FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 14966, 28 August 1912, Page 2

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

! [By Cali,. F.oi.] Vhe Mannganni J-t*ft. rh.--. Bluff on .Mon- \ day <ll wlnu will probably bo Ii?'• record trip (o Melbourne. She carries the ' IV 1 :; Ihir’ Company, and (he management ari range! with the Union Steam Ship Coin i I'Rny at Dunedin for no effort to be spared ni order to enable i Jicompany 10 reach Melbourne (ill Friday night. in tin;-? for I I'ehearsr j raving of a few hours in the length of the passage means consuming over an ndoli tional 10;) tor* of cod. and the company'!: ! cheque to ge.rure t his " speeding up ” amounted to a tidv rum. Thoec who remember (-he fine work which. Mr Lionel Ca/.o pul iiuo ‘ The Lh.ocolate .Soldier’ wlion that tuneful opera we.c produc'd in Dimed.a at lha beginning of the r will hear with regret (■hat Ik; lost his wife on (ho voyage to England, and the blow bad a moat ,nrejudicial effect in his health. Ho has had to retire from the operatic dage—temporarily. it is to be hoped. Herbert Hriimvooil, one of the lead.ng London actors, and on*'- of the moat intellectual. plays leads with Oscar Asdic and Lily Drayton. Mr Grimuood will be seen *u New Zealand as I ago, the rolo for which he was specially engaged for the Australasian tour by Oscar Ascii?. in ‘Kismet’ ho plays the wicked Waxir Man-sur—-a “ study in cold cunning and crafty cruelty.” In ‘The Taming of the Khrew ' ho appears as Katharina’s father—a delightful portrait, of an old man. He is a versatile actor of striking personality. The Fuller Proprietary nave decided to erect a theatre at Nelson similar to the one just opened at Blenheim. 'The new theatre, will bo designed on the latest linos of what are known in America as “intimate” theatres—that is to say, an effort is brought to bring the audience as close ns possible to the stage, without marring the general effect of the stage picture. The theatre will be erected or. a site near the Post Office. Leslie Holland, who appears a-s Tony in ‘The Quaker Girl’ at Melbourne Her Majesty's, was approached the other duy by a seedy individual, who stopped him at the stage door and besought the usual temporary accommodation to tide him over a, troubled period. "Thank you,” said the man, ungraciously, pocketing the coins; "you earn your money so easily, it will not hurt you a bit to give some away. As for me—l have worked hard. I have been in drama for years, and Herbert Tree is a friend o? mine !” London’s critics arc losing that sense of awe with which they were wont to treat Wagner even in the master’s lightest moods. The critic of the London ‘ Daily Mail’ waxed quite frisky in a recent criticism of ‘The Valkyrie’ at Covent Garden. In an after-dinner mood he wrote: “Frieka’s rams and Hrmmhilde’s horse were fortunately left to one’s imagination, but the old absurd attempts to represent the flying Valkyries has not been abandoned. Mine Kirkby Limn sang the part of Fricka superbly, but from a spectacular point of view we would like to see Mme Kirkby Lunn singing the part of Fricka with a flock of Australian-bred rams as part of the mise-en-scene.” There would certainly be a good deal of excitement on the concert platform if the great contralto had such a pastoral item on her programme. One could imagine the difficulties of her accompanist!

It is not often that one hears a. vocal artist of the sweeter sex 75rai.se, a sister in art, yet this has to be recorded in respect to Miss Margaret Cooper and Madame Kirkby Limn. Miss Cooper, during her recent visit to Wellington, stated that it had been her fortune to be associated -with Mine Lunn on several occasions in London in connection with several big concerts and entertainments. “ I think,’ 1 said Miss Cooper, “ that Mme Tamil’s voice is the most perfect organ I have ever listened to. She, gets tones that I have never heard anyone, else get,—colors and lights in vocalism that appear to be particularly hers, and hers alone. You can'even detect them in gramophone records, and that, you know, is a very good test. You aw going to hear a great singer in Mme Lunn—the best that England can give you,” "The merits .of the production of ‘Nobody's Daughter’ by the, Hamilton, Plimmer. and Dennist<>u Company at (he Palace Theatre were reminiscent." said Sydney ‘Sun.’ “of the best days of the famous Brough and Bnucuault Company. The play is a good one, for it is intensely human, and extremely interesting. N'o one can fail to be gripped by the curious situation which the .author (George Pas-t-on I presents in the opening scene, and it is impossible to help admiring (bo skilful and dedicate manner in which lie has handled a somewhat dangerous theme. The play illustrates the possihilitv of turning unsavory instances of human frailty to good account, and the optimistic spirit, that pervades it is in splendid contrast to the morbid manner in which ‘problem’ subjects are generally treated. ‘Nobody’,': Daughter’ deserves to succeed, for it is a heart-to-heart play, .admirably presented.’’ By the last EngL'sh mail “bills of the play ’’ were received 211 Sydney with the name of Ethel Buckley (Mrs George Mallow) ir. large type. the leading lady at the Kennineton Theatre. S.K.. under the management of Mr Edward Compton. Tbs is how the Australian act-rear, was “pn--eented ’’ on Btl\ July:—‘‘For yix niirhis and a matinee. First appearance in England of Australia-’* leading sonbrotto, Ethel Binkley, supported by a complete and powerful company, in ‘At. Cripple Creek,' the, great American mining drama.” Interviewers .sometimes put words or ideas into print, that the interviewees never intended, rays a. popular actress who is at present playing (lie part of “adventuress " in Mr William Anderson's ‘Girl Who Knew a. Bit’ Company at- the Melbourne Kings’ Theatre. This happened to her once, and she decided she would never again speak to a Dress reporter. A lady journalist asked her if she had a wish to go to 1/ondon, and the actress replied that she would not. mind going if she could have congenial company—meaning of girls. But the Press lady, misconstruing, wrote; "Here is a chaiee for an eligible young man !’’ “ it, looked like, a matrimonial advertisement." says the actress, "and I was naturally very angry. | for I was not looking for a husband.” os the report inferred. Mini Ethel Irving, who visited Dunedin some months ago with ‘ My Lady Frederick,” had a great reception at the, London Hippodrome last month in making her i‘c appearance after her Ausiraiasian tour. She is appearing in the sketch ' Dol'y’s Little Bills,’ which she played in Bydnsy and Melbourne. Miss Irving waa prevented last year from producing the clever triflo of Henry Arthur Jones at a music hall, but the altered condition of affairs in regard to sketches a t these places has nowmade this possible, and Mies Irving will doubtless be a prominent attraction at the Hippodrome for a long time. The support comprises Mr Stephen Ewart, a* Harry Telpher, and Mr Alfred Drayton as 1 Matthew Barrow. j A desperate effort to “ popularise Shakespe,are” is in progress in England. Mis* G-lossop Harris, the daughter of the dc-ad Augustus Harris, the Bland Holt of Drury Lane, and her husband, Frank Oellicr, are the responsible parties. In the seven days at the Pier Theatre, Hastings, their conijianv gave cignt Shakespearean play-., including ‘ Macbeth,’ at a tariff which ended up at- 2d. Mr William Anderson's No. 1 dramatic organisation will shortly visit Adelaide after a lengthy absence from that city. Mr Cyril MacKay will then make bis first appearance there under the present management. and the programme of pieces to he produced on tour has been specially soiected in order that he and other prominent members of (lie company may have full scope for display. The repertoire will include all the recent Melbourne successes. An important production will be that of ‘ The Prince, and the Beggar Maid,' which has had two seasons of six weeks each at the King’s Theatre, and has been played in London, by command, before the King and Quei-n. ‘ It is written by Walter Howard, author of ‘ The Midnight Wedding,’ and has to its credit the biggest popularity boom recorded in late years in the English provinces. Other pieces to be presented are ‘The Girl "Who Knew a Bit, • The, Bush woman,' 'The Sailor’s Wedding/ ‘Dangerous Women, 1 and ‘Camille.’ Mr Anderson’s Company will also visit Perth, Kalgoorlie, and Fremantle with the fame rsuerioiist ” * - .

Referring lo the Aselw-Brayton production of 'The Tamir.' of tho Shrew:,' a Meibourr,-' pajver jv.vntly touched upon a notable feattiro of the company'* performances when 11 * aid ; •• Looking down the lore:, hst of actor?, it is doubtful wii-'thor it If jiossililc (o pick out a single inwiniwr of l'ic cast who could have been j hells ic;i. Not one but- spoke In? lines | and acted his part as if he -were a finished i aclnr. 'I lie smaJicsi character looks as if | it had In-en studied m carefully a« the most inqiuruiut." 'I he cvenuess and excel I icniX) of the casts is one of the features ot | the -tsi ii-’.yic.iyton production'. 1 “ La Danse ,b» Champ .eg ire " i» one of the j features of ‘Tiic Qunltev Girl’ at MelI bourne Her .Majesty's, and is not only ! popular as an aUrai lion in ilsoli. but is an I adtr.irab!.• example of (b- tine art of I danci; g a? displayed ivy Ivy Schilling and I Leslie Hoii.-ind. The music, the lighting, j and ilk general " at tnnsnhcre ’’ arc ex(Mvditigiy uuusuai for an in{rodtlcc<! item like lira hi a musical comedy, and the clement- of novelty is not the. least attractive pari of the turn. Moreover, it is said to ho a really striking example of pantomimic art as applied to dancing, and is as close ( tiK " ballet,”.:!: which the story is enacted by moans c.f dumb show. ! or have yet readied in thi* part of the } world. Mr Holland cleverly tells the story i by gesture and expression, and the agility i oj himself and his partner is clever and ft; 11 of grace. As a " savory " to the magnificent banquet of good things provided by ‘Tlie Quaker Girl.’ “La Danse no Champagne" is said to quite till the hill. .Mr George Stephenson and hLs merry company, “ Tho Wanderers," are having a most successful tin*** in Brisbane. They opened the epcdallv-built Palace Garden*' on August 10, and during Exhibition Week the -attendance was (despite a couple of wet. nighlp) over 15,000. Percy St. John, a well-known theatrical manager, was at latest seriously il! in a Brisbane private hospital. The Countess Do Cisn ema's season in Brisbane was most fucrcsd'nl Ths genial Gil. P, Hoskins is now in charge cf the Brennan-Fuller Brisbane heusn. Mr A. M. IMiiler, formerly at Dunedin Alhambra, is in charge of West's Pictures in 1 he fame city. The Gorrick Family of Musicians, after n month at Brisbane Koval, are now at, Newcastle with Dix and Baker. They ptobably play the Br&nnan-Fuiler houses in New Zealand Jatrr. Mr Joe MaeMah on, cf the well-known theatrical caterers, MacMahon Brothers, was maari-sd at Auckland on Saturday to Miss Ladder, formerly of Wellington. “St. Clair" writes to ask regarding oertnin characters nt various representations of ‘The Sign of the Cross’ jn this City up till 1901. The, answer is: December. 1897.—Marcus ftuperhus, Julius Knight-; Mercia. Ada F’errar; Glahrio. W. F. Hawtrey; Nero, Caleb J’oiler. j February. 1899. Marcus, Julius I Knight; Mercia, Ada Ferrar: Glahrio, j W. F. Haw trey; Nero, Cecil Ward . November, 1900.- - Marcus. Cecil Ward ; Mercia, Edith Crane: Nero, Tyrone j Power; Glahrio, Oily Deering. ! December, 1901.- -Marcus, Wilson Barrett; Mercia. LiJlah M'Carthy; Nero, J. B. Atholwood; Glahrio, Ambrose, Manning. —Personality and Singing.— “ It is. a grave, error—a- dictum I don’t at all agree with—that the possession, of a great talent should excuse shortcomings, os the many eccentricities in character," said Madame. Kirkby Lunn in the course of an interview before leaving London for Australia and New Zealand. “I cannot fathom it in the very least. Why, let us lake music, for instance, since that is one of the finest, most ideal gifts. A musician should surely not identify himself with his art so as to let everything else Hide. 'That would mean that his personality had been wholly enslaved by his art, whereas it shot.ld bo a vital part of it. Personality should have everything to do with urt, and with singing in particular. A beautiful voice must be made more beautiful by a beautiful character." The interviewer stated that " this is a. somewhat, original creed, as. coming from an atrrtt who had climb'd the highest peak in her art. It fell imm the. voice, which has electrified «> many thousands of music lovers at Oovent Garden since Kirkby Lunn first rose on the music world as a star of the first order. So beloved has she become, ami so important in London, that it, is surprising to find that her appearance in a small part in Humperdinck's charming opera, ' Hansel and Grete.!,’ in 1902. was her first appearance at the historic opera-house. Since then ehc has sung every season, sometime? 15 times in a month. —Now Barrie Play.— A new three-act. play from the pen of Mr J. M. Barrie is announced bv the London ‘Daily Telegraph.’ Mr Charles Frnhman it is who pledges his word to ns i production, to take place in the West -End ; next Februarv. Juet upon four years : have elapsed since Mr Barrie contributed | to the stage a work, of similar importance, and no bettor news could be forthcoming than that of a real successor_ to ‘ What Every Woman Knows.’ The piece, doubtless. Would have been ready earlier but for Mr Barrio's acceptance of Mr FrohroanTe invitation to unite with 'Sir Arthur Pinero and Mr Bernard Shaw in the making of the unique programme with which Uia Duke of York's reopens late in September. —Another Tithcradgo Triumph.— Since ' A Message From Glut's was first played in Melbourne, there have- been several revivals, but none. (nays the- ‘ Aus- . tralaHan ’) in which the singularly human; phantasy has been more, delicately and de-: lightfulxv handled than by the strong com- ■ panv of artists now at the Pxincees'fl ; Theatre. The tramp is only an incident ; of the plav. but in make-up, as in acting,! Mr Tit he radge gives us a study that merely j adds another to the many proofs of his j fine qua! it ice a& an actor. Given ant j character opportunities at, all, wo take it ; for granted that. Mr Titheiadgo, with hi* j fine sense of bahiM-t- detail, wifi ne'er P‘ a y a part indifferently. ’lh® tramp >s another picture to be xeme-mbeTcu, in ms . great gallery of rtago cclobritscr. -—Kubelik in Trouble Again.— Kubelik has been in the law courts again. This time he was sued by a Lon- ; don journalist named Dunn, who claimed damages for alleged byeacb ■ ■ i: c>i l l l n( t. I It was assorted by plaintiff" lb<M Ku.iciik had agreed to give, a conceit, for the purpose of assisting a boy named Paget with hie musical career as a violinist, and than Dana was to receive 10 per cent- ot i he gross takings for working up the concert. Kubelik, on hearing that the boy was quite untrained, refused to give the concert. The principal witness for the de- j fence was Mr Lionel I’ovvell, of tint fittn of Schultz, Curtins, and Powell, who arc I the, groat violinist's Lnglish agents, ami . who acknowledged that Dann was in the, i habit of doing Press work for him, but j nothing was paid for any service he reu- j dersd in writing up the hoy Paget. K ; was not true that Kubelik had tunnel il difficult to get attention in Coronation year. It was the most successful season they had ever had, and Kubelik was booked up for as many concertas he would take. He The witness; had interviews with the plaintiff' about the boy Paget. Mr Dana told him that he, was untrained. His firm agreed to do the j direction work of the charity concert free. . but if they had known that the boy had | had lessons, and had been at the Academy of Music, his firm would have withdrawn , from the scheme, irrespective of Kubelik, j It was originally the intention of the lat- i ter to have Paget taught m London, j The concert on his behalf was Mr Dan ns j suggestion. It was not true that Kubelik declined to carry out the agreement because he had just bought an estate in Bohemia from a prince, tor he, already had an estate in Bohemia, which lie had bought some years ago. After the concert J ell through Dann camo to see him, and said they had ruined the 1 toy's career. He (Mr Powell) told him that Kubelik was prepared to pay lor lessons for the boy. despite what had passed. In cross-exami-nation it was elicited that ICubclik could not defend the action personally, because he was fulfilling an engagement in the South of France. It was not true that he could not appear in England because

; of certain bankruptcy proceedings against him at the instance of .Mr Hugh Gorfitz, of New Zealand. Another witness declared that he, had iieaud Dann say that the bov Paget wax self-taught, whereas in fact be had had a number of lessons. . Plaintiff had been paid £75 on account, but it was denied that £GO cf that was paid )V- the publicity he had given lo the ! incident <>{ Kubelik having presenter! x violin to pjjvt. The jurv awarded Dann ; £l5O damages. —English Slur? Tor America.— Mr bawls Weller. Ine well-known actor. manager, left London Last week lor New I'uk, where, at Daly's Theatre, he will prcyhive. EM ward Knoblauch's now play, * Discovering America.’ Mi sc. MnLv J ith« radge accompniitt-d Mr Waller w-i'..-. j Mis< Marion Ch-mont's full i.mipnny, yrs j C'or.mnce. (.'oilier ako is embarknig i-'J I America to go on ;■ starring tour with Nat j Goodwin in •O.iver Twist.' with wbi.-ii i 1 hey u ill o;.; r. in Ghirago September 2. (From Saturday's ‘ Spoils Fcerina ; Some indication or the high svlaric? or. j lasionally ]i.tid to vaudeville sri-itls will 1 be gathercf! ft mo tlie fact that Rinaldo, i the wjundering vioßnist. «?« paid £llO per | week by the jljcka.r<L luauagfmai:t for his | New Zealand tour, and that GarrlcMooro is drawing £IOO per week for her i engagement on the Puiler-Brcnnan oil mite. I l»e!icve that these ficti’ce are authentic. M. Jules Emile Frederic Massenet, compo*er end conductor, whose death was ••ab'Kwi last week, was born at Montano ia May, 1312. Ho has published several operas, including 'La Grande Tcr.te/ 1 1866), • Wmilter ’ (16921. * Sa-pho' (18971. • Chcnihin ’ f 1904 i, ‘ Ariane 5 (1906), and ‘Bacchus ‘ (1909). A bund of £1.200 had to he uigned by the Brennan-Fuller management before the troupe of Chinese jugglers and acrobats, known as the PechilTi troupe, were allowed t-o land from the Wimmera at Auckland last week. The troupe consist of four men and a hoy of 15, and Madame Pechilli, who acts as manageress only. Before the party tame off the boat their finger-prints were taken by the Custom! authorities. A l-ougueksß tenor is certainly a rarity, but such a phenomenon ha* been in Dunedin during the week. He i« Mr Horace Ltngard (a nephew of the late \V. Horace Lingard, the Butterman in the original prod notion of * Our Boy? ’ in this part of the world, and a member of the chorns of 'Ben Hur l. He met with an accident at Rand wick in March, 1901. when riding in the Grand National .Steeplechase, his mount . Malta, being killed. In the fall Mr Linsrard bit off a portion of his tongue, and he was taken to the Sydney Hospital, where he was unconscious for 15 days. He remained in the institution for over a year, and up to the time of his release, he was unable to speak, having to write down anything he wished to make known. Then he underwent three operations, and the final one, performed by Dr Fiaschi, of .Sydney, proved successful. Since tlxen Mr Lingard lias been heard in tenor solos on the vaudeville stage in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney. Hifl case is one that is unique in the experience of most of the medical profession. As some of my readers may be sceptical of the statements made, I reproduce copies of two certificates given at Broken Hill in October, 1899. Dr J. T. Harvey wrote - Mr Horace Lingard is suffering front the Joss of the front part of Ills tongue, owing to accidental causes. As that, portion of the organ plays an important part during speaking and singing, Mr Lingard may be congratulated on th« possession of so excellent a voice. And Dr Walter Graham reported ; I Itave carefully examined Mr Horace Lingard, and find him suffering from a. partial amputation of the tongue, the result of a very unusual accident, and F am extremely surprised at the power of articulation which he has in his vocalisation. Mr Lingard informed me that since DFiaschis operation he has not experiencedthe slighted, inconvenience with his tongue except when eating. When out of a professional engagement years ago he used to earn a living riding, and it was under these circumstances that he took part in the Rand-wick ratio 11 years ago. It- has been finally decided to restrict the. Oscar Aecbe-Liiy Bray-ton tour of tho Dominion to the centree. I am indebted to Mr Royle for the amended dates ; Auckland —"?eptembc:- 16 to October q Wellington.—October 7 to 26. Christeh-uTch —October 28 to November 16, Dunedin,-—November 13 to 27. Invercargill—November 28. 29 an) 50. The tour has been mapped out no that, not a single night will be lost in New Zealand, an arrangement which must have cost, those responsible for it much tune and thought. For insiaice. tho Auckland season finishes on Saturday night and opens on the Monday following at Wellington ; tho close of the season there takes pla. a on Saturday. Christchurch beginning on the succeeding Monday ; Christchurch finishes on Saturday, and the first Dunedin appearance will be on Monday ; the season finishes here nn a Wednesday, and Invercargill will bo played for the icst of tho week, the company leaving th* Bluff for Melbourne on Monday. December 3.