FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 12965, 9 November 1906, Page 8

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

[By Caxl Box.] BOOKINGS. His Majksti's Theathb. H. Rickards.—November 12 to 17. Roman Catholic Carnival.—November 19 to 30. Marie NareHo.—December 3, 4. acd 5. J. and .\. I'ait i.Madamo Dolores). — December 8. 10, and 12. .1. C. Williamson.—December 14 to 22. G. H. Barnes ('Tho Fatal Wedding').— December 24 to 51.

H. V'urna I'The Little Stransrcr'). —Janu ary 1 to 5. 1907. \\ esf's Pictures and Brcscians. —February 13 to March 2. -1907. J. C. Williamson.—March 7 to 21, 1907. J. and X. Tait —March 29 to April 6. 1907.

J. C. Williamson.—August 14 to 24, 1907." George Musgrove (Grand Opera Company).—September 25 to October 8, 1907. Fbixct.ss Thkatrs Peter Savieri's Dramatic Company.—Nowmber 9 to 17. J. C. Williamson (Tittell Brune).— Noe.rber 19 to 29. W. Anderson.—December 26, 1906. to January 22. 1907. Brouih-Flemmini: Company.—March 6 to 13. 1907. Chas. Hollowav.- March 23 to April 5. I £O7. W. Anderson.—December 26. 1907. to January 25. 190 S. Bland Hni:.—November 23, 19D3, tc January 2. IPO?. Charles Hollowav. —February 13 to 27. 190^

Mr Black, of the Rla.i-k F;uiuly. adrviß>x n.o from Xanhnine. N.S-W. :— *'We had twc. pa-.-ked houjxt hcTe. Also packed t.t a g"!d minins Tow-n called CaTnbellico. and did jfnd birsinr-s at Ooltir. 460 miles from Sydney. We h.;v.- ir.vn out on this wey-t<-rn iino rhr-.-e and did veil. Family c::ter;ainmen.t.s take on all right ever here."

The Gilbert and Sullivan Company, Itav

•>._• just eoneluded a very much appreci- : :ed season :n the Wesu arc now at Arie- :■•!;«■. A provincial tour of Victoria i- ■ • follow before their services arc claimed :■•-■ "Parsifal" ;i:.l the pantomime, for both (■: uhi?k Mr J. C. WillianiEou has destined ib--r.-..

Tiio middle of February nert will see Mr Julius Knight once more in Australia, lie will probibiy open hi? >eason in Melbourne with 'The Exploit.-i of Brigadie: Ger.ud.' in which lie will have the assistance of the new company, upon the organisation of which ho is at present employing' hinL>«!f in London.

Mdlle Antonio Dolores and hrr concert party arrived in Auckland on Monday from Australia on a professional return visit to New Zealand.

Brinn, who makes his first appearance in Ditrcdin on Monday evenin; with Mr Harry Kieltards's company at the ' . '? a

native of Milan (Italy), and rxvfore going on the boards was a tr.eehanical engineer. As an amateur ■wrestler and strong man he at one time won all the notable competitions in Italy. Seeing there w;u-- more money in the 'how business than in engineering he worked up a "strong-man" turn, called iimself "Miio." and became well known on the vaudeville stage of Kurope. Three years ago lie decided to change the form of his entertainment, so changed his name t'> Brinn, .and uoiked up the "Fun on a Battleship " tnm.

"The Christian' was welcomed by a crowded house at Her Majesty's Thcatjc. Sydney. last week, and Mr J. C. Williamson's Jrimatic company were cordially applauded for tlieir tine rendering of the drama, an especial meed of praise being extended to Miss Ola Humphrey for her intense and emotional impersonation of Glory Quavlo and to Mr Charles Waldron for tite earnest, forceful way in which he played John Storm. A m.Ltinee pantomime will !*• a novelty cn joyed by Sydney playgoers, especially t'ue younger generation, this Christmastide. • Parsifal' will entail such a tremendous strain upon the energies, not only of Miss Tltteli Brune hut also of the whole of these connected with it. that Mr Williamson ha-' decided to do away with >~be weekly matinee. This will leave the theatre available fvery day, anil each afternoon a miniatt.re company will appear there in 'Alice in Wojideilajid.' A number of remarkably clever children have been engaged, and already ate hard at work under the able tuition ot Miis Minnie Kverett. Tlie pantomime will lie continued thiough the tolidav season.

One of the most notable theatrical productions of 1906 was duo for its- debut on Saturday !;iet, when 'The Sprit)- Chicken' was to br staged .by the liovid Comic Opera Company at Her Majrsty's Theatre, Melbourne. The musical comedy, which has only jiv>t finished a twelve-months' season at the Gaiety Theatre. contains tb> latnt expression erf all the wide experience and remarkable clevtrnees lavished on it.-* cias by Mr George and the many well-known men who are roirulurly by him lor the brightening of t?uch pieces. 'l"he fi.orr. which h:rs been adapted from the Fretu-h by Mr George Grossmith, jun., 10lates the flirtations of one Babori. who in v. inter is a s-vdate I'aiis lawyer, but. who. .-!> soon

Ltrf .s*prin£ puts *>ri its garments uf peon, " breaks out '' ot> violently a-* ur.y youn.ittr of f.venty-two —much to the distress of ciiarining wife. a nut!', r of fiict, the suiic sj-irit of springtime infects all the characters in a similar way. and for the >e«.ond net they wander away T** where they indulge their f.iiicits to tli'-'ir beau*' content. It i?

there that most of the introduced items—a special feature of the piece—aie piesontcd, exceptionally tunny busiiK-j-s bi.ii>.; promised. A Lire.it array of talent is engaged on the ptuduction. every member of the company being calkd upon by the cast. Mi« Florence Young p'.ays Rosal.c, i \ oung lady who comet; to Paris for a change; Mr George Lauri figures as a typical British tourist. Miss Clara Clifton as the wife, and Mr \V. S. Percy and Miss Jvss'x Brown a>-» their precocious children. Mr Reginald Roberts appears as Babori, the lawyer, who •' tlics off tho handle," and Mies Olive Alorrt'll brings her London training to bear on the part of Dnlcic Babori. There w;:l bo a j-pccial feminine interest in the p'ay owing to the. fact that the dieting l- 1 a!! in the height of fashion. Lasit, b'it not last, the music is irotn the joint l-n, <,:' Mu>-i>. Adrian Ros-s. Ivu< Caryl!, I'ercy Gicvnba.nk, and Lionel Monckton—-v.-hicli ehotild 1-e sutiicient j-romiso of its brightness.

Mr Auguste Van Biojie is at present tourin- the fclngiish jrrevrr.L..-. with ' The Bioken Mviodv.'

When a change of yfrgramme is rtecfs-.-.ary at the Tt.enre R-r.-al, Sydney, Mr IliaV.'J II ok wiil produce. ' The Betting BckA.' Mr Alfred. IXmipk-r Sett- London for Australia on the Bth October. Ho has got one Or two new plays in his " grip,'" and will JBfh-'ib.'y Ik.' o-.-cn oil the road again eaj-jy Beit year.

Actoict are -jjeji Tii'-n tor little stories, and siixx* they t<xk >o earnestly to the sport of goh" t-ho supply of funny tales oi experiences on the link? has be-..-n constantly adde'd to, and is being addod to still, by the uicrrv gossip of the theatre dressing i-.-x.inr. The humor of the. following simple, told by lieorge- (Srossmith, jun., in his oressing room in the London Gaiety, will be appreciated by all golfers who have not forsotten their eirly struggles with thai game, which Adrian Ross, in " See-Ste.' compute with Chinese slavery. Groscmith asked an axrtor one dixy how he was getting on with his golf. " Oh. not very strong," was the reply; "hut I'm dropping them ovi-r mv thoiildta - belter than when I first started.""

.Mrs Langtry h?js just signed a contract tj appear in a twenty-minutes' sketch in American music halis, and for her "turns" in-.- is to receive a record lalary of £SOO £«r week. Lionel Brough waa intended by his par ect«j for a commercial life; but at the agt of seventeen the instinct of the family led him to join a theatrical company at Cardiff In view of the popularity of La Milo's classical pcees at the Pavilion, Mr Frank lllciiisttr has re-engaged her for ;ui indefinite period. The niauaguiuonx bud pievifmjdx_ leltueeu iiur to iulul a mm her »L

Continental engagements. La Milo will on tho 24th September present a number of fresh studies, including one of tho re-cently-di covered unnamed Venus, while Cruickshank "ill perpetrate some r<ew enricaturce.

'Tho Little Stranger,' produced on Saturday, tho 20th October, in Melbourne by the new company 01 ganiscd by Messrs Meyncll, Ounn, and Varna, is notable for the psiformanco of Muster Willie Parke, who appears in the title role. The boy (the 'Ago' says) " captmes the attention from his first entrance in the sa.e suit of a gro>rn-up; he is very rmich more engaging when he has short-coated huiitelf into the ribbons and fal-lals of a two-year-old ; and he keeps the merriment uiinnicring as oltea as he is on the etage—itnd that, fortunately, is for the major part of the evening." The company includes Mit<s Florence Sevmour, Mr James LiixWv, and Mrllarrv Hill.

The members <>f the Choi us. Singers' Union of the Metropolitan Opcni-houw:, New York, who went out on .strike in 1305, are now seeking ru prevent the landing of seme sixty (on:inn cU'-ros >-Lngcrs who ivok engaged in England by Mr Conreid, on the ground that their, contracts arc- in violation -d United States contract labor law. Mr Oonrei.l contends that the singers aje artists.

Miss Myrtle Chamberlain, who is kno-vn ;h:ougbout the Stales as the las?o expert, l.evaiue a heroine at Baltiii.ore. Ind., the nthcr day. A fraction bull, Ly tlie note of an events>uii.-"ts' banu. went on the rampage in Lisjht stiest. closing the people en that xtlver to tly in all uiiec-lioi!*. Miss Chamberlain, who h;is a splendid physique, happened to make her appearance when the »-tsunin.-do was at. its lieigh!. Snatchrcg a rope Irom the hand? u: an -Uirighted negro. s>he noosed one end .j'..i steppetl out to mtet the atfrighted animal. No sooner did lie ceo hr than Le lowered his h«:a<l tuid made a dath for her. in an instant the rojio wliirled through the air. and the iioco-e an lied on tite aniniids horns. In another second Miss Chiimbci-htin liail stepped nimbly aside, and taken a turn with the end of the ro]>e aiound an aiviiing jxrle. Thn jeik that fcUrnve-.l threw the bull, and it was eaaly captured.

A mva! reception was promised Mr Bernard Shaw if lie would attend the production of his ' Ge.-ar and Cleopatra' in Now Vork on Octolier 29. He replied to the invitation on a pest card tukljosssd from

"The Coast of Cornwall":—"lt is ju.«t th.it royal reception that mulcts it. impossible for me lo ooino. If I could come quietly without convulsing America, witbiui: delivering a hundred addresses to cnori'.kju? crowdis, without a .-aluto of 101 gun>", a:;-J without the risk ot being- forcibly naturaiw-d, elected President, and suh:-v----queutly seized ojid imprisoned by Mr Comi,;ock. then I might come. Resides, 1 am writing a new p!uy. an a.nonis-h.iigly goixl one. I had m> ide«i I had ei> much good left in me."

Sarah _ Bernhardt played her first. Ibs-en role ar Geneva on September 21. appearing .-us Hilda Wiuigel in ' The Lady of the Sea.' the lo.prcsenluilon was only a moderate success. The first act fell" flat, and tU genera! sentiment was that the part did t.-ot suit the great actress. The jiei-fcrm-ance ah*> showed of hasty rehearsal. .Madame BemhardtV Hilda dues not ap-1-ioach any one of a dozen of her most famous imptn-onations. Interviewed ■> couple of days before the performance. Madame Bernhardt said that she had taken the piay to Geneva to judge of its effect before producing it in Paris.

An interesting story is told concerning Teicy Hnghts. the Welsh pianist, fifteen yens old, who won the him . ciiolarship at the lloyal Academy of Music. His father is only a'wetking man with a lame family, and the expanse of his son's keep in l»ndon proved more than he could lw.it. Matteis teemed dtsperate for the talented lad's lutuiv, but, at the eleventh hour, the taw was brought to the know'edge i.f eeitam prominent Welshmen,"with tli ■ result that in a few day.v an anvual income of £ll7 was assured him. together with donations amount.ng to nearK- juoo. A novel contest was to have begun at Stockport (Kng.) the first week in October, whe-n Mr Napoleon Bird was matched to break his own record of " lotig distance'' piano-playing. Kieven years ago he played the instrument continuously for 45.J hours : this time he hopes to put up a record of forty-eight hours. By taking plenty of walking exercise and freely applying" embrocation to his hands and" arms "Mr" Bird hopes to get himself tit for his feat of endurance. His chief fear is that the continuous stretching involved may cause his left hand to become stiff. He hopes to oveieomp all desire for sleep by having cloths, saturated with methylated spirits, applied to the head. Mr Bird believes in stroking during his performance, and he will seldom be without either pipe or cigar, which he will probably have alternately. Quite a substantial larder is being prepared, the food supply consisting of two or three roasted chickens, bread, several dozens of oysters, half a gallon of lemonade, half a gallon of brandy, with tea, etc. During the night time Mr Bird will play in the presence of a committee. The conditions of the performance are that both hands shall be in continuous use. and his requirements as to food, etc., will be* attended to by his wife and son. The pieces of music to be played will number 1,200 to 1.500. ranging from comic selections to grand opera, being varied as much as possible ami played largely from memory. On five occasions Mr Bird has .accomplished musical fonts of endurance, having played from 25 to 451 hours. A ijuite unexpected result of the Kdna Mav secession ;to which reference was mnde in this column on Tuesday) has been trie severance of the partnership l«?twren Mr Charles Frohman and tho Gattis. The former took the side of Miss May, and at om? seceded from joint control of the Va"deville Theatre. The Gattis stated that they were as surprised at. Mr Froh-nv-in'i attitude a.- they were at Miss May's. Mr Frohman had bad no direct communication with them, and they did not consider that they had broken tho agreement. Mr Frohman neveT ns'--ed Messrs Oatti for their version of the. incident, and Miss May did cot directly appeal to them when tho success of Miss Clifford's song was established.

Miss Bessie Greenwood, of Brooklyn, has created a sensation by singing tjie highest note ever reached by the lmma-n voice. She sings Mulder's staccato polka, ending the song on the. highest G on tho pianoforte keyboard. This is five notes higher than the famous Agujari sang. Miss Greenwood also sings the refrain in ' Violets' an octave higher than it is written, finishing on F in altissimo. fonr tones higher than tho O of Agnjari. Mdlle Gconee. the famous Parisian artist, declare* that- the technicalities of dancing are imperfectly understood in England. .

Mr Haydn Coffin maintains a cot ;a t.ho South Kensington (London) Hospital by ir> an.: oi fees obtained for his autofc'r;iPn - M.ndame Patti made her operatic debut in ' Lncia di L«ainmermoor' at fifteen, but fuitr years before (says "T.P.'s Weekly') this 'romance had come to her : " I was seated or.o evening on a balcony, dressod in a little pink frock trimmed with ribbons, waiting for my turn to sing, when suddenly rnv attention was attracted by a ■nassivp door being opened on the opposite side of the way, and a tall, handsome ■ oung man stepped from under a hugo portico, rolling a cigarette between his lingers as lie sauntered along. How well I remember the occasion. He looked np at „,<. our eves met, and T noticed that the cigarette fell from his hand as he stood for a moment gazing up to the. balcony." It was love at first sight, and the- unknown. \ M De Rios, proposed for the child "liva/s hand to her father, who naturally refused. F> v e vears later, when singing it the Town Hall in Bath, she saw her oh I admirer, who had followed her to England, still eager to plead a l>opeloss suit.