AMUSEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2122, 22 February 1908, Page 4 (Supplement)

AMUSEMENTS.

LOCAL FIXTURES. HIS MAJESTY’S. March s—Oricktft Concert March 11 to 14— Brough Fleming Company. March 20.—Cook County Curious Coons. May 11, -12, 13—J. C. AVilliamson. Julio 8,9, JO—J. C. Williamson. August 12, 13, 14-—Frank Thornton. Mr, Julius Knight was to appear in “Clatidian” on February Bth at, the Theatre Royal, Sydney. It Js a little over ten years since the piece was first staged before an Australian audience by Mr. AVilson Barrett at tbe Princess Theatre, Melbourne. Edward Nable, formerly of Pollard’s original company and now with Mr AVilliamson’s Musical Comedy company is Gouriet’s understudy. He does capital work and is looked upon as a comedian of considerable promise. Air Henry Brueey, manager of Mr Williamson’s productions, lias recently had the first holiday that has fallen to his lot in 20 years. He came to Maoriland a month ahead of the Musical Comedy Company and after visiting Rotorua .anil other “show” places was to join the company in Wellington. ,

Victor Con riot, the talented comedian, had bad luck just alter joining the -Musical Comedy company. While dancing in Adelaide lie had the misfortune to snap a tendon in his log, the accident compelling him to lay up for some time. Alter some expensive operations Australian physicians succeeded in patching up his le-g by inserting a muscle from a -wallaby and it is hoped that in time his leg will completely regain ils Jxirtiier condition. Prior to the, injury Gou.net was a most accomplished dancer.

Miss Celia Gliiloni, who took important parts in the short season just played here by Mr AVilliamson’s Musical comedy company, is an Australian actress. At the conclusion of, her present engagement-with Mr W illiamson which terminates on June 30 she is to be tendered a benefit by (Sydney amateurs prior to taking a trip to England. The benefit will consist of a performance of lolantlic in which Miss Gliiloni will take the part of the Fairy Queen.

Reported that the trouble w.t-h Miss Nellie Stewart’s shoulder is much more serious than lias been made public and that the popular actress may not be again seen on the stage. It is to be sincerely hoped that such will not prveo to be the case, for it is safe to say tliat every theatre-goer in Australia and New Zealand has been looking forward to another opportunity to admire and applaud tbe greatest favorite who has appeared on'the Australasian stage. v

Mr Herbert Flemming’s New English Company who commence their season at Hi's, M ijeety’s Theatre on AA'ednesday tho lith March had a brilliant send-off at the conclusion of their Melbourne season last week. The Melbourne Argus says:— The season in Melbourne was brought to a close amidst a scene ol tile greatest enthusiasm, Miss Beatrice Day being called for again and again for a speech; but the popular actress was too overcome to respond, and thus, with the strains of “Aukl Lang Svne” from the orchestra, iii which the audience heartily joined, the first season of Herbert Flemming’s new English company was -brought to a close, a company which has been compared by the leading Victorian journals as -being* equal to that of the famous Brough and Boucicault combination.

That the run of “Humpty-Dumpty” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Alelbourne, is likely to be an unusually long one is now settled beyond doubt. It has already passed its fiftieth performance, and is threatening the long run records of the famous - .“Mother Goose.” Throughout the season so far tho character of the audiences lias been remarkably steady and consistent, and tbe 100,000 persons who have already witnessed the popular pantomime have been spread evenly over the whole seven weeks. The enthusiasm with which the public greet the many special features of the entertainment has in no way diminished bub rather does it appear to increase, and each favorite item is greeted as heartily as. ever, and the laughter which so many of the situations cause has in no way decreased in volume.

“Nothing but stern necessity drove me to tho -stage,” said Airs Patrick Campbell, the famous laetreas, -according to an American journal. “I had to decide 'between becoming a governess and educating the children of others, or -going on the stage. I walked into a dramatic agent’s office, handed in my name, in ml paid my guinea, iu-st like any other young -woman. The agent wrote my name in a li-ttle book and iust then a man "named Green —how well I remember that name! —entered the office. -He was organising a company to tour the provinces with a play called ‘Bachelors,’ by Robert Buchanan. Green 'wanted <i leading 3-ady cheap, and I wus very cheap. I received two pounds a week. Later I appeared in 'pastoral plays at an increase of ten shillings a week. My health broke down, and when I recovered I went to the Adelphi -and played in melodrama, and there Arthur AA'ing Pinero saw me and picked me out for the title-role in “The Second Airs Tanqiieray.’ That was my chance. AAathin eighteen months from tiheitime I walked into the agent’s office I was playing the (Second Airs Tanqueray.-’

From the Sydney Bulletin: —Boiled down to figures, Alusgrovc’s German opera tour resulted like this: Net profit op performances mopped up £197 Subscribed capital absorbed 1908 Deficit to be made up bv G. Alu-sgrove. 2DS

Total loss , £2703 So the people who subscribed for shares lose all their capital, and, of course, get no dividend —and those who were wise didn’t expect any. As a financial, proposition the. prospectus was a pretty obvious joke, and probably nine-tenths of those who took shares simply looked upon the sum paid as a subsidy to Art. -George Musgrove had absolute control; ho was in the happy position, of the man who fixes his own salary and, allowances. Therefore, though he can’t have done as -well as he deserved, his loss may not be as serious as it looks on papei’ There is a plaintive ditty in “The Girls of Gottenberg,” entitled “'Two Little sausages,” which lias apparently become popular. The other day a ladv entered a leading Sydney musicseller’s and asked for “Two Little Sausages, please; not too high.” . . . A slnndykit has been formed at AYellington (X.iS.AY.) to gather together a team of buckiumpem to tour the world. As a sideshow, perhaps, there wouldn't be a finer entertainment; and it would be worth a round sum to see the English Johnnie with his eye-glass make an effort to sit on Bobs', even for a fragment of a second. The syndicate gives the information that the L’mi will lie thoroughly representative of Australia’s horse out-lawdoin.