FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 13003, 24 December 1906, Page 12

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

[JSt Caix Boy.] BOOKINGS. His Majesty's Theatbjb. F. Andrews, Edison's Pictures.—December 24 to 51, n . •LittJo Stranger' Company.—January 1 (> Blanch 7, 9, 12, and 15. Marie Xarellc—January 14, 16, and 1/. .T. and X. Tait.—January 30 to Fcbru,ir\Vek's Pictures and Brcscians.—February 13 to March 2. 'Royal Comic Opora Company.—March I to 21 G. IT. Barnes.—M.irch 29 to April 13. ,r C. Williamson. —August. 14 to 24. G. Musgrovc, Grand Opera Company.— September 25 to October 8. .!. C. Williamson—OctoDer 22 to November 1 „, . .. „ G. H. Barnes.—December 2o to January 11. 1908. Pbixczss Theatms. Charles Hollowav.—December 26 to January 14, 1907. , Ulan Hamilton.—March o to 10. K. Geack—October 7 to 12 W. Anderson.—December 26, 1307, to Jairnarv 23. 190 S. Bland Holt.—November 23. 1903, to January 2, 1909. Miss Marion Grev, an actress whose extensive popularity in England and America has been gained by the application of both accomplishments and experience, will be tho leading lady of Mr Julius Knight s new company, the members of which, by the wnv wero to leave England last week. Miss Grev has plaved all the Shakespearian heroines." and in "her repertoire she. includes the characters of Mexcia m the Sign of the Cross,' Flavia in inc. Prisoner of Zendtv,' Kathcruie in_il 1 W : ere King,' and Lady Huntsworth in ' Ladv Iluntsworth's Experiment, a varied selection, which in tho first place demonstrates her versatility, and shows also that she is eminently fitted to support Mr Julius Knight in the plays which be has ahvavs made his particular study. The chief comedian of the pantomime company. Mr Harry Phydora, is one ot those born to the buskin—who cannot remember when they first made their first appearance, so far back is it. But he began regular theatrical work with music hall experiences in a number of roles, ot which character comedian was the most frequeut and the best. From that he passed to drama- and burlesque, playing the two classes in the same night, and it was in the latter category' that he farst attracted tho attention of Mr .1. .1. Tanner, then, as now. one of Mr George Edwardes's trusted lieutenants. As a consequence he was engaged for London productions of ' Cinder-Ellen, Buy Bias.' • Carmen Up to Date,' and the rest of the famous series. From burlesque to musical comedy was the next step, and Air Phvdora made his first hit as Wun Hi in ' The Geisha,' a part he undertook at five davs' notice, and played it so well that his future was assured. Under MiGeorge Edwardes's management he has appeared both in England and South \frica as principal comedian in 'lho Runaway Girl.' ' Florodora,'_ 'The Geisha,'" ' The Gav Parisienne, Jhe Circus Girl.' 'San Toy,' and 'The Toreador.' Pantomime work at Drury lane has claimed his attention more recently, and in that he has made trcmendons strides, his dancing in particular being reported as almost phenomenal. A recent arrival in London is Madame Lilian Tree, of Auckland. At present she is studying with Randegger, and in all probability will make an early appearance under her old name, Madame Morendi. Mr Mark Kinghorn, who died at Oamberwell (Eng.) last month, was an actor known to the older generation of colonial plavgoers. He made his first appearance on the stage at the Strand Theatre in 1867 in a burlesque by William Brough, and since then played in everything everywhere. His first trip abroad was to America, and on his return he stayed six years with Mr Edward Terry as stage manager, musical conductor, and comedian. Afterwards he visited India, 1 asmania, Australia, and New Zealand with various companies, and is very well remembered over the seas. Incidentally he was "corner man" in a minstrel troupe, a member of a circus, sailor, engineer, and clerk, and was famons for his wonderful " making up." Miss Ethel Sinclair, the violinist, arrived in London from Australia last week, after touring first with Madame Maggie Stirling, and afterwards with Mr Andrew Black. Miss Sinclair formerly held the Victorian Clarke Scholarship at the Royal College of Music. She is settling down to professional work in London again. Her sister, Miss Ivy Sinclair, who is said to possess a fine, voice, accompanies her, and will stay in England. Chefalo. who was seriously injured at St. Kilda (Victoria) whilst looping the loop a fortnight ago. has a wonderful record of accidents, and his face and body are covered with a multitude of scars that attest to hi..' indomitable courage. Last year Chofaio appeared under his own name at Prince's Court, where he rode down the chute on a hicvele, and later, each evening, under tho name of Dastro, he looped the loop at Wirthe' Circus. One evening bo fell in his b:cvc!e act, and was insensible for half an honr. He recovered consciousness only ten minutes before he was due to appear at the circus, but all the same he pulled himself !'>aether, drove down to Alexander avenue. ,i rt.-l looped tlie loop as if nothing had happened. Tliere are in New York City alone fiftynine theatres, besides tho enormous new Hippodrome and the Opera-house. The receipts during the successful run at a fashionable house may be as high as £3,000 a week, but tho average is probably £1,200. 1' is estimated that Xcw York playhouses take the hugo sum of £2,400,000 in the short season of thirty-tkrec weeks. Philadelphia's theatres take £600,000 during tho st-.ason; Baltimore's, £150,000; Washington's, £200,000: Pittsburg and Cincinnati work out at about the same; Chicago, £1,000,000; New Orleans, £100,000; and San Francisco, about £250,000.

Miss Beatrice Day was so charmed with ;he pretty story of 'Peter's Mother' that ; in- pei>-"uadcd Mr Flemming to buy tho play, which has been creating quite a little I'uroro in London. It will bo produced .shortly by the Brough-Flemming Company, when Miss Day will play the title-role. Gabricle d'Annunzio's new play ' Piu die A more' was performed for the first time .• the Costanzi Theatre on October 28, and

et with a most unfavorable reception from

; crowded audience. The drama had exited great preliminary interest, and the public was far more inclined to welcome a :iiitcrpiece than to hiss a failure, so th;it •«n sense of disappointment may, perps. account for the storm of disapprove! ::ich followed upon the final fall of U; ■ i.rtain. 'Piu che 1' A more' is a modem li.igedy, of which the scene is laid inßome : .1 tragedy of the crudest kind, unoriginal in lonception and lacking any distinction in .is treatment. The actors did their best, but no acting, however excellent, could have oj.ved a piece which had no redeemini; u'jality. D'Annunzio's poetry evidently does cot bear translation into the prose of every-day life.—'Times* correspondent. 'Fhe first performance at the New Amsterdam Theatre, New York, of Mr G. Bernard Shaw's new play, 'Cißsar and Gkopatra,' was made nearly impossible owiii-^

to the suicide of a call-boy, who had tho only call-took of tho play in his possession, and this was taken by the police. The manager of tho theatre made great efforts to obtain the book, but the. police refused to give it up. Tho situation was saved finally by the management making a hurried copy, which was finished only a fewminutes before the curtain was raised. The acting of Mr Forbes Robertson and Miss Gertrude Elliott (bis wife) was praised by the critics, but the play itself was characterised, as an artistic failure. It started brilliantly, but went from bad to worse.—■ Laffan.

Mme Nordica says that the prettiest compliment she ever received in her life was paid her by o cowboy after a conceit in Texas. A snowstorm came on, and she had forgotten to bring her warm over-shoes. A cowboy in tho audience volunteered to fetch them for her. She accepted the offer gratefully. To her surprise ho only brought cue, and had to return for the other. Xordica, in thanking him, said .she was sorry he had to make two journeys for her. " Don't mention it, ma'am," returned tho cowboy; "I'm real .-orry you're not a centipede." Among tho rivals of the Modern Milo in London at present is the Countess Olga Romanoff, a cousin of tlio Czar of Russia, who arrived from Moscow some months ago as a refugee. She is tho eldest daughter of tho late Countess Teodoiovna, the morganatic wife of the Grand Duke Sergius, who was assassinated last year, and is the widow of Count Romanoff, an oiticer in tho Guards. Last June .-ho and her husband and a journalist named Kallovsky were playing cards at their residence at Moscow when a regiment of Cossacks was heard passing. Kalkovsky jumped up, and, uiking a iictnb from his pocket, hurled it from the window. The Cossacks rushed into the hou.-:c, killing both tho men, and the Countess hcr.-eif only escaped with great difficulty. Landing in England penniless, she became an artists' model, and on the advice, of a leading sculptor decided to become a professional poseuso on the music-hall stage. She is at present appearing in the costume, of white paint, so dear to tho heart of .Mr W. X. Stead, at the Shorcditch Hall.

Mario Narelle opens her Dunedin acason of thrto nights, at His Majesty's Theatre on January 14, and a ict-c-ption is to bo tendered toi her by otir leading citizei* and musician. Of tho tenor ot tlie concert party a Sydney exchange .'ays: "Air Chester Fentress took lus musical training in Paris, and he do's Paris pi<oud, for his style is a.s finished as a polb-hcd pjcciotis stone, and his voice is of pure, though not powerful quality. The Califomian Is or. the rails for a sure and easy success in the Commonwealth."

In past years -Mr Harry Richards ha* made occafiional oxeumons into the domain of comedy. Miss Pat tie Browne, and subsequently iMr Charles Cartwright. having headed first-rato companies under his' management. His next venture of this land will be with Mr Allan Hamilton at ttu practical head of affairs, for which purpos-. 1 tho latter will break away from ' The Little Stranger' Company during their New Zealand tour,. and will return to Sydney o-i January 18. Mr Rickard;s has already engaged artists in London, who- nn Febmary 2 will open at the Cri.cii-m «i>ii Frank Lindo's new dramatic ilay, 'Home. Sweet Home.' This piece is now completing its third year, since its London success, of continuous tour of tlvo English provinces. The; principal comediau, Mr Xel.son Ramray, and tho new leading lady, iMias Lilian Hallowes, are both por/ular artists in England ; and other now people will Messrs Sydney Howard, Jackson Wilox, Geo. R. Montfort, Harold West, Mark Paton, Miss Pearl Keats, and Miiß Kate Walbron. Mr Rickards htflds tho Australasian Tights of three other plays for his new company.

Mr J. A. Macdonald writes fiom Toowoomba: " Dear Call-lioy,—We are at present working the Queensland district, and open at His Majesty's. Brisbane, for a two weeks' season, commencing December 22. Business has been splendid right through New South Walts, and the Black Family take on immensely. We feel the lieat a" great deal over hero, yesterday (December 11) being 102 in the shade." Aus-