* Greig's fouata for pisno and v.oioncello, in vhii'h he was associated with the eminent violinist" Louis Fournier." 'Le Giiulois' speaks of Mr Smith as "certainly one oi the best of Leschetizky's pupils," and describes him as a "perfect interpreter" of the works he gave at the concert. The young Australian had a large and enthusias.tic aad hh of Gre&'s

sonata with,. M. Founder in particular ''brought down tho house." The. attractions to be i presented at the Alhambra Theatre next Saturday evening should be sufficient to crowd that comfortable theatre to overflowing, .< as the company will include Madame Yeamens Titus, who has drawn enormous audiences to Messrs Fullers' theatres throughout NewZealand ; also Professor Bernard's wonder fill performing dogs. Mr Otto Heggie, who was a member of Mr W. F. Hawtrey's highly successful 'Message from Mars' Company, who toured this colony some few years ago, and will be remembered as the" Mesrenger therein, is at present in London holiday-making, after a most successful engagement witb the Repertoire Theatre Association at the Theatre Royal, Margate. During his term with the R.T.A. Mr Heggie filled leading roles as the Duke in thfl new costume play 'The Duchess of Marlborough,' aa Ha.ik Bannister in 'The Walls of Jericho,' and as Cyrus Blenkara in Mr H. A. Jones'* old play 'The Middleman' In this piece Mr Heggie made a very decided " hit," and on the "strentrth of h'-fi acting therein he has been offered engagements by several managements anxious to secure his services for provincial tours. Mr Heggie, however, wishes to try his luck in London, and would iather "rest" in the metropolis for some time to come than undertake a provincial roi.i-d *"-

From Paris Mr Tod Lane writes to Mr Fu'ler afking the prospects of a tour of 'L'Auto Aerolitbe,' which from the description is a new model of looping the loop by motor-car. Mr Fuller is considering the prospects.

Mrdame Lydia Yeamao. Trtw'B voice (says tho ' New Zealand Times') retains its • former quality of clearness and piercing charm, and her selections are a worthy treat in compa r ison with the coon fongs and sentimental ballads which are forced upon vaudeville audiences almost without a "let-up." Not only does she do straight singing, but she gives an imitation of a ventriloquist with p rfect arijcrlation, with her teeth tightly shut and wis'-hout moving a muscle on her face. Mr Titus plays his part most naturally, and can claim a just -hare of honor as a piano player of merit, having a deft touch and an easy execution The Messrs Tait meet in Svdney shortly to arrange for the tour of MdJle Dolores, who will make htr reappearance at tho Town Hall on August 9. The latest news received qf Mdme Clara Butt shows that her absence from the Handel Festival this year was due to tho birth of a son on May 29. The Princess Christian has promised to be godmother to the new arrival. Mr Kennerley Rumford mentions in a letter to the Messrs Ta''t that both himself and his wife are looking forward to their Australian lour next -vear' Mr Andrew Black is to sing in 'Elijah' with tl'.e Sydney Philharmonic Society on Ai-Dust 29. .

The season of the Waldron Company in Melbo-ime is to be limited to five weeks They then go to Adelaide and Sydney, and Christmas will find them in New Zealand. At Her Majesty's Theatre on Saturdav, the 7th inst., Mr J. C. Williamson's new dramatic company, headed by Mr Charles Waldron and Miss o!,i Jai.e Humphries, appeared for ihe first time in Australia in The Kquaw Man.' a comedy drama by Edward Milton Royle, which nad an enormously successful career ip the United States. 'I/he piece has a most interesting story, which commences at the English country seat of the Earl of Karhill, who las embezzled the funds of a regiment of veomanrv, of which fie is the. honorary colonel, Hiß cousin, Captain James Wynnepate, with more respect for the fair fame of his house than the head of it, shoulders the blame, and becomes an outcast from h:s kin. In the eecond act he reappears as Jim Carston, a popular member of a cattle town in Western America. But he has made enemies as well as friends, and one of them attempts to shoot him. A young Indian girl, however, kills the would-be murderer, and Carson, out of gratitude, marries his preserver. Five years later, when he has become the owner of a ranch in Utah, and the father of a little half-breed, an English solicitor appears on the scene with the news that the Earl of Karhill » dead, and that the title and estates belong to Carston. Jim is tempted, but the claims of the Indian girl upon him outweigh the desire to rj<urn to England. The solicitor, however, induces him to consent to the little son being taken back in order to bo brought np amidst the surroundnigs that will one day be his< The Indian wife, after an unavailing protest, disappears. Tho last act. should prove exceptionally exciting. Jim is besieged in his ranch by a band of Indians, and he and the Countess of Karhill, who has come to visit bm, are only saved in the nick of time by Jim's wife. The latter in the end shoots her. elf, and the end of the play leaves clear that Jim and the countess will one day marry.

The House of Commons has given Mr T. P. O'Connor leave to introduce a Bill dealing with musical copyright. It ia Bba.ted that Al. Jean De Reszke has found the future successor of Patti. An American impresario discovered the girl, who lived in one'of the 4*»rer quarters of New York City. It appear that some few weeks ago a plainly man came into this gentleman's office and said he would like him to hear his daughter sing. Accordingly a slender slip of a girl, but of exceedingly prepossessing appearance and atxHit sixteen yeara of age, was ushered in. She began to sing the Bach -Gounod 'Ave Maria' with perfect confidence. Her voice wtas pure, rich, and sweet, and full of latent power, and the impresario (Air Aronson) was overwhelmed wrtfh amazement. The girl, whose name is Vivienne Fidellee, is of Franco-Italian descent, and was born in New York. She bad heard a gramophone selection of Madame Melba's record of the ' Ave Maria,' and forthwith learnt it by ear. Mr Aronson shortly afterwards v : sifed Paris, and calling on M. De Reszke told him of the diiscoverv. The eminent tenor was ro much .interested that he at once cabled for the girl to come to Paris at his expense On her arrival she Gang the 'Ave Maria' to M De Reszke. who was so struck with her powers that he at onoe undertook to train the young singer for two years free of cort. There was no possible doubt of the sincere cordiality of the welcome extended by a crowded ardience to Mr J. G. Williamson's new dramatic company when they made tbe ; r first 4™ 5 * ra ''i'<'n atvpearance at Her Marsty's Melbourne, on Saturday evening, the 7th rn«t The sioned not onlv by the thoroughly finished fa«Mon in which fts d.rrji-ar--ed their respective duties, but-also by the exc Hence of tlw dramatic fare provided in 'The Squaw Man,' the p ; ece by E. Milton Povle. in whieh they made their debut The play abounds in strong situations and passages of true pathos and bright bnmor. and_ its sentimen.tw ace such as appealed forriblr to_ the enthusiastic audience which welcomed it The manner in which it was r>h.y<xl left nothing to be desired. Air CVr'es Waldron ami Mis" Ola Jane Humphrey both leapt into popularitv •straight nwav. and earned by their sterling work a completely fa.vom.ble. verdict, while the lesser parts, eareciallr done bv Miss Florence ffeeson, Mrs G B. W Lewis. Messrs Baylev Holir-es. Cyril Ma-kny. Harry Plimmer. and Baby French. were acted with distinction and polish. Mv thanks are due to Air George TaJlis. Melbourne, for a handsome souvenir of the first production in Australasia of 'The Man.'

Judging by the way in which Adelaide theatre-oers rushed the bookine office, the four wee'-s' season of the RovnJ Comic Opera Company. whWi b'tm.n' theTe on PatnT-dav last with 'The Little ATichne,' is likely to be something in the nature of a record. t bo a rab'e message received bv MrJ C. WPliamron week, Mr Julius Knin-ht hap already Mien an his feet in Lordon. A!rmot*t immedinte'r after hw arrnnl he wa6 en<Wed br: .Mr Beerbr>hm TVfto tin s'"r.Tn.rt. "*«s. FHen Tfrrv in fiyh'w RK*lresr«e"»Ti-n prod"? 1 ion. a ti-hn nf fjv. TWMi'ar a."W."i blends wVj r b \c'-V be TvrtiVuV'T sands of'his pdHrers in Ans'-nl'a. Oddments.—Mis* A~v Minihv nipde her first nprtpjirapc' l r«n tN> .An^fefcnd-?"ncert pla.tform last m>h+. "T>ti S e wis lyintr ill at Mi'an when mail left Londo'n. —Cinqnevalli and Tnaudi are at the London Hippodrome.— Van Biene, who toured the colonies with * A Broken Mek>dj,' has entered a. soiL iu iie Amari-

can courts claiming £2,600 damages from Mr George Musgrove for'alleged breach of agreement. The defendant pleads no jurisdiction.—lt is fourteen years since Herbert Flemming visited Adelaide. Needless to say, he bad a cordial reception when coming on the stage a couple of weifcs ago in ' Dr Wage's Patient.'—Australia is being surfeited just now with pictures of the San Francisco earthquake and The newest American advertising dodge hails from Philadelphia. Every tody buying a matinee Beat for the Bijou Theatre receives an order on a local firm for a new hat! 'The"Man from Mexico' is having as sue* cessful a run in Melbourne as at Sydney. Miss Grace Palotta has added a song to her performance, entitled 'The Moonlight Serenade.'-r-A play by Mrs Alfred Lyttelton, wife of the exrSecretary of estate for the Colonies, is about to be produced by Mrs Patrick Campbell at the London Orjterion. It ia called ' The Macleans in Bairsess,' and deals with the history of a Scotch Ada Crossley and Mr Santley were to take part in the Patti concert (the only one of the season) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on June 14— Mr George Broadhurst's play 'the Coward' has been successfully produced in Chicago, awi mil shortly be presented in New York.—The Hamburg Town Council have voted an annual sum of £5,000 to subsidise the orchestra of the State Operahouse and to provide orchestral concerts for the people.—An American dramatist has written a play round the recent San Francisco disaster entitled ' While 'Frisco Burns. Nothing like being up to date.— Madame Jane Harding, the Fren<h actress, proposes a series of French plays in London. Her company comprise twenty-flvo actors and actresses from the Gymnast the Varieties, the Odcon, and the theatre Antome.—Mr Tyrone Power has been engaged to support Mrs Fiske in a Biblical Pj? v - ' Bwabbas,' in New York. His wife, Miss Edith Crane (trilby), will play Jua . , in the production.—-The cycloramic picture in bydney of Gettysburg comes to to ■ i\ew Zealand Exhibition.—Miss Rose Musgrove denies, it is said, that she is about to marry She will return to the Royal Comic Upera Company next year.—Hyland's Lircns is at present touring the back-blocks of Western Australia. Prices are X2s 6d, 10s S£ f Baxter, the under-' ■ y « S i gnor oast,nl ' 6 Human Bullet, when fired out of the gun at Ardwiek' his P back mia m ' "* bxol *