FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 12883, 4 August 1906, Page 5

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

[By Call Boy.]

Antonia IJolores, who was a passenger to Sydney this week by the Sierra, -lately appeared, in London at the concert given by the. famous Norwegian composer Edward Grieg, and was the only vocal artist who was engaged. To be engaged for such an important musical event as this must go to prove that this accomplished artist is standing quite at the head and front as'a stinger in. England and elsewhere at the present day. Dolores has wonderful command of languages, singing in nob less than sis, which in itself is, of course, a great attainment. It will be a treat indeed to hear her eing to us some of those fine old English songs that she is worldfamed for, and as something entirely new it is promised that we are to hear her in a number of new and interesting German sorisß, of which she has made; a most careful study during the last few years of her career. The Dunedin concerts will be given in the second week of Januarv.

Miss May Chevalie*, formerly with Mr Cuyler Hastings, has been engaged by Mr Cyril Maude for his productions at the Waldorf Theatre, London; Trhile Miss Florence Hamer, having concluded her two years' engagement with xtfr J. C. WiUiamson, is in London, resting. Mr Hugo Gorlitz, under whose management Kubelik will tour the colonies, is unable to accompany tbe renowned to the Commonwealth, owing to stress of business in LoDdon.

A strong feature in 'The Lady Typist,' the new.musical comedy to be presented at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, on Monday, the 13th Lnst., will be the 'Grand Empire Ballet' andi 'La danse des fleurs,' for which during the past three months Mrs C. R. Bailey has had twelve young ladies in active rehearsal. The new work is described as being, from a musical point of view, most charming, and the story highly amusing. Sheffield City Council conditionally decided to permit smoking at the local Alexandra Theatre.

Madame Sarah Bernhardt has added to the list of her thrilling experiences that of a railway smash. A special train, carrying the famous actress and the members of her company, who have been performing m America, was wrecked near Mankato, in Kansas. The accident was caused by the tender of the engine leaving the metals. The succeeding carriage likewise left the line, and the train was partially wrecked. Mme Bernhardt, who was taking a bath at the time, was thrown out by the sudden jerk of the carriage, but was practically unhurt. Fortunately, another train on the same track was stopped whilst still a hundred yards distant from the wrecked locomotive, otherwise it would have dashed into the special car occupied by Mme Bernhardt. Much excited, and dressing very quickly, she left the train, demanding a fresh engine, and asking for an explanation of the cause of the accident. A new engine was eventually procured, and the journey resumed. Miss Carrie Moore, who made a hit in f£? doi ° ty siring the 'Sandow Song' in The Dairymaids,' has been inundated by letters from women wanting to know how to become strong. One lady wrote (from Oamberwell): "Oh, dear Miss Moore,— My husband is no taller than'l am, but he is stronger, and knocks me about when ho likes. I enclose one-and-nine in stamps for you to tell me how to get strong and be able to knock him about." . Miss Prouse of Wellington, well known in musical circles in this City, was'married at Buenc* Ayres to Mr Davies, the British Urasul at that station. Mr John Prouse, her father returned to Wellington this week from South America and England. .The Invercars;il Town Hall and Theatre will be ready for occupation by the end of beptember.

A memorandum was handed down by the Supreme Court at Boston on May 29 deciding that the valuable paintings purchased by the late Joseph Jefferson belonged to the widow's share of the estate, and therefore she was entitled to the proceeds of the recent auction sale of them in New 4 n ££ P lctures brought about 200,000 dollars. The question came before the Court on the petition, of E. G. Black, of Hastbrouck, N J., and Mrs Sarah Jefferson, executors of the estate, who wanted instruct tions as to whether the proceeds of the sale should bo paid over to the widow or bocome part of the residuary estate. Caleb Porter, the original Australian Nero in the 'Sign of the Cross,' is in the cast of 'The Taming of the Shrew' at the Adelphi, London.

Unequivocal success has attended 'The Squaw Man' ever einco its opening night at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, and the managerial claim that the powerful American play is the dramatic event of the year has been more than substantiated by the actual results. The popular taste has manifestly been strongly attracted by the breezy, strenuous atmosphere of the scenes of Western American life, no less than by the powerful fashion in which the emotionstirring. problem of the play is enacted by !Mr -Obarks WaldTon, Miss Ola Jane /Humphrey, and, indeed, all the members of Mr J. C. Williamson's particularly wellchosen company. Already the company are at work on the completion of a touring repertoire, which will include, Ibesides the present piece, "The Virginian' and 'The Christian.' In the latter, both Mr Waldron and Miss Humphrey have undertaken the parts of John Storm and Glorv Quayle respectively for important productions of Hall drama, and have each won laurels for their interpretations, so that the perenially favorite piece should receive treatment considerably out of the common at their hands.

Besides Mr Charles Waldron, there are several very interesting personalities in ' The Squaw Man' Company, now at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne. Mies Ola Jane Humphrey, the leading lady, a graceful and finished fisnre in the cast, during the comparatively short time she has been on the stage, has had an extended experience with emotional and other parts, of which she can number no less than 200 in her repertoire. Mr Rapley Holmes, who plays a genial, big-hearted cowboy of the typical rough-and-ready type,- boasts a home training and environment which one would think would have quite unfitted him for the stage. His father is a Methodist clergyman of Canada, and has been president of the Conference there, while in the family there are no less than eight gentlemen of the cloth.. Mr Holmes, am., looks with disfavor upon his son's calline. hut the latter, being an enthusiast, tells him that he has been ordained to a higher calling, and refuses to quit the stage, of which, to jndge by his Australian debut, he is destined to be always a popular member Miss Tittell Brune, fresh from her triumphs in the west, appeared at Ballarat on the 27tbt ult in 'Dorothy Vernon,' 'Leah Kleschna' and 'Sunday'" following. Miss Brune introduces ' Dorothy Vernon' to Sydney audiences to-night, and after a four weeks' saason there goes on to NewZealand, opening at Wellington on September 5. For her tour of this colony she takes an exceptionally strong repertoire comprising 'Dorothy Vernon,' 'Leah Kleschna, 'Merely Mary Ann,' and 'La Tosca,' in addition to older favorites. The extent of the preliminary preparations for Mr Williamson's pantomime at

Her Majesty's Theatre, M«!boonMV &* '■ year indicates that the production is to W '> on a scale of special elaborateness. Mr • Coleman has already set to work on bis heavy task of scene-painting, while some - startling electrical effects aro being perfected by tie «taff. The securing of the principals proceeds apace, and shortly Mr Williamson will be able to announce a "' series of important engagements. -^ ' His House in Order, " the greatest play Pinero has done," which will eventually be produced in Australia by Mr J. C. Wil- 7 liarason, reached its 150 th perfonnanoe in London last month, with every promise of ' doubling that record. Meanwhile, Mr . George Alexander has despatched two complete companies to tour with the piece through the English provinces. Judging by the advertisements which have appeared in the Melbourne daily Press ■during the past week, the gazeka must be an extraordinary sort of animal, quite , worthy of the attention now being be- ■'.■ stowed upon it. Its various qualities are r, being set forth at length, and when it ar- « rives it will be as well known as to seem like an old familiar friend. ' THEATRICAL SEASON IN LONDON. [From Ora Special London Co»EKSPONDENT.] ... , , Jtme 27* Since my last letter there has been b'ttle of interest to chronicle in the theatrical world. The season has been remarkable mainly for the number of non-successes and short runs. As regards the musical comedies this is little to be wondered at, for while managers spare no expense nor effort in the mounting and producing of thes# plays, they appear to imagine that neither talent nor vocal ability is necessary for the equipment of their lady performere, nor sniartne.'-s of dialogue and coherence of plot imperative for the success of their plavs. These remarks in no way apply to the ac- x tors in musical comedy, who number in their ranks many really clever comedians and fine singers. Managers are at last awakening to the fact that the days of that hybrid production called "musical comedy "t v aro really numbered, and are looking around for something to take its place. The success of 'Veronique,' 'The Michus.' and plavs of that order lead us to hope that the taste is turning in that direction, but Mr George Edwardes seems to think differently, as he has deputed Mr Tannar to _ write a play for production at the Gaiety Theatre, which, under the title of 'Alladin,* is to be of the 'Revue' order, and is to show us London and its people not as they are but as they might be. The most undeserved failure of the season was that of an extremely clever American play called "Tho Lion and tho Mouse,' which was "presented" by Mr Charles Frohman at the Duke of York's Theatre! Interpreted by a really fine cast of American players, this piece, although depicting phases of American life which are neither familiar nor appealing to the mind of the London playgoer, was of the deepest interest, and, with the exception of the beginning of tbe first act, was most clevcriv written. It also served to introduce to London, in the person of Miss Marcaret Hhngton, an actress who combined youth, dramatic fervor, and splendid technique with a refinement of style that earned for he . r » at the end of her great scene in tbe third act, recall after recall, and a positive triumph of success. Yet, with all this, the piece had to be withdrawn, and with the company returned to New York, where the run of the piece, which had been interrupted in order that h> might be presented in London, was resumed with the greatest success. This is quite inexplicable. Tbe only reason given by those who have discussed the matter is that the subject of the play (which deals with episodes in the life •of an American millionaire and his entourage) was too American, and not sufncientJv sympathetic to an English audience. This is as ifc may.be, but it is a sorry fact that London has refused a fino play and a splendid actress, both of which can be ill spared at present.

Of the two most successful comedies of the season, 'His Hou?c in Order,' bv Ms Pinero, I have not yet seen, but Mr Alfred Sutro's comedy "The Fascinating Mr Vanderbilt,' produced at the Garrick Theata* by Mr Bouchier, I have greatly enjoyed. Truth to tell, the subject matter of this play is not a pleasant one, dealing as rb does with the attempt by an accomplkbed! roue to compromise a lady nearly related to his hostess, and his ultimate defeat bv means of a simple country parson and th« übiquitous motor car. The saving graces of this production are the humors of the dialogue, for which Mr Sutro is famous, and the brilliant acting of Mr Arthur Bouchier, in the name part, and of Miss Violet Vanbrugh as Lady Clarice Howland, the lady who successfully repels the machinations of her unscrupulous admirer, and eventualhr marries the gallant Colonel, who, as represented in the play, is far too good to live. Mies Henrietta Watson, well known to colonial playgoers for her brilliant work with the _ Broughs an<i other companies, takes a minor part in this play. As a cur-tain-raiser, Mr Bouchier appears, in a little comedy called ' The Third Time 'of Asking,' and gives us an excellent picture of a Lancashire rustic who succeeds in gaining his object (and his lady love) by sheer strength. of purpose. A very interesting serif*, of matinees have been given at the Duke of York Theatre by Madame Yvette Guilbert and Mr Albert Clievalier, two artists whoso widely dissimilar methods areionly united by the genius which inspires tlieni both. I do not think it is possible to witness any finer performance than that of Madamo Guilbert. Her marvellous voice—thin, resonant, and full of timbre, wkj a compass of very few notes—seems able to express every shade of feeling possible in the human soul, and whether as "Grandmama" she is coyly regretting not only the departed charms of her youthful days, but also her lost time ajid opportunities for flirting, or as the Paris hooligan she is depicting how the garrotter kills his victim, and then himself suffers the death penalty, her art is so exquisite that the audience is quite carried away. Madamo Guilbert divides her entertainment into four parts, appearing in appropriate and very charming costume, and' singing songs of the pompador and crinoline periods, and also English country songs and French modem ones, among the latter being one called 'La Glu,* which, in Yvetto Guilbert's sympathetic and maa> vellous handling, is the most tragic and pathetic episode I have ever witnessed. Although all heT songs, with the except tion of the English country ditties, arc sung in French, so marvellous are Madame Guilbert's personations that, with the aid of the translations provided for those unacquainted with the "polite tongue," every phase and shade of her remarkable work: can be readily enjoved. Mr Albert Chevalier shows in his work that time has merely improved and refined his powers. To those acquainted only with his songs throujrh the medium of tbio vapid amateur, or still more trying vaudeville comedian, his work and methods ar« a joy and a delight. The simplicity of his style, combined with his intense artistio power, and the evidences of his keen observations of his subjects, place him on a, pedestal far removed from the ordinary music-hall performer. As the old French orchestra musician, accepting hard times and good news with equal good humor and resignation, he deeply touched the sympathy of his audience, which he maintained in his rendition of ' My Old Dutch,' and in tho coster songs ' What's the good of hanythink?' and 'Mafeking Night' his humor was delightful. It is to be hoped that these excellent artists may be induced to visit the colonies in due course. Mr Joe St. Clair, so well known in New Zealand as a theatrical manager, has been for the past two years business manager for the Moody-Manners Company, and is as genial as ever. Ho speaks with delight of the prospect of returning to New Zealand with a company of his own, and renewing old friendships in the colonjj