NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1136, 8 December 1893, Page 30

NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

The Myra Kemble season closed on Tuesday. The company give Wanganui a turn this week, producing “Jane/' “Dr Bill” and “The New Magdalen.” We are to be deluged with shows from the other side early next year. The following are announced to come: —Brough and Boucicault's Comedy Company, Montague - Turner Opera Company, Frank , Thornton with “ Charley's Aunt ” and the evergreen “ Private Secretary,” Charles Arnold with “ Hans the Boatman ” and “ Captain Fritz,” Williamson and Musgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company, Fillis’ Circus —and others. There will be some money lost by some one—that’s a moral.

The Payne Family are up in the Taranaki district. They appeared at New Plymouth on Friday last, at Waitara on Saturday, and Inglewood on Monday. Good biz throughout. The Marian Willis Company have been touring through the Manawatu townships. They appeared at Otaki on Thursday and Friday, and were to show at Manakau on Monday and Tuesday. Mr Walter Howe, who is bringing round a dramatic company next year, commencing at Dunedin on the 17th February, will produce “ The Harbour Lights ” with entirely new scenery painted by the wellknown Mr Spong. Miss Hilda Spong, daughter of Mr Spong (who is Mr Howe’s pai’tner in the venture), is to be the leading lady. She is reputed one of the youngest and prettiest of leading ladies in the colonies.

Palmer-Beaumont Concert ‘ Company are now in Canterbury en route for Dunedin, where they open early in January. The Montague-Turners are again to visit New Zealand. Unless they bring some new operas and a stronger company they will do a fine perish. Brough and Boucicault Comedy Company cpen at Dunedin on Boxing Night. The latest addition to their repertoire is Mr J. M. Barrie’s “Walker, London.” I am afraid this is too purely a London piece to suit the New Zealand playgoer. Toole did v/ell in it, but then he gets free “ ads.” by the score, and it by no means follows that the piece will take out here.

“ Betsy,” as played by the Napier amateurs on Thursday last, attracted a large audience, and went exceedingly well. The east was as follows : —Mr Birkett, Mr J. G. Swan; Adolphus Birkett, Mr J. G. Hughes ; Captain McManus, Mr E. T. Sayers; Mr Dawson, Mr W. Dinwiddie; Dick Talbot, Mr W. Davidson; Hairdresser and William, Mr G. E. Elliott; Mrs Birkett, Mrs Sheath; Mrs McManus, Miss Hitchings ; Madame Polenta, Miss Marett; Nellie Bassett, Miss Jago; Clara Peyton, Miss L. Miller; Betsy, Miss Una Hitchings. The drawingropm scene, specially arranged, did credit to the lady members of the club. The orchestra, under Mr South, rendered good service .during the evening.

Dunedin musical amateurs produced Koisini’s “ Barber of Seville ” with success. Misi Rose Blaney was Rosina, Mr Jago the barber, Miss Kate Blaney Bertha, Mr F. L. Jones Almazira, and Mr W. F. Young Bartolo. Bland Holt did excellent business in Auckland in spite of the election excitement. “ Alone in London,” produced last week, drew a splendid house. Bland has a big hr d on New Zealand people, and is always sure to succeed so long as he continues to serve the amusement-loving public so well. Hayes’ circus is at Christchurch.

Admirers of “ Mrs Eiiery ’Awkins,” “ My Old Dutch,” and the other coster melodies will be amused to learn that M. Jean de Reszke is a sharer in their enthusiasm, and often amuses his intimate friends by warbling “ Mrs ’Enery ’Awkin3.” They will also be interested to hear that Albert Chevalier, author of the successful ditties, was first intended for the Roman Catholic priesthood, his father being a Parisian, while his mother was Welsh. He rejoices in the singular name of Hereen Albert Onezime Mtoxthu Britannicns Giyrfloiir, Alphonse .;

He soon found that he had no vocation for the ministry, but his talent as an actor was so great that the Kendals gave him a part to play when he was very young. After that he rested for some time, and made his first real appearance at the Avenue, in “ The Field of the Cloth of Gold.” His quaint humour and excellent singing soon won him favour, and now he is the popular hero of the music halls and up-to-date drawingrooms. “ Funny without being vulgar ” is his motto, and also the title of the song he first sang in public. He is 33, and a great athlete, equally fond of bicycling, cricketing and sculling ; a first-rate violinist, a pianist, and performer on the banjo. He owns the prettiest houseboat imaginable, which is the scene of unuch cheery hospitality. Mr Chevalier has hitherto refused to perform out of England. He dresses in “ coster ” clothes, and mingles with the class of which he is called the “ laureate,” so as to study all his effects from nature.

Good old Priscilla Verne (Mrs Charles Hugo that was), is about to pay New Zealand a visit with a variety company. Provo, the jugglei’, will accompany her.

Litherland Cunard, once well known in New Zealand as an advance agent, talks of running a pantomime at Broken Hill this Christmas.

It is said that Lilian Russell, the leading lady of American comic opera, and a muchphotoed beauty, is to marry Sandow, the strong man.

■ Johnny Gourlay introduces Chevalier’s “Old Dutch” into his “Skipped by the Light of the Moon,” now playing in Sydney. A local critic says he sings it better than Lonnell, but not so well as ’Arry Rickards.

The Sydney correspondent of the Otago Witness writes of the late Bob Vernon as follows:—“ Poor Bob Vernon ! If there was ever a hard-working actor Bob was one. It was in 1886 he toured Maoriland with George Darrell’s Melbourne Company. One of his best performances was in the following strong cast of Frank Scudamore’s four-act drama ‘ First-class’:—Jack Stroud (a commercial, his original character), Geo. Darrell; Lewis Montford, Mr Frank Stephenson ; Dan (the ragged millionaire, liis original character), Mr Robert Vernon; Phillip Roseoe, Mr A. Rolfe; Rosey (Dan’s pal, Mr Buckley), Mr F. Berkley; Howard Frankin, Mr J. J. Kennedy ; Mr E'. D. Haygarth; Policeman, Mr C. Hill; Stationmaster, Mr Harry Diver; Porter, Mr James; Peggy ( a street singer), Christine Darrell ; Mildred (the parson’s daughter), Miss Mabel Tracey; Florence Franklin, Miss Jessie Howard; Mrs Stroud (Jack’s mother), Miss Maggie Oliver. His other characters during this tour were—Mark Frettleby (the wool king) in ‘ The Mystery of a Hansom Cab,’ Will Hayes (a poacher) and William Dovie (a mystery) in ‘ Hue and Cry,’ Gideon Bloodgood in ‘ Fraud and its Victims,’Count Musso Danella in ‘Barnes of New York,’ Jim Dalton in ‘The Ticket of Leave Man,’ Dick Duggan in * The Sunny South,’ and Lord Mount Severn in ‘ East Lynne/ His last engagement was with the Eloise Juno Company at the Melbourne Royal, and was for eight weeks. He had only served two when he suddenly died. His widow, who is in sore distress, Mrs Isabel Vernon, is now touring with the Taylor-Carrington Dramatic Company. George R. Ireland was trying to arrange for a benefit for the widow, when Charles Taylor and Miss Ella Carrington came to the rescue With an, engagement, which Mrs Vernon accepted.

The Sydney Sunday Times says :—The forthcoming pantomime—“ Beauty and the Beast”—at the Lyceum promises to be something out of the ordinary, and Mr George Musgrove, who is superintending every detail, is leaving no stone unturned to make the production a big success. Nellie Stewart is, of course, awarded the “ pride of place ” at the head of an exceptionally strong cast, whilst our old friend Lauri will—figuratively speaking —be “ up to his neck ” in a humorous character. The scenery, which is being specially painted for the occasion, is to be more than ordinarily good, and the transformation scene will excel in splendour all past efforts in this direction. The harlequinade is left to the tender mercies of the Faust Family, which should be sufficient to secure a merry time for the youngsters. Mr Musgrove intends producing several gorgeous new effects, and the' “ Chicago ” Ballet. The Ballet of Nations, introducing a series of national daiices, with Madame Bartho as premiere danseuse, should, in itself, be a veritable treat to lovers of this class of entertainment. One of the big surprises in the pantomime consists of a “ flying ship,” which bears its living freight to Chicago in the latest approved fashion. Mr Lovell Phillips has the music in hand, and the topical songs will be found up to date. Mr Musgrove is working hard to make the production a success, and that the efforts of this popular entrepreneur will meet with their reward is an assured fact.

A curious inquirer in England has been remarking on the number of old actors that have recently come to the front once more. Attention i 3 specially called to Mr Fred. Everill, the priest in “ The Tempter,” at the Haymarket, who has been 40 years on the Stage, and whose elocution is a treat to listen to. Then there are Mr Anson and Mrs E. H. Brooke, also at the Haymarket, who have both been on the stage perhaps more years than they care to count. Then again, at Drury Lane, in “ A Life of Pleasure,” there is Clarence Holt, who is said to have been 50 years on the stage, and to have played Claude Melnotte to Miss Helen Faucit. Also, Mr Stanilaus Calhaem, who was in the original production of “It’s. Never Too Late to Mend” 30 years ago - Mr Robert Soutar, Miss Nellie Farren’s husband, who was for years stage manager .of thCiGaigty Thcatce under the, Pollings-

head regime ; and Mr J. A. Cave, who was for years manager of the Coburg and Marylebone Theatres. The dramatic profession is undoubtedly a healthy one.

Heller’s Bonanza Coterie appeared at Woodville on Monday night. The company play through Hawke’s Bay to Napier, thence to Gisborne for Boxing Night. Mr Heller reports good biz all through his tour.